View Single Post
  #43   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 09-02-2014, 14:15
Ether's Avatar
Ether Ether is offline
systems engineer (retired)
no team
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Rookie Year: 1969
Location: US
Posts: 8,102
Ether has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond reputeEther has a reputation beyond repute
Re: BatteryBeak: Utility of making internal resistance and state of charge measuremen


I believe you are correct that the 3 terminals are hi, lo, and ground. Connect the battery thru your ammeter1 to two of the terminals and measure amps. Whichever gives you closest to 3 amps is what you want.

You can measure the volts periodically if you wish. Use the manufacturer's published discharge curves as a reference for what the voltage should be2 as time progresses. If the battery voltage drops well below where it should be, you can stop the test - the battery is weak. If you're getting good readings and you stop the test too soon, you may get a false result - you may think the battery is OK when in fact it is not.

WEAR SAFETY GLASSES and FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PROCEDURES.


1 make sure the ammeter is set to 10 amp (or more) scale or you risk burning it up.

2 ask if you need help deciphering the curves