How do I test batteries?

[thewomenfolk]

Here's my battery tester. Will someone be so kind to show me how to test a battery. I need to test some Tenergy 14500 Lith-Ion batts today.

Still trying to get the image on here correctly.....just forget this thread until I can get a picture on here.

 

[FrogHat]

Yes Brock is correct, 3 clicks to the left. Place the black lead to the bottom of battery and the red lead to the top...............take a reading.

 

[thewomenfolk]

I'm having problems with Photo Bucket (what's new?). I think they need to get some more bandwidth or something, it just spins and spins to it's heart's content. I'll post a picture as soon as I can, don't worry about it til I do. I may have to find another image host that works better. Just let this thread go until I come back.

 

[FrogHat]

I saw your image. Then it went away.
What I said stands.

 

[Switched]

I'm having problems with Photo Bucket (what's new?). I think they need to get some more bandwidth or something, it just spins and spins to it's heart's content. I'll post a picture as soon as I can, don't worry about it til I do. I may have to find another image host that works better. Just let this thread go until I come back.

Use Picassa, it is free, works great, not to mention the plethora of things you can accomplish with it.

 

[BrockJ]

Where'd my post go?

LOL... I see.. double post

 

[thewomenfolk]

Switched, thanks for the tip. I tried Picassa but couldn't see a way to resize the image or to get a url for this forum. Grrrrr. Now Image Shack won't take my sign-in. More Grrrrr.....

I apologize for bumpting this to the top. I just don't want you to think I've abandoned this thread. I really need to learn how to test my batteries but don't have a clue how to do it.

Let's see if this will work.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[forcedfuel50]

If you need me to post a pic for you, send it to supertmanufacturing@yahoo.com and i can post it for you if you want

 

[VaporMadness]

* Rotate the dial 3 clicks to the left.

* That selects to measure DC Voltage (the V with the straight bar across the top indicates DC Voltage, the V with the squiggly line atop indicate AC Voltage) no greater than 20V.

* Leave the test leads as they are with the black lead plugged into COM (that's short for common) and the red lead plugged into V.

* Put the other end of the black test lead on the bottom of your battery.

* And the other end of the red lead on the top of your battery.

* Hold the leads in place and read the voltage on the LCD display of your multimeter.

* That's it, your done, switch the multimeter OFF again.

When Li-Ion batteries are freshly charged, they're expected to read between 4.1 and 4.2 volts. This site has a lot of good info about batteries. Welcome to Battery University

 

[thewomenfolk]

Thanks for that offer, forced. I was getting pretty desperate. My photo starts off way too big but resizes the next time I come to look at it. It's my battery tester and I'd really appreciate someone telling me how to use it to test a battery, like where the dial thing should be and where to touch the batteries with the two prongs.

My photo is about two posts up.

 

[thewomenfolk]

Thanks VaporMadness, I'll give that a try tomorrow! And thanks for putting in the steps to turn off the volt meter! I tend to forget that when I'm testing attys. Thanks again!

 

[BrockJ]

glad it got answered.... let us know what you find / get

next we'll get you to test the ohm load of your atomizers..

 

[CtryBoy]

glad it got answered.... let us know what you find / get

next we'll get you to test the ohm load of your atomizers..

Yes tried to do that myself with no luck. Think the last person that borrowed the voltmeter toasted it somehow. Is 200 ohm range low enough to get a reading on a atomizer/cartomizer. Unit would only read 1 .

Again may be toast or may be um user error.

 

[emsmom]

see below, double post

 

[emsmom]

CtryBoy, you probably need a new battery in your meter? I find the battery in my meter doesn't last very long at all. The 200 setting is where you should be, so that is not the problem. The meter reads 1 when the battery is low or you aren't getting a good connection. Try even holding the wires still for a few seconds and see if you start getting some numbers. Also check to make sure you are plugged in tightly. Another trick to see if your meter is working ok, try the continuity setting and see if you hear the beep by touching the wires together? On my meter, it is the marking that looks like a speaker.

 

[CtryBoy]

It could be battery. Also had a hell of a time getting negative connected. Tips are 90 degree angles with some kind of protective plastic rubber sleeve that must fit just right between the plastic case and an similar sleeve in unit. Finally got the positive perfectly but always seemed to be a kink in the plastic for negative.

Will try a new batt before new volt meter although who around here couldnt use an extra voltmeter to play with.

Is there any truth to BLOWING one up with wrong setting and touching(shorting) leads together? Understand it's safe on continuity, just trying to make sure I know how NOT to ruin one of these buggers.

 

[BrockJ]

If you have it on ohms and test live voltage (Depending on who makes the meter) you can backfeed 110 or 220 through the 9v battery. That's a lightshow 8-o

On higher grade meters (Fluke) they have a protection circuit.
Don't know about yours.


for negative, you can use an aligato clip and clip it to the threads.
That's negative...

 

[thewomenfolk]

I tested 3 AW Li-ion 3.7V 17670 batteries per VaporMadness's good instructions and got readings between 8.4 and 9.9. Is that okay? And how do I test ohms?

 

[VaporMadness]

I tested 3 AW Li-ion 3.7V 17670 batteries per VaporMadness's good instructions and got readings between 8.4 and 9.9. Is that okay? And how do I test ohms?

??? 8.4 and 9.9 ???

That doesn't sound right at all, these are 3.7v batteries. If you have 3.7v li-ion batteries that are reading that high in voltage... that would not be good.

Are these protected batteries or unprotected batteries. Protected batteries should contain circuitry that don't allow them to be overcharged to that level. Unprotected batteries, well, honestly I'm doubtful if li-ion cells can be charged to that high a level really? If they really are that charged up, i'm surprised its not a fireball.

Something is amiss?

 

[New_World]

??? 8.4 and 9.9 ???

That doesn't sound right at all, these are 3.7v batteries. If you have 3.7v li-ion batteries that are reading that high in voltage... that would not be good.

Are these protected batteries or unprotected batteries. Protected batteries should contain circuitry that don't allow them to be overcharged to that level. Unprotected batteries, well, honestly I'm doubtful if li-ion cells can be charged to that high a level really? If they really are that charged up, i'm surprised its not a fireball.

Something is amiss?

highly doubtful.
you're settings on your meter can't be right.
you batteries would have popped long ago.