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Battery-specific adapters are available for all
major batteries; user-programmable cables with alligator clips
accommodate batteries for which no adapter is on hand. Batteries
with shorted, mismatched or soft cells are identified in minutes
and their deficiencies are displayed on the LCD panel.
User-selectable programs address different
battery needs. The Cadex 7000 Series features ‘Prime’
to prepare a new battery for field use and ‘Auto’ to
test and recondition weak batteries from the field. ‘Custom’
allows the setting of unique cycle sequences composed of charge,
discharge, recondition, trickle charge or any combination,
including rest periods and repeats.
More and more battery analyzers now measure the
internal battery resistance, a feature that enables one to
test a battery in a few seconds. The resistance check works
best with lithium-based batteries because the level of internal
cell resistance is in direct reflection to the performance.
The resistance measurements can also be used for NiMH batteries
but the readings do not fully disclose the battery’s condition.
One of the most powerful features offered in
modern battery analyzers is battery quick testing. Within
two to five minutes, reasonably accurate state-of-health (SoH)
readings are available. The test is independent of the state-of-charge
(SoC). Some charge is needed, however, to facilitate the test.
New requirements of battery analyzers are the
ultra-fast charge and quick prime features. When a battery
is inserted, the analyzer evaluates the battery, applies an
ultra-fast charge if needed, and prepares the battery for
service within minutes. Such a feature helps the mobile phone
industry, which receives a large number of batteries under
warranty. With the proper equipment, many of these presumably
faulty batteries can be jump-started instead of replaced.
To accurately test batteries that power digital
equipment, a modern battery analyzer is capable of discharging
a battery under a simulated digital load. The GSM waveform,
for example, transmits voice data in 567 ms bursts with
currents of 1.5A and higher. By simulating these pulses, the
performance of a battery can be tested under these field conditions.
Not all analyzers are capable of simulating such short current
bursts. Instead, medium-priced battery analyzers use a slower
motion to accommodate the load signals. Pulse duration of
5 ms, or ten times slower than the true GSM, is commonly used.
Another application involving uneven load demand
is the so-called 5-5-90 program used to simulate
the runtime of analog two-way radios. The battery is loaded
5 percent of the time on transmit, 5 percent on
receive and 90 percent on standby. Other combinations
are 10-10-80. Each stage can be programmed to the appropriate
discharge current. Because of the different load conditions,
calculating the predicted runtime in the absence of a battery
analyzer would be difficult.
Easy operation is an important feature of any
battery analyzer. This quality is appreciated because the
user is confronted with an ever-increasing number of battery
types. Displaying the battery capacity in percentage
of the nominal capacity rather than in milliampere-hours (mAh)
is preferred by many users. With the percentage readout,
the user does not need to memorize the ratings of each battery
tested because this battery information is stored in the system.
The percentage readout allows an added level of automation
by implementing a recondition cycle if the set target capacity
level cannot be reached.
Some analyzers are capable of setting the appropriate
battery parameters automatically when a battery is inserted.
An intelligent battery adapter reads a passive code that is
imbedded in most batteries. The code may consist of a jumper,
resistor or specified thermistor value. Some battery packs
contain a memory chip that holds a digital code. On recognition
of the battery, the adapter assigns the correct service parameters.
Automatic battery identification minimizes training and allows
battery service by untrained staff.
Most analyzers are capable of printing service
reports and battery labels. This feature simplifies the task
of keeping track of batteries. Marking batteries with the
service date reminds the user when a battery is due for service.
Labeling works well because the basic service history is attached
right to the battery.
A battery analyzer should be automated and require
minimal operator time. The task of the operator should be
limited to scheduling incoming batteries for testing, marking
the batteries after service, and replacing those that did
not meet the performance criteria. Occasional selection of
the correct current rating and chemistry may also be necessary.
Properly used, a battery analyzer generates major cost savings
in terms of longer battery life and more dependable service.
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