Hi,
Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions
was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing
some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I
don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones).
Right now it is on another city.
So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't
last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital
multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch
bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_
the battery.
So I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure
voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries.
So I thought if someone has a table of voltages each battery type should
yield when loaded with some resistance. Or if someone has designed a kit
for doing this, or if someone knows of a proper tester sold at Amazon,
for measuring batteries under some load.
My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb
somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test.
Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14€. I found others for 3 volts, and some
with a delivery time of one month.
--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.
Battery tester
Started by ●November 10, 2021
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:06:25 AM UTC-6, Carlos E. R. wrote:> Hi, > > > Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions > was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing > some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I > don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). > > Right now it is on another city. > > So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't > last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital > multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch > bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ > the battery. > > So I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure > voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries. > > So I thought if someone has a table of voltages each battery type should > yield when loaded with some resistance. Or if someone has designed a kit > for doing this, or if someone knows of a proper tester sold at Amazon, > for measuring batteries under some load. > > My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb > somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test. > Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14€. I found others for 3 volts, and some > with a delivery time of one month. > > -- > Cheers, > Carlos E.R.Do you have a good old fashioned hardware store around? Emphasis on old.
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
In article <8v6t5ix288.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, robin_listas@es.invalid says...> > Hi, > > > Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions > was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing > some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I > don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). > > Right now it is on another city. > > So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't > last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital > multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch > bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ > the battery. > > So I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure > voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries. > > So I thought if someone has a table of voltages each battery type should > yield when loaded with some resistance. Or if someone has designed a kit > for doing this, or if someone knows of a proper tester sold at Amazon, > for measuring batteries under some load. > > My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb > somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test. > Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14�. I found others for 3 volts, and some > with a delivery time of one month.My favourite appliance is a 1.25V MES bulb which is screwed into one coiled end of a length of stout iron wire the rest of which is bent to touch the base of an AA battery held against the bulb. I can tell by the brilliant <> dull gleem of the bulb what the state of an alcaline or rechargable is. But I have looked for a spare 1.25V bulb to no avail. 1.5V is easy, though... https://cpc.farnell.com/electrovision/f018c/1-5v-mes- lamp/dp/AR70334
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On 10/11/2021 17.17, Dean Hoffman wrote:> On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:06:25 AM UTC-6, Carlos E. R. wrote:>> My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb >> somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test. >> Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14€. I found others for 3 volts, and some >> with a delivery time of one month.> > Do you have a good old fashioned hardware store around? Emphasis on old.Oh, I understand :-) But no, I am staying at a new neighbourhood. -- Cheers, Carlos E.R.
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On a sunny day (Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:01:12 +0100) it happened "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote in <8v6t5ix288.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>:>Hi, > > >Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions >was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing >some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I >don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). > >Right now it is on another city. > >So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't >last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital >multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch >bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ >the battery.It alk depends on the battery chemistery. For a simple AA or AAA 1.5 V type I, provided it is charged, I sometimes just use the multimeter on the 10 A scale and so short the battery for a second. If it says 100 mA you know it is a throw away, should be much more than 1 amp Internal resistance. Do not do that with a liion or or lipo or lifepo4 at 3V or more .... Ebay has nice power resistors, many for a few $, this I use to test those batteries: http://panteltje.com/pub/power_resistors_IMG_6291.JPG http://panteltje.com/pub/big_heatsink_IMG_6292.JPG you can put them in series or parallel any way you like (alligator test leads), values are all the same I use that to test high power lipos What also is nice is a clamp on DC current meter: http://panteltje.com/pub/hubsan_h501s_current_test_full_throttle_IMG_6290.JPG still a bit more expensive, but at very high current test leads and meters have way to much resistance.
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On 10/11/2021 18.02, Mike Coon wrote:> In article <8v6t5ix288.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, > robin_listas@es.invalid says... >> >> Hi, >> >> >> Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions >> was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing >> some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I >> don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). >> >> Right now it is on another city. >> >> So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't >> last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital >> multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch >> bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ >> the battery. >> >> So I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure >> voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries. >> >> So I thought if someone has a table of voltages each battery type should >> yield when loaded with some resistance. Or if someone has designed a kit >> for doing this, or if someone knows of a proper tester sold at Amazon, >> for measuring batteries under some load. >> >> My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb >> somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test. >> Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14�. I found others for 3 volts, and some >> with a delivery time of one month. > > My favourite appliance is a 1.25V MES bulb which is screwed into one > coiled end of a length of stout iron wire the rest of which is bent to > touch the base of an AA battery held against the bulb. I can tell by the > brilliant <> dull gleem of the bulb what the state of an alcaline or > rechargable is. > > But I have looked for a spare 1.25V bulb to no avail. 1.5V is easy, > though... https://cpc.farnell.com/electrovision/f018c/1-5v-mes- > lamp/dp/AR70334Pack of fifty little 1.5 volt bulbs: https://www.amazon.es/GutReise-Blanco-Bombillas-tornillo-miniatura/dp/B07JB1W3NT/ It says LED, but I can clearly see the filament in the photos. I'm tempted to buy them, but what do wi do with the other 49? -- Cheers, Carlos E.R.
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On 11/10/2021 12:28 PM, Jan Panteltje wrote:> On a sunny day (Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:01:12 +0100) it happened "Carlos E. R." > <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote in <8v6t5ix288.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>: > >> Hi, >> >> >> Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions >> was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing >> some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I >> don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). >> >> Right now it is on another city. >> >> So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't >> last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital >> multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch >> bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ >> the battery. > It all depends on the battery chemistery. > Yes, so you need to find a discharge graph of the battery and use the proper load resistor. Although, if it doesn't last long, it is probably bad. If you think it is the charger (unlikely since it does get some charge) Switch the phone to a different base. You might compare the loaded voltage of the (bad) battery to one in another phone, assuming he has a three phone system. Mikek -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On 11/10/2021 11:01 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:> Hi, > > > Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions > was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing > some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I > don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones). > > Right now it is on another city. > > So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't > last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that 1) My digital > multimeter can only test the voltage, and 2) I don't even have a torch > bulb of incandescent type to put a load on it. So I can't really _test_ > the battery. > > So I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure > voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries. > > So I thought if someone has a table of voltages each battery type should > yield when loaded with some resistance. Or if someone has designed a kit > for doing this, or if someone knows of a proper tester sold at Amazon, > for measuring batteries under some load. > > My quick getaway will probably be buying a 1.5 volt incandescent bulb > somewhere... Even finding that on Amazon draws no hits on a quick test. > Wait, I found a pack of 50! 14€. I found others for 3 volts, and some > with a delivery time of one month. >Check these out!! Yes, maybe expensive on your Dollar Scale. However it works great!! https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=ZTS+Multi-Battery+Tester&_sacat=0
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 8:06:25 AM UTC-8, Carlos E. R. wrote:> Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions > was to test batteries. > ...... I have a look at Amazon, and most battery testers seem to measure > voltage, there is no mention of loading the batteries.I've sometimes used an auto headlight for load, but my trusty Radio Shack Battery Tester works well for common cell types; its ranges are marked Alkaline button cell: 1.5V 1 mA (implied load 1500 ohms) Lithium coin cell 3V 1 mA (3k ohms) AAA cell, N cell 1.5V 50 mA (30 ohms) AA cell 1.5V 150 mA (10 0hms) Photo 6V Rectangular 9V 12V 22.5V (those last ranges don't identify the load; possibly they just use a single resistor at circa 3k ohms, which would be appropriate for the 9V at least). <https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/232907151786_/Vintage-Radio-Shack-Battery-Tester-Cat-No-22-090.jpg> So, there's a wide-ish range of load resistances to consider.
Reply by ●November 10, 20212021-11-10
Carlos E. R. wrote: ==============> > Many moons ago I bought an analog multimeter, and one of its functions > was to test batteries. It loaded the battery with a resistor, drawing > some significant current (for three battery types) and then measuring I > don't know if voltage or current (typical green-yellow-red zones).** Measures voltage.> So now comes a friend that says the battery for a DECT phone doesn't > last long. I offer to test it, but then I realize that ...** It is a rechargeable type - so not easily tested. And not with that meter at all !! Cell capacity of NiCd or NiMh cells can only be tested by timing a discharge cycle. Tell you friend to buy new cells. ..... Phil
