Midtronics PBT-50 User manual

For testing 12-volt motorcycle
and recreational vehicle batteries
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Battery Conductance Tester
Deka and Yuasa

CAUTION: Because of the possibility of personal injury,
always use extreme caution when working with
batteries. Follow all BCI (Battery Council International)
safety recommendations.
WARNING: (Required by California Prop. 65) Battery
posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals known to the state of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
!
!
BATTERY TEST
Note: Batteries can be tested in-vehicle or out-of-vehicle.
Before you start the test, clean the battery terminals with a wire
brush. Turn off the vehicle and all accessory loads. Testing with
the ignition switch on or vehicle loads on may cause inaccurate
readings.
If the vehicle was running, turn on the headlights for 30 seconds
to remove the surface charge. Let the battery rest for 1 minute to
recover before testing.
1. Connect the tester clamps directly to the battery posts (or as
close to the posts as possible): red to the positive (+) terminal,
black to the negative (–) terminal. Rock each clamp back and
forth for a good connection.
2. rEF will flash on the display. The default reference number (50)
will then appear.
•1•

3. Use the ARROW buttons to scroll to the battery’s reference
number. To scroll rapidly, press and hold the UP or DOWN
ARROW button. (To find the reference number for your Deka
or Yuasa battery model, refer to the Battery Reference
Number Guide on page 5.)
4. Press the TEST button.
5. One or more LEDs (green, green and yellow, yellow, or red)
will light to indicate the battery’s condition. The display will
show the battery’s voltage.
BATTERY TEST RESULTS
•2•
LEDs
GREEN
YELLOW
Decision
GREEN
YELLOW
Fully charge the battery and return it to
service.
Fully charge the battery and retest. If you
get the same result after charging,
replace the battery.
The battery is good and can be returned
to service.
RED The battery has failed or is weak and
may soon fail. Replace the battery.

VOLTMETER
The PBT-50 can function as a voltmeter with a range of 8 to 19.0
volts. For an accurate live voltage measurement, the battery must
be good and fully charged.
1. Connect the tester clamps to the battery: red to the positive(+)
terminal, black to the negative (–) terminal. Rock each clamp
back and forth to make a good connection.
2. Press the VV
VV
Vbutton to read the live voltage.
3. Start the engine.
4. Read the voltage while the engine is running.
Result
VV
VV
Volts reading is between 13.5 volts and 14.8 volts
= Charging System OK
VV
VV
Volts reading is greater than 14.8 volts
= Charging System Problem.
Check regulator.
VV
VV
Volts reading is less than 13.5 volts
= Charging System Problem.
Check connections, wiring, and alternator.
•3•

TROUBLESHOOTING
If the display flashes or shows one flashing letter, the battery is
too low (less than 8 volts) to test. Fully charge the battery and
retest.
A message that alternates between bAd and CELL means one or
more battery cells are bad. Replace the battery.
A conn message means there is a bad connection. Disconnect
the clamps and reconnect. Make sure to rock the clamps back
and forth to make a good connection.
If the red LED lights when you test in-vehicle, there may be a
poor connection between the battery cables and the vehicle.
Disconnect the battery cables and retest at the battery posts
before replacing the battery.
Excessive electromagnetic interference may cause the tester to
reset during testing. Before retesting, reconnect the clamps and:
• Make sure all vehicle loads and the ignition are off.
• Move away from the noise source, which may be a charger or
other high-current device.
• If you are unable to find the noise source, fully charge the
battery and retest at the battery posts. If the red LED lights
again, replace the battery.
•4•

BATTERY REFERENCE NUMBER GUIDE
When you connect the PBT-50 to the battery rEF will flash on the
display, The default reference number (50) will then appear.
To help you select the correct reference number for your Deka or
Yuasa battery model, which is listed on the battery label, use this
guide. The tables list the model numbers in the PBT-50 database
in alphanumerical order.
•5•
ETX9 75
ETX12 91
ETX14 80
ETX15 4
ETX15L 4
ETX16 64
ETX16L 64
ETX18 74
ETX18L 74
ETX20L 64
51814 99
51913 99
53030 49
12N5-3B 47
12N5-4B 47
12N5.5-3B 55
Deka
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.
Yuasa
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.

•6•
12N11-3B O96
12N12-3BO68
12N12A-4A-1 68
12N14-3A 96
12N16-3B 83
12N24-3 31
12N24-3A 31
HYB16A-AB 31
KMX14-BSK83
SY50-N18L-AT 6
SYB14L-A2 49
SYB14L-B2 49
SYB16L-B 30
Y50-N18A-A 6
Y50-N18L-A 6
Y50-N18L-A-CX 6
12N5.5-4A 55
12N5.5-4BO55
12N5.5A-3B 55
12N7-3B 38
12N7-4A 38
12N7-4B 38
12N7D-3B 38
12N9-3A 87
12N9-3A-1 87
12N9-3B 87
12N9-4B-1 87
12N10-3A 79
12N10-3A-1 79
12N10-3A-2 79
12N10-3B 79
12N11-3A-1 96
Yuasa
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.
K available at Kawasaki dealers
O obsolete

•7•
Y50-N18L-A3 6
Y60-N24-A 43
Y60-N24AL-B 43
YB2.5L-C 66
YB2.5L-C-1 66
YB3L-A 60
YB3L-B 60
YB4L-A 37
YB4L-B 37
YB5L-B 55
YB7-A 68
YB7B-B 87
YB7C-A 68
YB7L-B 68
YB9-B 68
YB9A-A 68
YB9L-A2 68
YB9L-B 68
YB10A-A2 67
YB10L-A2 67
YB10L-B 67
YB10L-B2 67
YB12A-A 94
YB12A-B 94
YB12AL-A 94
YB12AL-A2 94
YB12B-B2 94
YB12C-A 94
YB14-A2 49
YB14-B2 49
YB14A-A1 49
YB14A-A2 49
Yuasa
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.

YB30L-B 43
YHD-12 78
YIX30L 9
YMF14-L2* 4
YT12A-BS 46
YT12B-BS 13
YT14B-4 13
YT4B-BS 84
YT4L-BS 84
YT5L-BS 20
YT7B-BS 12
YT9B-4 75
YTR4A-BS 20
YTR9-BS 75
YTX4L-BS 20
YTX5L-BS 36
•8•
YB14L-A1 49
YB14L-A2 49
YB14L-A2W/S 49
YB14L-B2 49
YB16-B 78
YB16-B-CX 6
YB16AL-A2 83
YB16B-A 31
YB16B-A1 31
YB16C-B 78
YB16CL-B 78
YB16HL-A-CX 6
YB16L-B 78
YB18-A 78
YB18L-A 78
YB30CL-B 43
Yuasa
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.
*superceded by YTX14AHL-BS

YTX7A-BS 12
YTX7L-BS 12
YTX9-BS 75
YTX12-BS 91
YTX14-BS 80
YTX14AH-BS 4
YTX14AHL-BS 4
YTX14L-BS 80
YTX15L-BS 10
YTX16-BS 10
YTX16-BS-1 10
•9•
YTX20-BS 64
YTX20H-BS 65
YTX20HL-BS 65
YTX20L-BS 64
YTX24HL-BS 74
YTX50L-BS 22
YTZ7S 33
YTZ10S 80
YTZ12S 95
YTZ14S 18
Yuasa
Model No. Ref. No. Model No. Ref. No.

P/N 168-179A 6/04 ©2004 Midtronics, Inc.
Patents
This tester is made in the U.S.A. by MIDTRONICS, INC. and is protected by
one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,323,650; 6,316,914;
6,304,087; 6,249,124; 6,163,156; 6,091,245; 6,051,976; 5,831,435;
5,821,756; 5,757,192; 5,592,093; 5,585,728; 5,572,136; 4,912,416;
4,881,038; 4,825,170; 4,816,768; 4,322,685; Canadian patents:
1,280,164; 1,295,680; United Kingdom patents: 0,417,173; 0,672,248;
German patents: 689 23 281.0-08; 693 25 388.6; 93 21 638.6; and other
U.S. and Foreign patents issued and pending. This product may utilize
technology exclusively licensed to Midtronics, Inc. by Johnson Controls,
Inc. and/or Motorola, Inc.
Service
For service, contact Midtronics for a Return Authorization number, and re-
turn the unit to Midtronics freight prepaid, Attention: RA#. Midtronics will
repair or replace the tester and reship, the next scheduled business day fol-
lowing receipt, using the same type carrier and service as received. If
Midtronics determines that the failure was caused by misuse, alteration, ac-
cident, or abnormal condition of operation or handling, purchaser will have
the option of purchasing a replacement tester or the unit will be returned
freight collect. Battery testers beyond the warranty period are subject to the
repair charges in effect at that time.
Limited Warranty
This battery tester is warranted to be free of defects in materials and work-
manship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Midtronics
will, at our option, repair the unit or replace the unit with a remanufactured
tester. This limited warranty applies only to Midtronics battery testers and
does not cover any other equipment, static damage, water damage,
overvoltage, dropping unit or damage resulting from extraneous causes
including owner misuse. Midtronics is not liable for any incidental or conse-
quential damages for breach of this warranty. The warranty is void if owner
attempts to disassemble the unit, or to modify the cable assembly.