Digital MultiMeter w/load testing for Li-Ions?

[DHart]

Can anyone recommend a digital multimeter which tests battery voltage with a bit of a load? I'm aware of the ZTS battery testers, but am possibly more interested in finding a multimeter (not just a battery tester) which might also present a bit of a load when doing DC voltage testing of batteries.... does such a meter exist?

I understand that one can get a decent idea of a Li-Ion state by just reading open voltage... but can you do even better by putting a load on the Li-Ion while reading it?

Specifically, I want to test my various 3.7v Li-Ions, AW protected 16340, AW Protected 18650, AW IMR 18650, etc.

 

[VidPro]

Re: Digital MultiMeter w/load testing?

check out these 2 informative threads
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=214963
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=225973

and now i guess you have a search term, Multimeter , now if you can just get the search done using the delay you get there.

other than spending a LOT, you get a lot of configurability and vision, and understanding by using these meters, even cheaper ones (just not the cheapest ones) and your own personal load items, which can range from reality to rediculous.

 

[Zatoichi]

Re: Digital MultiMeter w/load testing?

I bought a pack of four 10 ohm resistors for 99p to use as in the illustration in the first of VidPro's links. The ones I got are 3 watt wire wound resistors and work fine.

 

[hopkins]

Re: Digital MultiMeter w/load testing?

A resistor in the 10ohm range and with a wattage rating of 1/2
watt or more will be fine. 1/8watt will get hot fast so measure fast then disconnect...

solder several inches of flexible wire to each end of the resistor and then solder
alligator clips to these wires.

To test 1.25-1.6volt batteries set the multimeter to measure voltage and attach
the resistor to your test leads and then measure the battery. The resistor will load the battery and will give a good idea of state of charge.

 

[DHart]

Re: Digital MultiMeter w/load testing?

hopkins... thank you.

What resistor value would you use to test Li-Ions (3.7v 16340 or 18650) under load?

 

[TranceAddict]

~ 1.5A load - 1 x 5 watt 2.7 ohm resistor
~ 3A load - 1 x 5 watt 1.2 ohm resistor

or try different series and parallel configuration with the resistor value available in market to achieve desire load.

or buy a 10 watt variable resistor/potential meter and connect it as load.

 

[StarHalo]

~ 3A load - 1 x 5 watt 1.2 ohm resistor

A 1.2 Ohm resistor connected to a freshly charged Li-Ion will produce over 14 watts, which is guaranteed to your resistor :duck:

 

[Turbo Guy]

A wee bit over kill but what the hey. Provides a nice graph also which makes tracking a rechargeable life performance over the years very easy..

I just realized this photo was before I added the Kelvin leads for cell / battery voltage readings. Pictured is a CBA II which has been modified by me and two Cam Light Systems CC-400s. One of my CC-400s is running special firmware which alows it to handle up to 700 watt burst.

 

[sim1tti]

Re: Digital MultiMeter w/load testing?

hopkins... thank you.

What resistor value would you use to test Li-Ions (3.7v 16340 or 18650) under load?

@DHart, did you ever find an anwser to this question? Fifteen years later, I'm asking the same thing in this thread: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/best-battery-tester.484474/post-5577267

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm a hobbyist without an engineering degree.

 

[Monocrom]

Thankfully DHart does still stop by CPF every once in awhile. He stopped by recently. So you might realistically get a reply from him. Just realize he's not here for several hours on a daily basis.

 

[Harriton]

It seem that you need the USB tester? It could meet your needs like voltage testing. I have a battery tester YPSDZ-0550 whick used to charge and discharge to test the capacity.Maybe you could try the USB tester first.