Hello dear readers of the site. Each of us at least once wondered when we found a bunch of batteries in the house or at work, and how to check the battery and find from this pile those still suitable for work.
The essence of the method is that when a galvanic cell is discharged, its internal resistance increases, that is, its current charge (energy intensity) that it supplies to power portable household radio equipment decreases. So, using this property of galvanic cells, we will measure amount of charge remaining in the battery. For these purposes, any other device with a current measurement limit of at least 6 Amps is suitable.
At the maximum limit of current measurement, the multimeter probes touch the terminals of the battery, which, when turned on, begins to operate in a mode close to a short circuit, which makes it possible to measure the amount of charge current remaining in the element. Thus, when assessing the power of the remaining charge, those elements that have the highest current are selected.
But we won’t rush, and first we’ll make two preliminary measurements so that you can estimate the charge levels of the new and discharged batteries.
So.
Switch the switch to measurement mode current to the limit " 10A"(10 Amperes), and insert the positive probe (red) into the socket " 10A" We leave the negative (black) in place in the socket " COM».
We take a new battery and touch its terminals with probes. As soon as the current value on the indicator stops growing, immediately remove the probes. The measurement should not last more than 1 - 2 seconds, since short circuit mode is harmful for galvanic cells due to the fact that almost all the power is dissipated in the internal resistance of the element, and this leads to its heating and the battery may fail.
A new battery should show a current value in the range of 4 - 6 Amperes.
If the multimeter reading is less than 4 Amps and is in the range from 3 to 4 Amps, then this battery can also be used to power portable equipment, but its service life will not be as long.
If the multimeter readings are less than 3 Amperes and are in the range from 1.3 to 2.8 Amps, then it is better to use such a battery in equipment with low current consumption, for example, in remote controls remote control.
A battery with a current value of 0.7 to 1.1 Ampere can also be used in equipment with low current consumption, but this will affect the operation of the equipment itself. For example, the TV remote control will work, but at a close distance and you may have to hold the command switch button longer.
It also happens that in this moment There are no fresh batteries at home or not enough, and your nose is bleeding, you urgently need to start some device with low current consumption. In this case, the ones with the highest current are selected from the dead batteries and installed together with new ones.
Advice. If the batteries in the equipment are low, do not rush to change them all at once. As a rule, galvanic cells are not discharged evenly, and there are always elements that can still serve. Therefore, be sure to check them before throwing them away.
In addition to the article, be sure to watch the video. Suddenly, you missed some point.
Now I think that it will not be difficult for you check the battery for performance.
Good luck!
Most people have a habit of not throwing away used batteries and store them, what if the charge appears again?
AA batteries are often mixed, as a result, when we need to replace the battery in a watch or any other device, we do not know which one is charged and which one is not. And checking the charge is almost impossible, because few people have a special device for this in their home.
But now you will forget about this problem forever, because "So simple!" I have prepared a video for you that shows an elementary way to check the battery charge.
How to determine if the battery is charged
As you can see, if batteries are thrown from a small height, the charged ones will “remain on their feet”, and the discharged ones will fall. By remembering this tricky tip, you will forget about the problem of finding charged batteries.
Show this video to your friends! Surely it will be useful to them too!
This is a real creative laboratory! A team of true like-minded people, each an expert in their field, united by a common goal: to help people. We create materials that are truly worth sharing, and our beloved readers serve as a source of inexhaustible inspiration for us!
A battery is a universal portable power supply that powers most portable devices. There are many types of batteries - from simple salt batteries to powerful ones. lithium-ion batteries. During operation, they tend to discharge, and new batteries are not always supplied fully charged. Therefore, you need to know how to check the battery with a multimeter.
What is a multimeter
It is easy to check battery cells at home with a multimeter. This is a measuring device that can perform several tasks:
- Voltage measurement;
- Current test;
- Resistance measurement;
- Checking diodes, transistors, capacitors
- Frequency measurement.
The convenient thing about this device is that all measurements are carried out by it alone, without the need to have many different meters. In addition, in most cases it is portable, that is, you can measure the parameters of electrical circuits both in the field and at home.
Most multimeters (also called testers) themselves run on batteries.
Portable batteries differ both in operating principle and in appearance. Main types of batteries:
All cylindrical types of charge storage devices have an operating voltage of 1.2 to 1.6 volts. The voltage of Kron type elements is 9 V, and flat 4.5 V. The performance of the element depends on the load to which it is connected.
In low-power devices, a decrease in battery voltage does not affect performance for a long time, but in powerful devices, such as cameras or electric motors, even a slight drop in voltage will cause equipment failure.
