Lithium Battery Testing

[fluke]

Testing Lithium cells.
Will a cheap and cheerful battery tester do the job on testing CR123a's for matching purposes ???

 

[fluke]

Anyone ??

 

[Archangel]

If you use it to measure what have been termed flash amps, it'd be better than nothing. Measuring voltage really won't be of much use.

 

[fluke]

Thanks.
So my next question is can anyone recommend a reasonably priced battery tester ??? For the purpose of making sure we don't suffer some extreme Lithium cell discharge due to unmatched cells please ???

Especially for dual cell flashlights.

 

[lctorana]

I have the same question.

For ZnC/Alk/NiCd/NiMH, I have a 1.5V meter hard-wired to each of a D, C, AA and AAA holder, with a pushbutton load of a 1.2V 220mA globe.
Tests both OC and under load. That works well.

Can I do something similar for lithiums?

Here's my idea.
Rig up a 3V meter to 2/3A battery holders, etc, and have a 1A load (maybe a bulb, maybe a 2.7ohm, 5W resistor) switchable in.

Would that work? Would the two readings tell me anything useful?

 

[LED61]

A ZTS tester will do fine for matching purposes. It can be had for less than $30.

 

[lctorana]

But pictures of this tester only show 5 LEDs for a readout.

I would like to match my cells closer than +/- 20%, if at all possible...

 

[fluke]

But pictures of this tester only show 5 LEDs for a readout.

I would like to match my cells closer than +/- 20%, if at all possible...

I am wondering the same, is this ZTS mini accurate enough ???
I tried to get some Titanium brand cells shipped over but $31 for shipping $6 of cells was a bit steep (No disrespect intended).
So I want to test all my lithium cells myself.

 

[DM51]

I think you may be worrying a bit too much about this. These incidents are very rare. If you use 2 cells which you bought at the same time and they are a good brand, the same type, same age and same state of charge, you will not have a problem. Every now and then even a good brand cell will be a dud, but you can spot that with a multimeter.

You will only have problems if you put fresh and partly discharged cells together, or if you buy cheap junk cells from eBay or from some website in China nobody has ever heard of. If you buy good brands from reputable dealers who have a consistent record here, you will be fine.

 

[fluke]

I think you may be worrying a bit too much about this. These incidents are very rare. If you use 2 cells which you bought at the same time and they are a good brand, the same type, same age and same state of charge, you will not have a problem. Every now and then even a good brand cell will be a dud, but you can spot that with a multimeter.

You will only have problems if you put fresh and partly discharged cells together, or if you buy cheap junk cells from eBay or from some website in China nobody has ever heard of. If you buy good brands from reputable dealers who have a consistent record here, you will be fine.

Thanks you for that.
But I bought my Panasonics from China at a very reasonable price

 

[DM51]

So... all you really have to decide now is whether or not they are genuine Panasonics.

 

[fluke]

I don't know
It was some of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290134037277

 

[DM51]

Well, let's see:

1. You bought them on eBay
2. From a random chinese website
3. And they don't look the same as other Panasonic CR123As I have seen.

Er...

 

[fluke]

Well, let's see:

1. You bought them on eBay
2. From a random chinese website
3. And they don't look the same as other Panasonic CR123As I have seen.

Er...

Errrr :sick2: :sick2: :sick2:

Well the cells look sort of the same just packed a bit funny :mecry::mecry:

Think I will stop using them :sigh: :sigh:

 

[DM51]

Errrr :sick2: :sick2: :sick2:

Well the cells look sort of the same just packed a bit funny :mecry::mecry:

Think I will stop using them :sigh: :sigh:

Probably a good decision. Read this CPSC_News_Release (issued yesterday) about the recall of a product containing dangerous counterfeit batteries, falsely branded Panasonic. They may the the same as the ones you got hold of.

 

[fluke]

Probably a good decision. Read this CPSC_News_Release (issued yesterday) about the recall of a product containing dangerous counterfeit batteries, falsely branded Panasonic. They may the the same as the ones you got hold of.

Thank you :twothumbs
Time for some Duracell's me thinks :thinking: