2006-10-13 21:01:36 · 12 answers · asked by amadhatternmd 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
First, I'm talking about standard disposable batteries. I know that you can read the voltage with a multimeter, but voltage is not a measurement of the amount of power in the battery. Isn't the actual amount of charge measured in amperage or ohms? Which one is it, and is there anyway to find out how much is left in your battery? You know how some of the expensive Duracell and Energizer batteries have meters that tell you how much charge is left in them by pressing on two spots?
Well, if a battery doesn't have this, can a multimeter be used to tell how much power the battery has left?
2006-10-13 21:54:45 · update #1
select the DC Volts range
Red Lead to positive
Black Lead to negative
Even if you reverse the leads will give the correct voltage
...hope this helps
2006-10-13 21:10:19 · answer #1 · answered by java 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes. set the meter to the voltage of the battery. uusually 1.5 volts,
use the test probes with correct polarity and read the voltage scale.
Most multi-testers have a battery scale anyway which should show in the green zone. If yours doesn't then you need to get a full
or nearly fulll reading for the selected voltage.
2006-10-13 21:22:25 · answer #2 · answered by Edward C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the voltage on open circuit and then check it on load if there is a significant drop your battery's on the way out,unfortunately only experience will tell you how much charge is left. I used to do this with teleprinter batteries back in the fifties.
2006-10-14 01:38:29 · answer #3 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u cannot fig out the amount of charge left by using a multimeter...however, u can fig out the voltage diff between the + and - terminals to check whether they are the same as specified by the manyfacturer...smetimes when the batt drains out, the voltage diff tends to fall
2006-10-13 21:06:45 · answer #4 · answered by rahul_sett1981 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the type of battery. Voltage is a good indication for alkaline, but Nicads don't drop much in voltage until they're almost dead.
2006-10-14 10:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My local pharmacist uses this method to tell you whether your watch or calculator battery needs replacing. I think his method depends on how much current it can deliver, but to my shame I don't know the details, even though I'm a physics grad with experience in the electronics industry. Ask a pharmacist or jeweller.
2006-10-13 21:44:10 · answer #6 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cant with a multimeter You can however calculate approximently with the battery spec.s and the current that is required for what it is to be used for.
2006-10-13 21:50:32 · answer #7 · answered by msahagen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The charge remaining won't tell you if your batteries are still usable. A battery which won't work in one thing might still have enough charge to run something else.
2006-10-13 21:10:54 · answer #8 · answered by Philip W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set your meter on the low setting put one lead on the positive post and one on the negative post and read the meter.
2006-10-13 21:12:31 · answer #9 · answered by Gunslinger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put the red lead on positive, black lead on negitve and read the meter
2006-10-13 21:03:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