Batteries also differ in the type of internal filling. The following types are distinguished:
Also, all batteries are divided into two types: primary, that is, galvanic cells and secondary, that is, rechargeable or rechargeable. The former are usually cheaper, but must be disposed of after use. The latter often have smaller capacity, are more expensive, but can be recharged with a charger.
Current test
To understand how to check a battery with a tester, you need to know the parameters of the charge storage device, which includes batteries and any portable batteries.
A fully charged power supply must have the manufacturer's specified output terminal voltage within ±5%, and must deliver a specified current sufficient to power the load for which it is intended to be used.
In order to check the battery current, it is important to properly configure and connect the tester. You need to do the following:
If the current value is within 4 - 6 amperes, then the element is “fresh” and can be used for its intended purpose. With readings from 3 to 3.9 A, the battery life is reduced, but it will still work for some time. If the current is 1.3 - 2.9 A, such an element can only power low-power equipment. If the readings are lower, it is better to replace the battery, and the battery with such parameters needs to be charged.
Voltage test
A less dangerous method of checking batteries is a voltage test. When testing important portable power sources, both voltage and amperage must be checked. To find out the voltage you need:
- Connect the multimeter probes to the appropriate sockets: red - into the hole marked Ω, U, Hz, black - into the socket marked COM$
- Set the DC voltage measurement mode;
- Select the measurement limit - up to 20 V;
- Attach the probes to the terminals of the power source. The polarity does not matter much, since the values will still be displayed correctly, just with the opposite sign;
For example, for an 18650 battery, if everything is done correctly, the meter will give values from 0 to 3.7 V. If the numbers are more than 3.5 V, then the battery is fully functional. With values from 3.0 to 3.5 V, the resource of the element is reduced, but it can be discharged in devices of lower power. If the voltage is below 2.9 V, the power supply needs to be charged. The minimum acceptable voltage for such batteries is 2.4 V; a lower value will contribute to the degradation of the battery electrolyte.
Capacity Definition
The capacity of a battery is a value that determines how long it can work as an energy carrier for a circuit at a certain current. It is expressed in ampere hours for powerful batteries and milliamp-hours for small ones. For example: if on AA battery it is written 1000 mA ⋅ h, then, with an output current of 1000 mA, it will discharge in an hour.
It is possible to determine how to measure the battery capacity with a multimeter only if you have battery, since for measurement it will need to be completely discharged. After this it will be impossible to use a galvanic cell. To determine the battery capacity using the test discharge method, you need to:
Measuring phone battery parameters
It often happens that the phone runs out of battery quickly. In this case, you need to check the parameters of its battery for a decrease in capacity. Knowing how to check the battery capacity of a phone with a multimeter is necessary not only for specialists in portable equipment repair shops, but also for ordinary users who are thinking about replacing a smartphone battery.
To check you need determine the voltage supplied by the battery and its capacity, determined by the control discharge method. These parameters should be indicated on the phone battery or in the operating instructions. If the values obtained during the experiment differ by more than 20% downward, it may be worth replacing the battery.
Knowing how to check a phone battery with a multimeter, you can quickly identify the malfunction of this element, find out its condition if it is no longer new, and determine the approximate service life.
Knowledge of checking battery capacity using a tester will be useful in many situations: from the issue of replacing camera batteries to testing the capacity of a car battery.
Differences between regular batteries and rechargeable batteries
Is it possible to charge a regular battery?
Galvanic cells are alkaline (alkaline) and saline. The chemical reactions occurring in them are irreversible. Therefore, the question of how to charge the battery remains unanswered. Some “Kulibins” try to breathe new life into the product using a conventional mains charger, exposing its contacts and applying batteries to the contacts, but such attempts result in strong heating of the element and can result in an explosion, hand burns and other troubles. Although, to be fair, it is worth saying that the battery can sometimes be restored in this way, but no more than 15%, so the game is not worth the candle. You can also heat the battery with a hairdryer, beat it with a hammer, or simply tap it on something hard, but these methods are ineffective and sometimes dangerous.
 |
| Battery structure |
How to charge a battery
It's a completely different story with battery cells - they can be recharged using a special charger. It is not difficult to determine in the store which batteries can be charged and which cannot. To do this, just look carefully at the packaging.
On charging modules, unlike regular ones, there is the inscription mAh, which stands for “milliampere per hour” and indicates capacity. The higher the battery capacity, the longer its operating cycle before recharging. The word “rechargeable” is printed on the body of such a module, which means “rechargeable” in English. Rechargeable batteries are much more expensive than regular batteries, although the latter may not be cheap, especially when it comes to alkaline cells. If the product contains the inscription “do not recharge”, this means that the model is not of a renewable type and is not subject to cyclic recharge.
Galvanic and battery models have different voltages: 1.5V and 1.2V, respectively. There is also an inscription about this on the case, but you can check it yourself with a multimeter, or in the case of batteries, a “smart” charger.
