How to test battery capacity

Batteries are an essential power source in our daily life, but as the usage time increases, the battery capacity will gradually decrease. Therefore, it is very important to know how to test the battery capacity, which can help us better grasp the usage of the battery. The following will introduce several simple and easy methods of testing battery capacity.

1. Battery capacity tester

The battery capacity tester is a professional tool for testing lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries. It can test the capacity of the battery, charge and discharge performance, and a practical tool for various safety factors. It is one of the indispensable test tools for battery manufacturers.

2. Multimeter test

The multimeter is a highly versatile electrical testing instrument that can test various parameters such as voltage, current, and resistance. If you want to test the battery capacity, you can adjust the multimeter to the volt position, and then connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery to the pliers of the multimeter. At this point, the multimeter will display the voltage value of the battery. Generally speaking, the voltage of a brand new AA battery should be around 1.5V, and when the battery capacity gradually decreases, the voltage value will gradually decrease.

3. Load testing

Load testing is a more accurate battery testing method that can simulate the usage of batteries in real scenarios. The method is to connect the battery to a device and let the device run continuously until the battery discharges. In this process, the remaining capacity of the battery can be evaluated by the time or power recorded by the test device. However, it should be noted that when performing a load test, the type and specification of the battery must match the test equipment, otherwise it may lead to inaccurate test results.

4. Specific gravity test

Specific gravity test is a traditional battery capacity test method, usually suitable for large batteries such as lead-acid batteries. The specific method is to take out the liquid in the battery and use a hydrometer or buoyancy meter to test its specific gravity. Since the density of the electrolyte is directly related to the battery capacity, the capacity of the battery can be roughly estimated through the specific gravity test.

The above methods can test the capacity of the battery, and each method has its own characteristics. When selecting a test method, it needs to be selected according to actual needs and conditions. At the same time, in order to ensure the accuracy of the test results, it is recommended to conduct multiple tests and take the average value as a reference.