Germany
The cells, and the tester for them
A rare pairing on this site: the instrument and its consumable from the same maker.
The tester covers AA, AAA, C, D, 9 V blocks, round cells and button cells, and states four chemistries — alkaline, NiMH, lithium and zinc-carbon. Chemistry matters because a healthy 1.2 V rechargeable reads as flat on an alkaline scale, and a tester that does not know the difference will condemn good cells.
Neither listing states the thing that matters most for its category: the tester does not say whether it applies a load while reading, and the cells do not state a shelf life.
The tester, and the habit that goes with it: take the cell out of any instrument going into storage. A leaked cell destroys more meters on this site than any electrical fault.
AA / AAA / C / D / 9 V / button cells · alkaline, NiMH, lithium, zinc-carbon
A tester covering every household cell size and four chemistries, showing the measured voltage and state of charge on an LCD, from a battery maker.
Best for: The drawer full of cells nobody can identify as good or flat.
The four-pack from a manufacturer that makes its own cells rather than badging them, at twice the price of the no-name pack.
Best for: Instruments you intend to keep, where the cell is the cheapest insurance available.
