Testing Batteries

[chrisjw]

Can someone confirm how I test a Riva battery with a mm please?

[maccafan]

What do you want to test?

[chrisjw]

Rather than keep fitting it in to the charger, I want to test if it's fully charged with the mm. In other words I don't want to rely on the green light to say it's fully charged...........I also need to know what it should show when fully charged.

[maccafan]

Switch DMM to DC Volts 0- 20V..Black probe to threads or outside of battery connector and red probe to center pin and press fire..

If reading is between 4.0-4.2 volts, battery is fully charged..

[garrydibley]

Some of the riva, ego type batts regulate the voltage.
If you have one of this type you will just see the regulated output no drop off on the meter.

[chrisjw]

Thanks guys.........Just tried a charged Riva & it shows 4.18

[chrisjw]

Would I do the same for a 18650?

[DiscoDes]

yes


Sent from my HTC smartphone
Predictive text is a piece of shot.

[chrisjw]

What should the 650's read?

[maccafan]

If it is a regulated 3.3 volt ego battery you cannot use a multimeter to determine when the battery is fully charged. You have to rely on the charger.

Such batteries will measure between 3.4-3.5 volts at all times without load. See Gary Dibley's post above..

[chrisjw]

Thanks macca...........The reading on the 650 is 3.69

[Gordy]

be careful that the multimeter probs dont cause a short by connecting the center pin to the outter edge of the connector

with the 18650 you would take the battery out of the LT and put the re probe on the battery nipple and the black on the bottom

if you try testing while in the LT you will just get the voltage that the LT is set to

[Gordy]

trying to cover all bases as we know you too well Chris

[chrisjw]

Jul 7, 2012 13:34:16 GMT Gordy said:

trying to cover all bases as we know you too well Chris

I've been waiting for that......................

[dave]

chrisjw if you don't want to run the risk of shorting the battery the tankometer is your friend!

www.safercigs.co.uk/Tankometer_Voltage_tester/p705283_6533697.aspx

This also has the advantage that you can stick your cartomiser or whatever in the other end and see what the voltage drops to when it is firing something up. You have only got to save yourself frying one Riva to virtually pay for it - not that I am implying anything