ANCEL BST500 vs OBDResource BM800: Best Battery Tester for DIY?

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The ANCEL BST500 is the better pick for most DIYers because it runs 12V and 24V battery, cranking, and charging tests from 100–1700 CCA with a built-in thermal printer, while the OBDResource BM800 suits anyone who needs 6V coverage with a wider 100–2000 CCA range. The ANCEL tops out at 1700 CCA and skips 6V; the BM800 adds 6V plus 10 test standards and stores 10 waveform records.

Choose ANCEL BST500 if you want printed results without a phone or ink — its built-in thermal printer handles 100–1700 CCA across 12V and 24V.
Choose OBDResource BM800 if you need 6V testing and a wider range — it covers 6V, 12V, and 24V from 100–2000 CCA and supports 10 battery standards including JIS and DIN.

I compared these two on three things I could check against the listed specs: CCA range, voltage coverage, and printing setup. My take is based purely on the manufacturer specifications and feature lists for each unit, not on hands-on bench time.

🏆 Quick Picks — My Top Recommendations

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Best Overall: ANCEL BST500

Proven with 634 ratings and a 100–1700 CCA range across 12V/24V vehicles — Check Price →

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Runner-Up: OBDResource BM800

Adds 6V testing, 10 battery standards and waveform storage up to 100–2000 CCA — Check Price →

I lined up the specs side by side so you can see exactly where these two battery testers split apart.

Full Specs Comparison

Specification	ANCEL BST500 12V 24V Car	OBDResource BM800 Car Bat
Voltage	✅ 12V/24V	6V/12V/24V
CCA Range	—	✅ 100-2000CCA
Battery Type	Car/Truck/Motorcycle	Automotive
Test Types	Health/Cranking/Charging	Standard/Cranking/Charging/Load
Printer	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Power Source	—	✅ Battery Powered
Color	—	✅ Red
Item Weight	—	✅ 3.3 pounds
Model	BST500	✅ BM800
Brand	ANCEL	OBDResource
Display Type	—	✅ Digital
Load Testing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Alternator Test	✅ Yes	—

The biggest gap I noticed is battery coverage: the ANCEL BST500 works on 12V/24V only, while the OBDResource BM800 also handles 6V batteries and supports 10 testing standards.

Individual Product Breakdown

I went through each tester’s real specs, specs that matter for DIY use, and weighed them against how many people have actually bought and rated them. Here’s my honest take on both.

Best Overall

ANCEL BST500 12V 24V Car Battery Tester with Printer

12V/24V | 100–1700 CCA | Built-in thermal printer | 1.52 lbs | 4.3 stars (634 ratings)

ANCEL BST500 12V 24V Car Battery Tester with Printer, Battery...

[Built-In Thermal Printer]: This battery load tester prints clear 12V/24V...
[Clear Printed Results for Quick Decisions]: Printed test results show...
[Wide Compatibility for 24V/12V Vehicles]: Test 12V/24V lead-acid batteries...

The ANCEL BST500 is the tester I’d hand to most DIYers. It runs battery, cranking, and charging tests on 12V and 24V lead-acid batteries from 100–1700 CCA, covering flooded, AGM, GEL, and EFB. The built-in thermal printer spits out a report in seconds with no app or ink needed, and the printed results say GOOD, NEEDS CHARGING, or REPLACE. With 634 ratings and 4.3 stars, it’s clearly been put through its paces by real buyers. The main limitation is that it skips 6V batteries, so classic car or smaller equipment owners should look elsewhere.

✅ Pros

Thermal printer works with no phone, app, or ink
Handles 100–1700 CCA across 12V and 24V vehicles
634 ratings at 4.3 stars — a proven track record
Spark-free clamps with reverse polarity and over-voltage protection

❌ Cons

No 6V testing support
CCA ceiling stops at 1700, not 2000
Heavier price point than the BM800

Check Price on Amazon →

Runner-Up

OBDResource BM800 Car Battery Tester with Printer

6V/12V/24V | 100–2000 CCA | 10 test standards | Real-time waveform | 3.3 lbs | 4.4 stars (14 ratings)

OBDResource Car Battery Tester with Printer, Digital Battery...

【3-in-1 Battery Tester with Printer】This professional automotive...
【Standard Test/ Cranking/ Charging/ Loading Test】 6V 12V 24V automotive...
【Wide compatibility】Compatible with all battery types (regular flooded...

The OBDResource BM800 packs a lot of testing range for the money. It covers 6V, 12V, and 24V batteries from 100–2000 CCA, supports 10 standards (CCA, IEC, EN, DIN, CA, BCI, MCA, SAE, GB, and JIS), and comes with 3 rolls of printer paper. I like that it stores 10 waveform monitoring records and shows real-time min/max voltage. Reverse polarity protection means it survives a wrong connection without damage. The catch is its review base — only 14 ratings at 4.4 stars, so it’s far less proven than the ANCEL.

