1. Introduction
The KINGBOLEN BM550 is a versatile and accurate digital battery analyzer designed to test 6V, 12V, and 24V automotive batteries. It provides essential information about your battery's health, including State of Health (SOH), State of Charge (SOC), Cold Cranking Amps (CCA), internal resistance, and voltage. This manual provides detailed instructions for the safe and effective use of your BM550 battery tester.
Figure 1.1: The KINGBOLEN BM550 Car Battery Tester with its main display and connection clips.
2. Safety Information
Always observe the following safety precautions when using the KINGBOLEN BM550 battery tester:
- Ensure proper ventilation when working with batteries, as they can produce explosive gases.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including safety glasses and gloves.
- Keep the tester away from heat, sparks, and open flames.
- Do not touch moving engine parts or hot surfaces when testing.
- The BM550 features Reverse Connection Protection. If the positive and negative clips are accidentally reversed, the device will not operate, preventing damage to the tester and the battery. However, always strive for correct polarity connection.
- If the clips are not properly clamped, the screen may flicker, indicating an unstable connection. Re-clamp the clips securely.
Figure 2.1: Illustration of the BM550's safe design with reverse connection protection, ensuring safety even if clips are accidentally reversed.
3. Product Overview and Features
The KINGBOLEN BM550 is designed for ease of use and comprehensive battery analysis. Key features include:
- Wide Compatibility: Tests all 6V, 12V, and 24V lead-acid batteries, including Regular Flooded, AGM Flat Plate, AGM Spiral, GEL, and EFB batteries. Supports 2Ah-220Ah capacity and 100-2000 CCA.
- Multi-functional Testing: Capable of performing State of Health (SOH) tests, State of Charge (SOC) tests, Voltage tests, and Internal Resistance tests.
- Clear Display: Equipped with a 1.8-inch HD screen for quick and accurate display of test results.
- Plug and Play Operation: Powers directly from the battery being tested, requiring no internal battery.
- Durable Construction: Features pure copper clips for strong conductivity and an integrated line machine design to prevent cable detachment. Made from ABS industrial-grade plastic for durability.
Figure 3.1: Overview of the BM550's multifunctional capabilities and design features.
Figure 3.2: Detailed view of the BM550's dimensions and component quality, including the 1.8-inch HD screen, pure copper clips, integrated line, and ABS industrial-grade material.
Figure 3.3: The BM550 is compatible with various battery types, including GEL, AGM Flat Plate, EFB, AGM Spiral, and Regular-flooded batteries.
4. Setup and Connection
The BM550 is a plug-and-play device. Follow these steps to connect it to a battery:
- Ensure the vehicle's ignition is off and all accessories are turned off.
- Connect the red positive (+) clip of the tester to the positive terminal of the battery.
- Connect the black negative (-) clip of the tester to the negative terminal of the battery.
- The tester will power on automatically once connected correctly.
The BM550 can be used for both in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle battery testing.
Figure 4.1: The BM550 can be used to test batteries both in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle, compatible with a wide range of vehicles.
5. Operating Instructions
Once connected, the BM550 will guide you through the testing process:
- Step 1: Select Battery Voltage
After connecting the battery, the device will display the battery voltage. Use the navigation buttons (up/down arrows) to select the correct battery voltage (6V, 12V, or 24V) if prompted, then press the OK button to confirm. - Step 2: Enter CCA Value
The tester will prompt you to enter the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) value of the battery. This value is typically found on a label on the battery itself. Use the navigation buttons to adjust the CCA value and press OK to confirm. The BM550 supports CCA values from 100 to 2000. - Step 3: Get Battery Data
The BM550 will quickly analyze the battery and display the results on the screen. The results include:- SOH (State of Health): Indicates the overall health and remaining life of the battery.
- SOC (State of Charge): Shows the current charge level of the battery.
- R (Internal Resistance): Measures the battery's internal resistance, which can indicate its ability to deliver current.
- VOL (Voltage): Displays the current voltage of the battery.
- CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): The actual measured CCA value of the battery.
- Battery Status: Categorizes the battery's condition as Good, Normal, or Poor.
Figure 5.1: Step-by-step guide on how to operate the KINGBOLEN BM550 battery tester.
Figure 5.2: The BM550 clearly indicates battery status as Good (ready for use), Normal (can continue to be used), or Poor (needs replacement).
Figure 5.3: Comprehensive display of battery parameters including SOH, SOC, Internal Resistance, Voltage, and CCA.
CCA to AH Conversion Table
For batteries where only the Amp-hour (AH) value is known, you can use the following approximate conversion table to determine the corresponding CCA value for testing. Note that these are general guidelines and actual CCA may vary.
Figure 5.4: Reference table for converting Amp-hour (AH) values to Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) for battery testing.
6. Maintenance
To ensure the longevity and accuracy of your KINGBOLEN BM550 battery tester:
- Clean the device with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents.
- Keep the clips clean and free of corrosion to ensure good electrical contact.
- Store the tester in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- Avoid dropping the device or subjecting it to strong impacts.
7. Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Screen flickers or does not turn on. | Loose or improper connection of the battery clips. | Ensure the red positive clip is securely connected to the positive terminal and the black negative clip to the negative terminal. Re-clamp the clips firmly. |
| No reading or incorrect reading. | Battery is completely dead or below minimum operating voltage (6V). / Corroded battery terminals. | Ensure the battery has at least 6V. Clean battery terminals and tester clips to ensure good contact. |
| Device does not respond to button presses. | Temporary software glitch. | Disconnect the tester from the battery, wait a few seconds, and then reconnect it. |
8. Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model Number | KBL550 |
| Product Dimensions | 12.4 x 6.96 x 2.26 cm |
| Item Weight | 250 g |
| Brand | KINGBOLEN |
| Power Source | Battery Powered (from tested battery) |
| Style | SD519 |
| Colour | Black |
| Min. Operating Voltage | 6 Volts |
| Measurement Type | Voltmeter |
| CCA Range | 100-2000 CCA |
| Battery Capacity Range | 2Ah-220Ah |
| Supported Battery Types | Regular Flooded, AGM Flat Plate, AGM Spiral, GEL, EFB |
| Country of Origin | China |
9. Warranty and Support
KINGBOLEN products are manufactured to high-quality standards. For warranty information, technical support, or service inquiries, please contact KINGBOLEN customer support through their official website or the retailer from whom you purchased the product. Please retain your proof of purchase for warranty claims.
For the most up-to-date support information, visit the official KINGBOLEN website: www.kingbolen.com
