Testing Batteries With a Multimeter - AA Battery Test
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Date: 2023-11-17
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Comments and reviews: 30
education
okay this is a good video but you missed just one thing a lot of us don't know how to work a multimeter as well as you do and I don't think you mentioned what setting you have to put it on since it's 1. 5 volts I think you want to have it on the setting of less than four volts or lower volt setting so that this shows up or maybe your multimeter just does it automatically either way you should mention that just saying
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okay this is a good video but you missed just one thing a lot of us don't know how to work a multimeter as well as you do and I don't think you mentioned what setting you have to put it on since it's 1. 5 volts I think you want to have it on the setting of less than four volts or lower volt setting so that this shows up or maybe your multimeter just does it automatically either way you should mention that just saying
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Darko
You can simply measure short circuit current in a short period of time not to drain or overheat the battery. If the short circuit current is more than few amps (depends on the battery) battery is usually good.
To do this put the multimeter in DC Current mode in AMPS (not miliAmps) and test it: red on plus, black on minus side. Testing should not be longer than couple of seconds (2-3) to prevent damage to the battery
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You can simply measure short circuit current in a short period of time not to drain or overheat the battery. If the short circuit current is more than few amps (depends on the battery) battery is usually good.
To do this put the multimeter in DC Current mode in AMPS (not miliAmps) and test it: red on plus, black on minus side. Testing should not be longer than couple of seconds (2-3) to prevent damage to the battery
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Kevin
I pull the batteries out of lights & such when I put them in storage, in case of corrosion. I end up with a lot of partially used batteries as a result.
If I use the 100 ohm load test described, should anything below 1. 5V be recycled? I expect battery requirements will depend on device the device, but I'm looking for a good (not perfect) rule for keeping good (used) batteries.
Thanks for posting this!
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I pull the batteries out of lights & such when I put them in storage, in case of corrosion. I end up with a lot of partially used batteries as a result.
If I use the 100 ohm load test described, should anything below 1. 5V be recycled? I expect battery requirements will depend on device the device, but I'm looking for a good (not perfect) rule for keeping good (used) batteries.
Thanks for posting this!
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pmailkeey
If I get suspicious about a battery, I'll short it briefly then check the voltage. If the voltage is down a bit and going up, it's not so good. If the voltage is pretty much he same and not going up, it's ok.
If the voltage is lower than 2/3 of the rated voltage, it's dead. Others above this but not 'full' will join the line of semi-dead batteries to die over a period of time driving a clock!
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If I get suspicious about a battery, I'll short it briefly then check the voltage. If the voltage is down a bit and going up, it's not so good. If the voltage is pretty much he same and not going up, it's ok.
If the voltage is lower than 2/3 of the rated voltage, it's dead. Others above this but not 'full' will join the line of semi-dead batteries to die over a period of time driving a clock!
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Lynxit
He totally forgot too mension that even if the voltage is under the specific 1. 5 V for ex aa, or aaa batteries is still usefull, Its when the battery is totally useless the voltage is under 0. 8 V and not worth using at any device for ex a remotecontrol for a tv. Soo never throw your batteries away before using them up them totally. Is both good for nature and your less spend money
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He totally forgot too mension that even if the voltage is under the specific 1. 5 V for ex aa, or aaa batteries is still usefull, Its when the battery is totally useless the voltage is under 0. 8 V and not worth using at any device for ex a remotecontrol for a tv. Soo never throw your batteries away before using them up them totally. Is both good for nature and your less spend money
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Rambojazdude
Hi everyone. I've tried this method. I bought a big bag of resistors from 1 ohms to 40k and despite following this tutorial, the voltage does not drop at all for AAA, AA and 18650 batteries. I've switched to the ohms setting on the multimeter and it does show near enough the right ohms for the resistors.
