Battery life

[Tromp]

Is there a quick way of checking if there is still adequate life in those " 2032" coin type batteries ? Say from a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor.

[V12man]

Check the voltage with a voltmeter - if it's more than about 0.2v below spec, then it's on its way out, and time to replace it.

[Tromp]

No Heath Robinson ( ? ) way , like drop it in water . If it sinks its okay . If it floats , it is not ?

Edited April 9, 2014 by Tromp

[Tromp]

posted 2x . Sorry

Edited April 9, 2014 by Tromp

[BigToe]

tongue test?

[Thomo]

No Heath Robinson ( ? ) way , like drop it in water . If it sinks its okay . If it floats , it is not ?

 

A Heath Robinson or MacGyver would be nice.

Been thinking about getting a battery tester too ... so many little batteries to keep an eye on nowadays.

And because a battery seems to work in one gadget doesn't mean it will work in another if it's not fit to do so.

[Vangar]

Voltmeter all the way. The China shops are great for them. Bought one for 20 bucks there. Checked it against a friends fluke. 95% as accurate.

[V12man]

No Heath Robinson ( ? ) way , like drop it in water . If it sinks its okay . If it floats , it is not ?

 

Yup - you can drop it in a river.... if it sinks it's broken, or lost.... either way, you will get a new one that will work...

[cfcjim]

A simple multimeter can be misleading you need to check batteries under load.

 

A meter may read almost 100% of the nominal battery voltage but once in the unit (HRM, remote control etc.) it fades quickly.

 

You can buy multimeters with a "Batt Test" button this places a resistive load across the terminals and gives a far more accurate picture of a battery's condition than a simple voltage measurement.

[V12man]

A simple multimeter can be misleading you need to check batteries under load.

 

A meter may read almost 100% of the nominal battery voltage but once in the unit (HRM, remote control etc.) it fades quickly.

 

You can buy multimeters with a "Batt Test" button this places a resistive load across the terminals and gives a far more accurate picture of a battery's condition than a simple voltage measurement.

 

if you want a really proper test, speak to gary@afribat.co.za

 

He has kit to test batteries properly.... and I mean properly... makes my fluke look like a kids toy.... (and yes the fluke has a battery test setting - and several settings I have NO idea how to use.)

 

Of course - getting Afribat to test the battery will cost more than a packet of CR2032's....