So, answering the question of how to charge a AA battery, let’s summarize:
- A regular battery cannot be recharged, although it can be partially restored using homemade methods. Having used up the charge quite quickly in a powerful electrical appliance, it can still serve in a low-power device. After this, it must be disposed of. At the same time, alkaline elements, as a rule, are more “long-lasting” than saline elements. With rare exceptions. But then brand and cost play a role.
- After exhaustion, you can “breathe” new life into the battery by charging it, and so on many times in a row. Modern batteries are designed for an average of 1000 recharge cycles. And the larger the capacity declared for them, the higher the chances of long-term operation in demanding devices.
Understanding the above allows you to choose the optimal source of electricity for your devices, thereby ensuring its long-term operation.
How to check the charge of a regular battery?
Over time, a large number of used batteries accumulate in every home. Don't rush to throw them away. Some will actually have to be recycled, but a good part will still be useful in household appliances: players, flashlights, remote controls. To sort energy sources, you need to figure out how to test a battery.
Multimeter
The first and most reliable way: using a multimeter. To begin with, you can conduct a test without load, immediately eliminating unsuitable batteries from the total number. The multimeter turns on, the mode for measuring voltage is selected, and the limit limit is set to 20V. Next, we apply the probes to the battery contacts and see what value appears on the screen.
The remaining battery life is determined by the tester readings:
- voltage more than 1.35 V - the battery can be installed in any household electrical appliance;
- indicators are in the range of 1.2 V – 1.35 V - the element is suitable for less demanding devices;
- the value is less than 1.2 V - the product can only be thrown away; testing it under load is pointless.
Obviously, there are no difficulties in how to check the battery with a tester. The procedure is also simple to perform with a load, for example, using a light bulb. The test will show the voltage of the product if you insert it into an electrical device. This will help determine in which device the energy source can still be useful.
Let's consider in order how to check batteries with a tester under load:
- It is necessary to attach the multimeter probes to the contacts of the power module being tested.
- At the same time, connect a load (you can use a small light bulb) and wait 30 seconds.
- View the result.
- Sort batteries according to the following criteria: with a charge of 1.1V and below, only recycle them; with a charge of up to 1.3V, you can use them in a flashlight or remote control. If the battery has a charge of 1.35V, then it can be used in watches, players, cameras and other devices.
Without a multimeter
If you don’t have a tester at hand, you can check the battery’s performance in a simpler, but less accurate way. To do this, you need to lift it perpendicular to a horizontal hard surface at a height of 2–3 cm and carefully release it.
If the battery is working, it will fall with a hard sound and, most likely, will remain standing. The exhausted element will make a muffled sound when falling and will tip over.
If the method does not help, increase the height of the battery drop to 20 cm. A charged cell will simply fall on its side, but a discharged one may jump several times and fly several cm away from the place of fall. There is an opinion that this method The test only works with alkaline batteries, but there is no exact confirmation of this.
Well, the easiest way to check the performance of a battery is to insert it into one or another device, for example, into a remote control, which requires a minimum residual resource for operation. If the batteries do not work in the remote control, you can safely throw them away.
Charge the battery correctly
Even the highest quality galvanic modules quickly exhaust their charge. Another thing is rechargeable ones. They will last much longer, especially if you know how to charge rechargeable batteries Right.
Refurbished modules are classified depending on the base material and are:
- nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd);
To replenish their energy, chargers are sold, both regular and “smart”. The latter, as a rule, have more advanced functionality: capacity testing and restoration, preliminary discharge, trickle charging, detection of non-working batteries, overcharge protection, etc. Each charger has its own charging current, which determines the charging time of the batteries.
In this regard, it is easy to calculate how much to charge the batteries with a particular device. To do this, use the following calculation: divide the declared battery capacity by the numerical indicator of the charge current, then multiply the result by 1.4. This formula is suitable for all elements.
In addition, there are a number of rules, compliance with which will help extend the life of the battery and ensure its productive operation.
- The higher the charging current, the faster not only the charging time, but also the wear of the battery. Therefore, you should decide what is more important for you: charging speed or battery life, and choose a charger accordingly.
- Any new battery other than lithium requires molding. That is, it needs to be completely discharged, and then charged, and so on 3–4 times. This is important so that the battery reaches its potential and the charge is retained fully after all subsequent cycles. Device and principle lithium batteries does not require compliance of this rule. For them, it is much more important to often prevent complete discharge; it is enough to do this once every two months, and keep the charge within 20 - 80%.