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Hi everyone. I've tried this method. I bought a big bag of resistors from 1 ohms to 40k and despite following this tutorial, the voltage does not drop at all for AAA, AA and 18650 batteries. I've switched to the ohms setting on the multimeter and it does show near enough the right ohms for the resistors.
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Duly
Yeah, bc everyone has a resistor just laying about!
In conclusion: if it tests over 1. 5 (no resistor) the battery is good - > 1. 49 and the battery is no good. Is this correct?
Let me tell you about the time my EX husband handed me the capacitor from a camera flash - twice!
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Yeah, bc everyone has a resistor just laying about!
In conclusion: if it tests over 1. 5 (no resistor) the battery is good - > 1. 49 and the battery is no good. Is this correct?
Let me tell you about the time my EX husband handed me the capacitor from a camera flash - twice!
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Boats
First of all, the battery inside the multimeter (1. 5v or 9v) must be brand new for most accurate results.
If the internal battery is dead, you will be getting false readings like 1. 5volts on a nicd/nimh battery, 1. 7volts on an alkaline, 240volts AC on wall plug etc.
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First of all, the battery inside the multimeter (1. 5v or 9v) must be brand new for most accurate results.
If the internal battery is dead, you will be getting false readings like 1. 5volts on a nicd/nimh battery, 1. 7volts on an alkaline, 240volts AC on wall plug etc.
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Cantu
You know what would be great? A whole section of multimeter instructions. How-to's! I understand there are actual college classes the subject? I would be obsessed with that playlist.
I have this giant Fluke my boss paid $1000 for and I only use, like, five functions.
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You know what would be great? A whole section of multimeter instructions. How-to's! I understand there are actual college classes the subject? I would be obsessed with that playlist.
I have this giant Fluke my boss paid $1000 for and I only use, like, five functions.
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FYGar
Hi, amazing video and great info! One question: Can you use the multimeter to test for current without the resistor? I mean, is there any buit in function that will act like a load to measure current? I'm using a regular cheap generic multimeter. Thanks
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Hi, amazing video and great info! One question: Can you use the multimeter to test for current without the resistor? I mean, is there any buit in function that will act like a load to measure current? I'm using a regular cheap generic multimeter. Thanks
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patrick
Thanks! I've been having issues with batteries passing a voltage no-load test as being good but the devices they powered not working well. I didn't know that inserting a 100 Ohm resistor method would provide such a different result.
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Thanks! I've been having issues with batteries passing a voltage no-load test as being good but the devices they powered not working well. I didn't know that inserting a 100 Ohm resistor method would provide such a different result.
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Jeff
Wouldn't the meter inherently provide a load (resistance. simply by having the current flow through its wires and internal electronics? Why is there even a need to provide a load to measure the potential difference?
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Wouldn't the meter inherently provide a load (resistance. simply by having the current flow through its wires and internal electronics? Why is there even a need to provide a load to measure the potential difference?
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Sarsaparilla
if you don't have a resistor, load your batteries into a TV remote control, that oughta put some load on it. Then measure the voltage on the battery terminals while they're in the remote control.
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if you don't have a resistor, load your batteries into a TV remote control, that oughta put some load on it. Then measure the voltage on the battery terminals while they're in the remote control.
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education
Huh, just used the testing method with the resistor on one of my 9V blocks. It starts at 4. 3V and falls rapidly, which from what I can tell makes me pretty sure that that battery's dead.
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Huh, just used the testing method with the resistor on one of my 9V blocks. It starts at 4. 3V and falls rapidly, which from what I can tell makes me pretty sure that that battery's dead.
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Lee
There is a reason why we shouldn't check car battery by using general multimeter as this video mentioned, when a lower rated voltage in a battery will only be detected when it is dead.
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There is a reason why we shouldn't check car battery by using general multimeter as this video mentioned, when a lower rated voltage in a battery will only be detected when it is dead.
