Is it because of the leads are junk or is it just the meter? Can a calibration fix the lost of voltage?
I will not call the meter junk, but it is not always good at measuring current. Calibration cannot fix it, using a higher range and loosing some digits is often a solution.
@ HKJ I was calling the test leads junk and not the meter (I worded it wrong). Is having the extra digits in a meter worth it or is that just in the UT61E model? Do you have any more reviews on DMM on your website?
If you need extra digit or not depends on you and what you do. You usual also get considerable better precision with one digit extra. I like the resolution and have meters up to 7½ digits.
One example on resolution:
A cheap meter says a LiIon has 4.18V specification for meter says 0.5%+2, this means voltage is betwen 4.14 and 4.22 volt.
A better meter says a LiIon has 4.183V specification for meter says 0.5%+2, this means voltage is betwen 4.16 and 4.21 volt.
A better meter says a LiIon has 4.183V specification for meter says 0.1%+2, this means voltage is betwen 4.18 and 4.19 volt.
I have been meaning to do more DMM reviews, but never had time to do it.
Hi everyone,
I want to share with you my experience with reconditioning batteries method which I find on Candle Power Forums.
Few days ago I was interesting of reconditioning rechargeable batteries after watching the video on “”ezbatteries site”:http://ezbatteriesreconditioning.com Of course I was very skeptical because It looked too good for me. I could not believe that it could be possible, so I decided to check it. I was looking for movies before “how to recondition batteries” on youtube and other websites but I didn’t find any specific information in this topic. Especially when it comes to recondition rechargeable batteries (aa, 18650 etc.) or laptop batteries. I tried before only with car batteries and method turned out to be successful (epsom salt method - is easy to find on youtube). I had to take a risk and spend 47$ for this “extra” guide and… It really works 
Actually I have about 10 reconditioned batteries and I’m in the process of testing performance of this batteries. So far it looks pretty good. I use deep cycle batteries (lead-acid) in my workshop from 2008 and I also wants to test this method for these batteries in the coming days. Soon will share the information about reconditioning this type of batteries. Does anyone have any experience with battery reconditioning? I will gladly share the informations.
A few very expensive meters do it another way and mostly eliminates burden voltage (This does not make them perfect ammeters).
The best way to get a low burden voltage is a DMM with fairly high resolution and then use a higher range than required, like you say. Knowing the DMM and when to do that select next range is very useful.
Many DMM’s have 3 current shuts:
uA shunt, mA shunt and 10A shunt, matching the settings on the switch. This means the low uA and low mA range has low burden voltage, but the high uA and high mA (often x000uA and x00mA ranges) has high burden voltage. To get low burden voltage select next higher range for these two ranges when using more than 10% of the range.
I.e. when measuring 0.5mA (500uA), do not do it on the uA range, but select the mA range.
Same with 50mA and up, use the 10A range (Most meters are missing a xA (like 2A) range).
A meter like UT61E with a 22000 reading will give a acceptable resolution in most cases.
In total there are 4 options for measuring current:
- A normal ammeter (DMM in current range)
- A external shunt with a DMM, this way the best shunt value can be used.
- A feedback ammeter, but it is way to expensive for most people.
- A clamp meter, they are usual not good at low current and precision is not as good as the above solution.
1) is the worst in burden voltage and 4) is the best (In some situation 3) can be slightly better).
Except 3) all can be found at hobby friendly prices.
It is not that long time ago (Sometime last year) there was some talk and also a group buy of a cheap UNI-T clamp meter (UT210E) that could measure DC on the clamp. With carefully zeroing it could work down to a few mA. Big Clive is using the same clamp meter in his recent videos.
Thanks for the replies!
Amen to that…. :+1:
HKJ has forgotten more than I know or will most likely ever know.
Same goes for gauss.
Thanks for sharing & trying to help us mere mortals out. And I say that in all seriousness……. :+1:
.
Can Eneloops be stored in the kitchen with heat from the oven or does it has to be stored in a cooler place?
AFAIAC it makes little difference as long as it is not in the hot oven or on top of the hot stove. 
I have had them stored in truck glove box or under seat for years, thru cold
of winter (0 F) , hot of summer (120 + F inside truck), and anything in between. I can tell no real world or use difference. They all still hold rated capacity & work just fine.
I am sure there is a “text book” answer that would be different and give semi strict parameters of use & storage…. but for me, the real world route is & has been working just fine.
My .02 …. ymmv.
Is battery reconditioning discharge and charge of a battery? How long does it take to discharge and charge (example) Eneloop AA?
It depends on the charger used and the charge/discharge parameters set.
I am going from memory here, but I think using my Lii 500 charging at 1000 ma is roughly 2 hours. It then automatically chooses the discharge rate of 500 ma (for that charge rate) so that is about another 4 hours. So roughly 6 hours for a reconditioning or capacity measurement cycle with the Lii 500 for an Eneloop AA.
But bare in mind you will just be doing this every now and them most likely……
With the Maha MH-C9000 it can be done much faster, if one so desires; because of the adjustable charging rate from 0.2 to 2.0A and discharging rate from 0.1A to 1.0A. But it also costs about 2.5 times as much as the Lii 500.
I have both chargers but actually pretty much have just gone to using the Lii 500. I am usually in no rush and just start it up and go to bed and when I awake it is finished doing it’s thing.
Here is a link to HKJ’s review of the Lii 500……
http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20LiitoKala%20Lii-500%20UK.html
Here is a link to HKJ’s review of the MAHA MH-C900 ……
http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20Powerex%20MH-C9000%20UK.html
Keep in mind the Lii 500 will also work with rechargeable LiIon cells… the C-9000 will not.
Also, please note: These are the only two that I am gonna mention. There is a long list of other chargers out there that some will say are better. That may or may not be true. Personally, I have come to the point that I do not care. This is what works for me… when & if it quits working for me I’ll regroup. Till them I am content with using what I have.
To be honest the endless search for something better, the latest & greatest; is largely just a bunch of BS to me. Untold amount of dollars wasted in search of the holy grail…… :person_facepalming: … To me it has & is becoming just plain out stupid to continue this nonsense.
If something works, use it and be happy is my new motto. SURE, if something comes along that is new technology &/or clearly better… I’ll sure give it a look. But otherwise… no thank you. I’d rather spend my time using what I have than using the time in the endless search for something “better”.
Off my soapbox now…… good luck.
Thanks for the replies teacher!
I was doing some reading on the forum and the terms coming up that I didn’t known what they meant by battery reconditioning, charge/discharge, refresh (confusing).
By letting the charger go through the night while sleeping, Is it dangerous? You don’t know if the cells are getting hot, overcharging, or doing something that it not supposed to be doing.
In HKJ review on the Maha C9000 he wrote that the cell might not always be filled. Does that mean it stop before it reaches the max voltage?
Sure thing buddy. :+1:
Those terms refer to different modes for the charger to do different things. You can pull up a user manual far the charger and it will explain what each mode is for.
Personally, with NiMh batteries I Do Not worry about it. I guess something could always go wrong, but the sky could fall too.
I have never had a problem.
With LiIon cells I do things a little differently though. 
Just get you a Lii 500 and if you do not like it I’ll buy it back from you.
Talk soon……… :+1: …
@ teacher
I had some spare time today, so I got caught up on the homework reading the information in the links you posted
There some good information on DMM in those links.
With protected Lithium cell, when the protected circuit trips is the cell render useless or can it be reused?
When a battery is not charging right or to its max voltage, acting weird, is that when you use the refresh setting on the charger?
@ Venom
Excellent, glad you had a bit of free time from the “salt mine”… Glad the info helped a bit…. I learned a lot myself getting it together.
In most cases of tripping to prevent over discharge the protection circuit can be reset with no problem.
Usually the refresh mode is used for older batteries or batteries that have been unused for several months. It kinda “exercises” them & gets them going again.
BTW, I have only ever had one protection circuit activate…… long ago I fell asleep while playing with a light and it tripped sometime during the night. :person_facepalming:
I put it in the charger the next morning & it reactivated right away.
I said all that to say this……… Protection circuits tripping on a regular basis is not something that happens if you are halfway paying attention. Falling asleep while playing with light is zero attention……
@ teacher
Just by putting the battery in the charger it will reset the protection circuit or is there more to it than just that?