How do you test batteries in the field?

Hope to learn what field tests are recommended in order to learn if the battery is good/bad.

Thanks!

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Batteries are usually not good or bad, batteries are new, used or worn out.

Battery testing is difficult, needs a lot of experience to interpret measuring results, information and time. The measuring equipment itself is not extremely complicated.

Different battery chemistry needs different test parameters and interpretation of the results.

In general:

Fast test - make sure that the battery is completely correctly charged according to manufacturer specification. Connect a suitable load and monitore the voltage drop. If you have lead based batteries, it gives you an estimation.

Long test - make sure that the battery is completely correctly charged according to manufacturer specification. Connect a constant current load to discharge the battery down to the cut-off (end of discharge) voltage according to manufacturer specification. Count the hours. Multiply the Ampere of your constant current load by the hours and you have the available capacity in Ah.

In the field, if you consider the age of a battery and what the customer reports, very often the situation is that clear that it is not worth a test.

Thank you so much, Hans. Very clear and helpful explanation!

Bring several Resistance for test,

it should be more quickly idea.

Thanks, Rolland. What does that mean?

Normally we test battery in factory is use a Continues Power load to discharge the battery, the Load is a resistance load.

in the field, it is difficult to take a test machine here and there, so that we can use some resistance to test the battery
1. can the battery discharge
2. How long does it discharge,
it should not very accurate, but it may help you judge the battery.

Btw, the connector of resistance can be USB, 2WIRES, DC5521 or others.
the resistance voltage can be 5,12V,

Sometime, I also use the 10watt/5V resistance to test the power bank.

Thank you so much, Rolland. That's very clear and helpful. 

Thanks again for this help.

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