Rechargeable AAA, AA, C and D cell checking, any recommended gadgets? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: MK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 11:05:39 am
content: Hi everyone,I have accumulated far too many AA, and other rechargable batteries and recon that quite a few should be retired, are there any off the shelf cheap and trustworthy gadgets to check the actual remaing capacity of the cells?Any particular recommendations of units to consider buying?

author: jimmc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 01:45:55 pm
content: Same problem here. If you want cheap and cheerfulZB2L3 Battery Capacity Tester External Load Discharge Type Moduledoes the job for me.Jim

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 05:46:04 pm
content: There are lots of inexpensive battery testers out there. Just beware the really cheap stuff is rarely accurate at all. I have several different ones from banggood and such that were terrible, I modified them with a pot and calibrated them so they're ok. Better to buy something reputable though.

author: MacMeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 12:22:07 am
content: Quote from: MK on May 12, 2017, 11:05:39 amI use my Maha Powerex MH-C9000 charger that is capable of testing for "capacity". (Amazon $60)For quick charge testing I use a ZTS MBT-1 "pulse load tester", NOT CHEAP:https://www.ztsinc.com/mbt1.html

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 01:11:09 am
content: http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20LiitoKala%20Lii-500%20UK.htmlavailable from the usual chinese shops at a good price.

author: todd_fuller
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 02:08:12 am
content: Quote from: MacMeter on May 13, 2017, 12:22:07 amI have one of these. I like it quite a lot. If you do consider one of these devices, note that they have a few models and not all models support common cell types. I originally got it to test coin cells and not every one of their devices can test coin cells.

author: Audioguru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 02:22:02 am
content: I have many AAA Ni-MH cells. I simply measure their maximum current with my DMM. A good one measures 8A (the resistance of the leads and the shunt resistor inside the meter limit the current) and if a weak one measures less than 0.7A then I retire it. My meter might blow a fuse if I measure the maximum current of an AA, C or D Ni-MH cell.

author: Chalcogenide
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 06:35:11 am
content: I bought an Opus BT-C700 NiMh smart charger, and it does a pretty good job at measuring cell capacity. It even has the ability to measure the cell ESR.http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20Opus%20BT-C700%20UK.htmlOnly accepts AA and AAA cells, tough.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 05:13:43 pm
content: Quote from: Chalcogenide on May 13, 2017, 06:35:11 amI originally posted the same, but then deleted my reply because it doesn't measure C or D cells, but over the last 9 months I have had, it seems to work as advertised. I got mine for $17 USD + free shipping to Canada from ebay.Some of my really old (6+ years) used and abused Eneloops AA with 800+ cycles still measure around 1850mAh (2000mAh advertised).Some ebay generic AA cells that are advertised as 2500mAh measure around 600mAh, which is no surprise to me.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 07:37:53 pm
content: Quote from: jimmc on May 12, 2017, 01:45:55 pmThis is what I use, and it works very well if you don't mind testing one cell at a time.Read more about it here:https://syonyk.blogspot.com/2015/10/zb2l3-v20-zhiyu-battery-tester.htmlBuy it on eBay or AliExpress for $4 to $5:http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-1-2-12V-battery-capacity-tester-external-load-discharge-capacity-test-18650N-/302156730294

author: MK
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2017, 04:47:31 am
content: Hi JimC, I got one of those for £2.74, pretty good for one at a time testing.Hi stj, I got one of those for £19.89 and it does larger cells too, but I need the one above for the few d cells I have.The others were also interesting.Thanks for the responses.MK