ZTS Mini tester charging cells?

[Sgt. LED]

OK I know it isn't doing this but I tested a bunch of cells the other day and I had a few that were 80%. I tested those cells about 2 times then on the third test 2 of them tested 100%! I was testing them multiple times just to play witht the tester honestly.

So what happened? Did I wake up the CR123 cells or what. The exp date is 1016.

Those 2 still read at 100% a week later. Maybe I wasn't holding the probe still enough on the previous test cycles?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Sgt. LED,

You will have to do a search and some research on passivation...

Tom

 

[donn_]

Passivation

Passivation is a thin layer formed in a cell between the lithium anode and the carbon based cathode of a lithium cell. It is formed as a result of a reaction between the electrolyte and the lithium anode. Without this layer, this particular type of lithium battery could not exist because the lithium would discharge and degrade quite rapidly.

An advantage of the passivation layer is it allows the battery to have a very low self discharge rate and extremely long shelf life. In most cases a thin passivation layer will not degrade the performance of your cell or battery pack. However, if this layer becomes to thick it will have some effects on the performance of your battery. The most noticeable effect of passivation to lithium battery users is voltage delay. This is when a load is applied to a battery and the voltage drops down before returning to the normal load voltage of an unpassivated battery.


Coping with Passivation

In order to depassivate a battery, apply a load equal to the maximum continuous discharge current of the battery, just prior to use

Avoid storing batteries at high temperatures (above room temperature)

Remember high current loads and prior use increase the effects of passivation

Use at low temperatures also increases passivation

From http://www.innovativebatterysolutions.com/information.htm