DC load for battery testing - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 02:30:11 pm
content: Before I go and drop to much money I thought I would ask here for recommendations.I am interested/need to test different batteries and battery packs. Anything from ~3v to 48v and 20Ah and up, usually less than 300Ah for now but who knows in the future.I would like to log so I can chart and graph. Easily used included software would be great. I am not really interested in a DIY solution at this point unless I really can't find something reasonable to fit the bill.Reasonable to me is ideally ~1k usd but I am willing to stretch a little for the right product. I just don't want to buy anything that is to overkill or fancy.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 02:43:30 pm
content: What kind of power dissipation do you need?If you're looking for a budget friendly choice, recently the Kunkin KP184 has received a lot of attention - there's lots of posts about it on the forum here.

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 07:27:47 pm
content: Quote from: ledtester on August 07, 2020, 02:43:30 pmI know I can't really afford the power I need to run these tests as fast as I want. So I just need to get the highest watts I can without breaking my budget and/oe buying something that's not going to last. Ideally I would like to test the batteries at .5c but that is like 1200 watts or more on some packs. Individual cells I can probably get .5c between 150 and 400 watts.I saw the Kunkin but I am a little worried about longevity. I have a lot of cells and batteries to test. Used an new packs from cars, prismatic cells I get from China etc. All being used or repurposed as storage for solar projects

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 10:08:08 pm
content: So I generally don't like to buy from ebay but in a moment of weakness I sent a lowball offer on an item and to my suprise the seller accepted.Hopefully I did not make a huge mistake but life is about learning huhAmrel PLA800-60-300EGeneralPower Input (MAX) 800W Voltage (V) (MAX) 60 Current (A) (MAX) 300

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2020, 11:06:16 pm
content: Quote from: No.15 on August 08, 2020, 10:08:08 pmThat's a nice one. Can I ask what you paid?

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 01:24:02 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on August 08, 2020, 11:06:16 pmSo I don't say it out loud, I went 10% over budget plus shipping Edit: dohbad math, corrected

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 01:43:11 am
content: Quote from: No.15 on August 09, 2020, 01:24:02 amThat's a fair bit of change but DC loads somehow aren't cheap. Much more mundane DC loads command similar or much more substantial amounts. It looks to be a very useful unit, high resolution and modern interfaces and in great shape too. I feel you did well. I need to check Ebay more often!

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 02:16:03 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on August 09, 2020, 01:43:11 amAgree, I was somewhat shoked at the prices when I started looking. I am of the mindset buy once, cry once, so I was not interested in the cheaper what I perceive to be throwaway brands. Even though for what I am doing I probably could have purchased a coulomb counter and a giant resistor or used my heat gun as a load.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2020, 09:13:10 pm
content: Note that DC loads can easily be paralleled, so a couple of cheaper loads might be an option.

author: No.15
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2020, 02:53:02 pm
content: Finally got the new load bank. Amrel PLA series load bank.I can connect to it over ethernet just fine but I am a total failure at getting it to do what I want, which is to basically capacity test batteries.Can anyone point me to a SCPI primer? Does anyone have an example script of what I am trying to do that I can copy or use as a template?Should I post these questions in a different forum? Thanks