Suggestion for Battery Testing Intruments

dineshmdes

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Jul 14, 2018
Messages
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Hi All,

I am technology enthusiast working on a electric scooter 72V 24Ah.
Can somebody suggest the basic/minimum instruments required to test the battery and controllers.

If possible can someone suggest at least the best voltmeter for this application.

Thank you in advance.
 
I would want a voltmeter and a wattmeter. Neither is expensive.

In the USA, one national chain store gives these voltmeters away if you buy something else. They're good enough to see if your mains AC is live or if your battery has a charge. I have about four of them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DT830B-LCD-Digital-Voltmeter-Ammeter-Volt-AC-DC-Tester-Meter-Ohmmeter-Multimeter/302704532897?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Dd5cc64a3ee86452e9d92412874d4f0ac%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D273412462586%26itm%3D302704532897&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

This is what I use when I need accuracy in a voltmeter.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-Digital-Multimeter-Volt-AC-DC-Tester-Meter-Voltmeter-Ohmeter-34-82141/201571138059?hash=item2eee937a0b:g:vvcAAOSwSTpbzdAE:rk:3:pf:0

I use this wattmeter. It's not accurate as far as watt-hours. The volts are uncalibrated, but is reproducible for amps and amp-hours (aH). Also unreliable. I've had two fail. It's only 10 dollars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-LCD-RC-High-Precision-Watt-Meter-Power-Volt-Amp-DC-Analyzer-60V-130A/292658364532?epid=13021904940&hash=item4423cc4074:g:3gsAAOSwatRbXBon:rk:10:pf:0

In India, you can probably find similar items.
 
dineshmdes said:
Hi All,

I am technology enthusiast working on a electric scooter 72V 24Ah.
Can somebody suggest the basic/minimum instruments required to test the battery and controllers.

If possible can someone suggest at least the best voltmeter for this application.

Thank you in advance.
Voltage only indicates potential and while a Voltage reading might indicate a bad battery(like a dead cell), it does not tell if a battery is "good".
The only way to do that, is to do a "load test", that is, placing a load on the battery and read the dis-charge rate over time/load(ie; the battery doing "work").
Often, load testing is combined w/ Hydrometer readings on electrolite filled batteries to really nail down the state (condition) of the battery.
You might want to review how batteries work to understand that checking batteries requires more than just checking Voltage.
 
dineshmdes said:
Can somebody suggest the basic/minimum instruments required to test the battery and controllers.
If possible can someone suggest at least the best voltmeter for this application.
A Fluke 179 is the minimum I would get if you are serious about this stuff. There are also plenty of good used Flukes out there.

Also:
A volt/amp meter, like the Powerwerx Wattmeter (a lot of places make this same basic device)
A DC load (ideally with an amp-hour test function)
A charger of some sort (the Grin Satiator is a great general purpose charger)
A _good_ crimper (not a universal crimper.) Crimps will determine how reliable your wiring is.
 
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