How to Use a Multimeter as Battery Tester
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@howardarby
I’ve been using a multimeter for years and any dead battery I tried reads at about 0.8 – 0.9V.
I have never seen a dead battery read higher than that with my meter.
hmm, let me see $5 meter from Horror Freight, or a $500 Fluke made in the USA? well, for testing 1.5v battery, it doesn’t matter… for testing a 5 amp fuse.. that’s a whole other story.
this is WRONG!
Even a near dead batery will read around 1.5 for alkaline, 1.2 for NiCd, etc. because theres’ a static charge. Instead, you need to test the battery under a slight load. I was looking for a way to do this w/ a Volt-Ohm meter (multimeter) . this doesn’t show that.
See “1AppleMaker” about 11 comments below mine, he notes the same issue:
“ATTENTION: Using multimeter can only determine the voltage while the battery has no load. However, if you want to test whether it really…
I get them for free at H-F
@caesiume I’ve never laughed so hard at a YouTube comment. Thumbs up.
I have the same one, great info! now i can test my 1.5v battery… but can i hook this up to my car battery to get the voltage?
So what are “good” battery reading numbers?
How low does the numbers go before the battery is shot 1.3, 1.0, .85…?
What if a AA battery (1.5v) says 1.2 or 1.0 Does that mean the battery is shot?
anyone knows how to charge a multimeter mine has a blank screen no juice i guess and no way to open and replace the battery…
lol costco batteries
simple and easy to understand.
I have the same multimeter and did exactly what you did, even on brand new batteries and nothing happened. What do you think is wrong? If anyone can help me.
Aww CMON!!! This meter already HAS a battery test position right on it! located at the one o’clock position in the dial! It works only for 1.5V and 9V batteries, but in your case, that is the setting you SHOULD have used for your video.
very well made video, sharp and clear. Would like to see a test done on a car/boat battery. Thanks.
@Lunawebs Thank you , very good info. Have the exact same multimeter. *****
ATTENTION: Using multimeter can only determine the voltage while the battery has no load. However, if you want to test whether it really has the capacity to run, you will need a “Battery Tester” which in term puts some load on the battery, which in term, will give you a more conclusive result. Multimeter is NOT a battery tester in a way that you can determine it’s juice level.
I have this exact same multimeter and it was running great, and I went to test my car battery and now it doesnt work, the digital screen still shows but nothing reads
did I break it?
1:02 NICE voice twitching.
The simple voltmeter test shown in the video is an inadequate battery test. An alk or carbon cell battery that is nearly exhausted can still have 1.5 volts if not loaded.
ok now test the MIliamp from this battery for real battery tester
very nice video. thank you very much.
Unless the battery is completely DEAD testing with a simple voltmeter like this gives false readings,
@stewartx5 For a typical voltmeter the impedance is 10MΩ, which almost doesn’t load the battery. It’s way better to measure the battery with a typical load connected. As a battery gets old, its equivalent Thevenin resistance raises. That increment can be seen way easily if you connect a load.
cool.i got the exact same multimeter!
@mmers > ‘.. it has to be under load ..’
A load is not needed to test simple voltage, but, even if that were not true, the resistance within the meter’s circuitry (along with probes and probe leads) would certainly place a sufficient load on the battery for testing purposes.
This test is not indicative of the health or capacity of the battery. To properly test a battery, it has to be under load. You can connect it to a little bulb or a dc electric motor and once the motor is functioning, you can check the battery.