Testing batteries

[zhunter]

Originally Posted by duluthdan

Easy. http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools...t-O-Meter.html

I have one. In place testing works on some devices, not on others. Hasn't worked on an installed battery in my Yamaha or Cordoba acoustics. Works on some pedals but not all. Even so, I think it loads the batteries during testing so I prefer it to a plain voltmeter.

Be warned that when testing naked batteries, it is very difficult/impossible to reach the test terminals with a C or D battery.

I like the look of the ZTS. No in place testing but it should test household batteries of most shapes and sizes.

hunter

[MarkF_48]

On the subject of batteries...... take them out of your guitars or pedals if not going to be used for a while. I had a Duracell 9v battery 'blowup' violently just sitting on a shelf next to the pedal I used it in. It blew the bottom out and likely would have damaged a battery holder had it been installed in a guitar or other piece of gear. Sounded like a firecracker and I had no idea what it was at the time. I contacted Duracell and they stated this does occasionally happen.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xCQuOzKNQnV2URzf1

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by Photojeep

And I have no idea how to use one...



PJ

Easy peasy. Set the meter to DC voltage and put the positive lead on the positive pole and negative on the negative. If it reads less than 7 volts or so then that battery is no good.

[brokenpretzel]

i wanted to get the Keith McMillen batt o meter some years ago but it did not work on the trs output of my guitars

[menhir]

I have one of those inexpensive multimeters from Harbor Freight I use to check the wiring on my motorcycle. I never thought of using it to check my guitar batteries.

The probes can reach the batteries inside the soundhole, but is it OK to check the poles while the batteries are still installed so I could determine the voltage without removing the strings? Or would that create some sort of short?

I'm not all that up on electrical stuff.

[ctgagnon]

I had no idea so many people taste-tested 9v batteries. I'm gonna get rich with bacon flavored 9v batteries!!

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by BT55

Any guitarist playing in front of an audience has to deal with your battery conundrum.

I do not. There are NO batteries in my signal chain.

Steve

[Paraclete]

Ha! Why spend money for a fancy tool when it is so much more entertaining to taste test? Of course, we do joke in the band about it too...who wants to double check to make sure my tongue is accurate?

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

Easy peasy. Set the meter to DC voltage and put the positive lead on the positive pole and negative on the negative. If it reads less than 7 volts or so then that battery is no good.

If the battery reads 7v in my Taylor, I already know its no good as the sound would sound like a bad fuzzbox was in the signal chain.

[kaos]

I picked up one of these at lowes:



https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-A...ster/999970932

[ManyMartinMan]

Originally Posted by varmonter

so how do you do it ?? how do you know how many amp hours are left. if you have to play a 4 hr gig. and you have 4.5 amp hrs left do you change it or take a chance.? .....

I change batteries after every third gig. I don't take chances or let them die during a professional event. I tongue-test prior to installation. If I'm going to go to the effort to check a battery, I just go ahead and change it. However, I would never intentionally let a battery go dead during a paid event.

[zhunter]

Originally Posted by 1neeto

Easy peasy. Set the meter to DC voltage and put the positive lead on the positive pole and negative on the negative. If it reads less than 7 volts or so then that battery is no good.

The downside to this approach is the battery is tested unloaded. The measured voltage will drop when under load. A weak battery reading 8v unloaded might read 7v under load.

hunter

[MarkF_48]

Originally Posted by zhunter

The downside to this approach is the battery is tested unloaded. The measured voltage will drop when under load. A weak battery reading 8v unloaded might read 7v under load.

hunter

A couple of digital meters I have, have battery load test functions...

This one has LED lights to indicate good/bad
https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3320-A...xtech%7CInnova

This one has a voltage reference guide in the manual for good/weak/bad voltage readings.
https://www.amazon.com/Extech-MN35-D...ds=Extech+MN35

A meter is also handy if you want check continuity of a questionable cable using the 'ohms' function. Not difficult to learn how to use one and there are tutorials on Youtube and elsewhere.

[zhunter]

Originally Posted by MarkF_48

A couple of digital meters I have, have battery load test functions...

This one has LED lights to indicate good/bad
https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3320-A...xtech%7CInnova

This one has a voltage reference guide in the manual for good/weak/bad voltage readings.
https://www.amazon.com/Extech-MN35-D...ds=Extech+MN35

A meter is also handy if you want check continuity of a questionable cable using the 'ohms' function. Not difficult to learn how to use one and there are tutorials on Youtube and elsewhere.

I have an old Wavetek that takes care of my multimeter duties. But no battery load feature on the voltage measurement.

hunter

[Patric P]

I always have a couple spare 9v in my bag, in separate small baggies (so I can tell them from the dead batteries I switched out last week). I don't get paid extravagantly, but I can afford a fresh new battery if I need it at each gig .