I gave this Milton Industries model 1260 Battery Tester the lowest possible rating for three reasons: 1) poor load switching design, 2) poor calibration and, 2) poor Customer Service attitude (which reflects on the Company’s attitude).

1) After having this tester for about a week and having tested 7 batteries the load switch failed. Removal and disassembly of this switch (after talking with Milton, see below) revealed that most of the internal plastic supporting material had severely melted. This was a DPST momentary rocker switch. It had no external or internal identification markings. Milton recommended replacement switch p/n: P10-2-1N from Toolsavings of Chicago. This new switch was similar but not exactly the same as the original part. It was identified as made by Arcolectric Corp with a 1551 part number. In Arcolectric’s literature (see http://www.arcolectric.com/pdfs/RockerSwitches_199.pdf pp 26 & 27) this switch has a 20 amp at 24vdc rating. With the new switch installed I subsequently used the Tester to measure two different batteries while using a clamp-on DC Amp meter. I measured an average of 120 amps, or 60 amps per switch contact set (IF the load is equally distributed between the two contact sets). Conclusion: At least the replacement Load switch (and probably the original Load switch) is grossly underrated, by a factor of 1/3, for this application. Burnout of this switch is apparently a common occurrence since doing a search for battery testers on Amazon.com strangely also includes a listing for this 1260 switch.

2) I found that the analysis meter reads between 0.4 and 0.5 volts high (at 12.5 vdc when compared with three accurate digital voltmeters). This is an incredible amount of error when proper analysis requires a basic accuracy of 0.1 volt.

3) When I called Milton’s Customer Service and said the Load switch quit working the person said “I must of had it on too long”, i.e. it was the customer’s fault for the problem. For each test I only had the switch on for the literature recommended 10 second test evaluation interval. If the company believes this is wrong then they should correct their written procedures. Additionally, I suggested that they could just send me a new switch since it looked like replacement of the switch would be an easy task, and that it would save us both time and money if I were to do the work. They wouldn’t agree to do it that way, that instead I would have to send the unit back to them for warrantee service. Also, I found it interesting that none of the packaging or accompanying literature listed their phone number (toll free or otherwise). I had to find it by doing an internet search. Conclusion: This is not a customer friendly company.

Finally, in all fairness, I must say that I think that parts of the design are very good. The expanded scale meter is quite readable with clearly defined analysis colored areas. Also, the use of a separate set of wires within the two cables to the battery terminal clips is critical for properly measuring true battery voltage.

Dennis Barkley

Ret. Electrical Engineer

Rating: 1 / 5