- Dead batteries can often be restored using a smart charger that supports capacity recovery mode.
 |
| Regular charger |
That's all. We looked at ways to check the charge of a regular finger cell and how to charge rechargeable batteries. As you can see, these simple procedures allow you to make maximum use of the energy of portable units, save money, treat electrical devices with care, and dispose of unusable products in a timely manner.
A fairly large number of devices and appliances, whether at home or at work, use finger-type elements and their varieties as a power source. Sooner or later, the question arises of how to check the battery, how to measure the capacity and determine the performance of the battery and the advisability of its further use.
Rechargeable and regular batteries
The fundamental difference between a battery and a regular battery is the ability to recharge the element using a special device. When wondering how to check the capacity of a battery, just look at the element itself - on the body of such a battery its capacity is displayed, expressed in mAh (milliampere/hour). All batteries, from micro-finger batteries to phone batteries, must have their capacity indicated. Since a phone battery has a number of structural features, it is advisable to consider only cylindrical batteries.
Galvanic cells are alkaline (alkaline) and saline. The chemical reactions occurring inside such batteries are irreversible, which indicates the impossibility of restoring a battery that has used up its charge, although if you really want, such batteries can be heated with a hairdryer, beaten with a hammer, or connected to charger, which will lead to restoration of up to 15% capacity. However, such operations should be carried out at your own peril and risk, since during such manipulations the battery case may become depressurized and a chemical burn to your hands or other troubles may occur.
Adviсe:
- It is not recommended to store discharged batteries in the body of an electrical device or near other objects, due to the possibility of electrolyte leakage and damage to surrounding objects;
- Due to their toxicity, batteries must be disposed of in specially designated areas and not thrown into regular trash cans. The locations of such places can be easily found using the Internet.
Checking the battery charge
There are several ways to answer the question of how to check the battery charge with and without additional devices.
Using a multimeter without load
The most reliable measurements will be taken using a tester. Initially, it is advisable to carry out measurements without load in order to exclude initially dead batteries.
Measurement procedure:
- Select the tester operating mode intended for measuring DC voltage;
- Fix the measurement limit – 20V;
- Apply the tester probes to the contacts of the battery being tested and determine the voltage;
- Record the multimeter readings.
Tester measurements indicate:
- If the battery voltage is more than 1.35V, it can be used in any household electrical appliance;
- With tester readings in the range of 1.2-1.35V, the power element will be useful for less demanding devices;
- Multimeter readings less than 1.2V indicate that the element is unsuitable for further use.
The question of how to check a battery with a tester has been answered, but this measurement method characterizes only the EMF or potential difference of the battery; it is possible to more accurately analyze the state of the battery by connecting some load to it.
Using a multimeter with a load
It is most advisable to use a regular flashlight light bulb as a load element, because it provides the required current of 100-150 mA.
To check the battery with a multimeter, you must:
- Connect the tester probes to the battery contacts;
- Connect the light bulb in parallel and wait 30-40 seconds;
- Record the result obtained.
Conclusion from checking batteries with a multimeter:
- Readings of 1.1V and below characterize the tested element as unsuitable for further use;
- An element with a voltage value of up to 1.3V is considered suitable for use in a flashlight or remote control;
- With a voltage value of 1.35V or more, it is possible to use the battery in any electrical appliance.
By measuring current
Measurements in this way, although the most accurate, have an extremely negative effect on the life of the battery as a whole. This method is applicable to new batteries and allows you to evaluate their power immediately upon purchase.
Method for testing a battery with a multimeter:
- Select the operating mode of the multimeter designed to measure the maximum value of direct current;
- Briefly apply the probes to the battery contacts;
- Record the tester readings.
The normal current for a new battery is 4-6A. Readings from 3A to 3.9A indicate a reduced service life, however, the element can be used in electrical equipment. With current values ranging from 0.7A to 1.1A, the battery can satisfy low-power devices.
Checking without a multimeter
When faced with the problem of how to test a battery without a measuring device, do not despair. If necessary, you can check the battery charge without a multimeter. To carry out such a check, it is necessary to lift the element above a flat horizontal surface to a height of about 2-3 cm and carefully release it. WITH high probability The discharged battery will bounce off the surface and fall horizontally. A charged battery will fall with a more dull sound and remain in an upright position.
The explanation for this behavior of batteries is quite simple. If the battery is new, it contains electrolyte in the form of a gel. When a battery hits a surface, the gel absorbs the impact and the battery does not bounce off. If the battery is discharged, then due to chemical reactions the gel turns into a more solid state. When it hits a surface, the battery absorbs and bounces off it. This method of determining battery charge is less accurate, but if necessary, it can help.
The information provided introduces batteries for electrical appliances and devices, their structure and features of operation and disposal. The methods discussed will tell you how to check the battery capacity and battery performance with and without additional equipment.
Video
Loading...