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engineering_mindset
With many batteries lying around the house, the kids end up mixing them with new ones and they all read 1. 5v, a load test will surely help separate them, thanks
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With many batteries lying around the house, the kids end up mixing them with new ones and they all read 1. 5v, a load test will surely help separate them, thanks
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Luis
Is there any way we can measure the current from the battery?
For example, if it's a 25000mAh AA battery, how can I measure the 2500mAh current output from the battery?
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Is there any way we can measure the current from the battery?
For example, if it's a 25000mAh AA battery, how can I measure the 2500mAh current output from the battery?
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SubwayJack
. if it has. 86 volts left it means there's still energy in it?
But it can't produce the rated voltage and so any device that would use it would say their dead?
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. if it has. 86 volts left it means there's still energy in it?
But it can't produce the rated voltage and so any device that would use it would say their dead?
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Music
1) So a reading of 1. 0V means battery is dead. If dead shouldn't it read zero volts?
2) Again, if a battery is dead why can it read fully charged at 1. 5V? Thanks
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1) So a reading of 1. 0V means battery is dead. If dead shouldn't it read zero volts?
2) Again, if a battery is dead why can it read fully charged at 1. 5V? Thanks
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Keiko
Why does it sometimes read 1. 5 but is not good and how is that then helpful knowing it's still 1. 5 if it's not a true test?
Also what number is considered dead?
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Why does it sometimes read 1. 5 but is not good and how is that then helpful knowing it's still 1. 5 if it's not a true test?
Also what number is considered dead?
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Bill
I don't understand how the current goes through the wires to the resistor and doesn't just go straight through the battery like it does without the resistor attached.
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I don't understand how the current goes through the wires to the resistor and doesn't just go straight through the battery like it does without the resistor attached.
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Mike
Great way to test it with a light load. It can also be tested under load in the device it's installed if it's accessible, but I like your way for a quick test.
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Great way to test it with a light load. It can also be tested under load in the device it's installed if it's accessible, but I like your way for a quick test.
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FantasticOtto
How would this compare to a consumer battery tester? Can battery testers also show 1. 5 v when depleted or do they have that resistor trick built in?
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How would this compare to a consumer battery tester? Can battery testers also show 1. 5 v when depleted or do they have that resistor trick built in?
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Hctor
Does this work to test a car battery? If so, what size of a resistor is required? Also, does the resistor size increase depending on the volts of a battery?
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Does this work to test a car battery? If so, what size of a resistor is required? Also, does the resistor size increase depending on the volts of a battery?
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Jim
What if the resistor is more than 100 Ohm. I used a small usb music player as resistor having 8 MOhm. Perhaps that is no good, since the current is too small.
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What if the resistor is more than 100 Ohm. I used a small usb music player as resistor having 8 MOhm. Perhaps that is no good, since the current is too small.
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Abdul-Kareem
what if ur multimeter has several options for alternating current, but only one (600v) for dc? is there a way to test aa or aaa batteries then?
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what if ur multimeter has several options for alternating current, but only one (600v) for dc? is there a way to test aa or aaa batteries then?
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Christopher
Good golly, there has got to be a simpler way to test batteries. All this test equipment you'd have to buy at your local hardware store.
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Good golly, there has got to be a simpler way to test batteries. All this test equipment you'd have to buy at your local hardware store.
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fivetimesyo
I just drop it on one end on a hard surface from a couple of inches high. If it bounces, it's still good. If it flops, it's dead.
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I just drop it on one end on a hard surface from a couple of inches high. If it bounces, it's still good. If it flops, it's dead.
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Brightbirdie
Video should be titled how to check a battery with a multimeter AND a resistor. What if I dont have a resistor lying around?
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Video should be titled how to check a battery with a multimeter AND a resistor. What if I dont have a resistor lying around?
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munibabu
How long any battery for that matter, will expire if at all we don't use after the purchase? Please answer in technical terms.
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How long any battery for that matter, will expire if at all we don't use after the purchase? Please answer in technical terms.
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