✅ Pros

Adds 6V testing on top of 12V and 24V
Wider 100–2000 CCA range than the ANCEL
Supports 10 battery standards including JIS and DIN
Stores 10 waveform records with real-time min/max voltage

❌ Cons

Only 14 ratings — far less buyer feedback to trust
Heavier at 3.3 lbs
Newer and less established brand

Check Price on Amazon →

Which One Should You Buy?

There’s no single winner for everyone here — it depends on which batteries you actually work on and how much you value buyer feedback. I’d pick differently depending on whether you own a classic car or just want a tester with a proven track record.

ANCEL BST500 is right for you if…

You want a tester with real-world proof — 634 ratings at 4.3 stars beats almost anything in this class
You only work on 12V and 24V vehicles like cars, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, and RVs
You want printed GOOD, NEEDS CHARGING, or REPLACE verdicts you can hand to a customer or keep in a service log

OBDResource BM800 is right for you if…

You also test 6V batteries, which the ANCEL simply can’t do
You need the wider 100–2000 CCA range or 10 standards like JIS, DIN, and EN
You want real-time waveform monitoring with 10 stored records for spotting odd voltage behavior

❌ Who Should Skip All of These?

If you just want a quick voltage readout and don’t care about printed reports, a basic multimeter does the job for far less. These two are built for people who want cranking, charging, and load analysis with a paper trail.

For the most common DIY buyer working on 12V and 24V cars and trucks, I’d go with the ANCEL BST500 — that 634-rating track record is hard to argue with. But if 6V batteries or the wider standards list matter to you, the BM800 is the smarter pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for DIY use, the ANCEL BST500 or the OBDResource BM800?

For most DIYers, I’d pick the ANCEL BST500. It has 634 ratings at 4.3 stars versus just 14 ratings at 4.4 stars for the BM800, so there’s far more real-world proof behind it. Both run battery, cranking, and charging tests with a built-in printer, but the ANCEL’s track record makes it the safer bet if you just want something that works.

Does the OBDResource BM800 do anything the ANCEL BST500 can’t?

Yes — the BM800 tests 6V batteries, while the ANCEL only handles 12V and 24V. The BM800 also reaches 2000 CCA versus the ANCEL’s 1700 CCA, supports 10 standards including JIS and DIN, and stores 10 waveform records. If you own a classic car or 6V equipment, that gap alone decides it for you.

Is the ANCEL BST500 worth the extra money over the OBDResource BM800?

For most buyers, yes. You’re paying more for a tester with 634 ratings behind it and a proven design, which matters when a wrong battery call costs you a tow. That said, the BM800 covers more battery types and standards, so if 6V support or the wider 2000 CCA range is on your list, the cheaper tester is the smarter buy.

Can both testers print paper reports without a phone or app?

Yes, both have built-in thermal printers that work with no phone, app, or ink. The ANCEL prints GOOD, NEEDS CHARGING, or REPLACE verdicts you can read instantly. The BM800 ships with 3 rolls of printer paper, which is a nice touch if you plan to print often.

Which one is safer if I connect the clamps the wrong way?

Both protect you. The ANCEL BST500 has reverse polarity protection, spark-free copper clamps, and over-voltage protection. The BM800 has reverse polarity protection too, and it’ll still start normally even if you hook the clamps up backwards without damaging the battery or the device. Either way, a wrong connection won’t wreck your tester.

Which tester should I buy if I only work on 12V cars and trucks?

Go with the ANCEL BST500. It covers 12V and 24V batteries from 100–1700 CCA, including flooded, AGM, GEL, and EFB, which handles basically every car and truck you’ll touch. You won’t miss the BM800’s 6V support, and you get a much larger pool of buyer feedback to trust.

My Final Verdict

After weighing both, the ANCEL BST500 is my overall winner for most DIY buyers. It handles 12V and 24V batteries from 100–1700 CCA across flooded, AGM, GEL, and EFB, and its 634 ratings at 4.3 stars give it a proven edge the BM800 simply doesn’t have yet. The OBDResource BM800 is the better runner-up if you need 6V support, the wider 100–2000 CCA range, or 10 testing standards like JIS and DIN.

If you’re on the fence, ask yourself one question: do you ever test a 6V battery? If yes, get the BM800. If you only touch 12V and 24V cars and trucks, the ANCEL’s bigger track record should clinch it.

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Best Overall: ANCEL BST500

ANCEL BST500 12V 24V Car Battery Tester with Printer, Battery...