I recently saw the YR1035+ for $22.31 on the AliExpress SuperDeals section.
I have the older model YR1030+ and it has worked great and the numbers match well with the cell datasheets. I paid $35 three years ago.
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I only have 2 meters. The BA1020 and RC3563. I like the RC3563 better as it is easy to calibrate and gives me good consistent readings. The BA1020, while it claims better accuracy and adds another digit to the readings, it is more involved to calibrate. You need two specific resistors and a 5 volt and 15 volt reference voltage source.
Unfortunately the first RC6353 I got was badly inaccurate and refused to calibrate. So far the vendor has not responded. So I guess I am out the money.
The good thing is that you can get them for about $23, but with no leads. But even with three sets of leads, including an upgraded fixture for testing cylindrical cells, it is still under $50. So, as long as you get a good one, this is my choice.
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You didnāt say whether you were looking for an AC or DC IR meter butā¦
For DC, I like the Progressive RC (āWayne Gilesā) meter.
For AC, the YR1030 or YR1035, with the latter being the more accurate version (Chinese-only menu when I bought it though).
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I would too, but that guy is not what I call ābudgetā. At least not when compared to the kind of ~$25 meters we have discussed here.
I did a bunch of reading on it, and it looks like I would have to figure out something to wire it up to do a single cell. It looks like it is more aimed at measuring packs that have balance charging cables attached.
The only thing I donāt like about those is, at some point they dropped the ability to calibrate them.
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Agreed, many would not call that budget. But it actually is. The DC IR metering function in round cell chargers is essentially useless and good units like the BK Precision BA6010 (which I also use) are much more expensive.
This is only my experience with both units but theyāre still within 8% of what my BA6010 reads after years of use. I havenāt needed to (re)calibrate.
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How did you setup the āWatne Gilesā Mark II meter to test single cells? I guess getting a balance charge connector and using only two specific wires? What kind of leads do you use?
Holding the cell? Just by hand maybe?
I am intrigued by the meter, but curious how much work and expense it would be to use it for single cylindrical cells. Which is mainly what I would want it for.
quite the expert haha, it didnāt occur to me AC and DC IR meter
I am a simple person, whatever is cheap and reliable/consistent
nothing too fancy, so I am inclined to making the YR1035 with the battery holder my next purchase
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Thank you for the feedback!
I wonāt delve into computer data connection on the IR meter, so YR1035 would be my choice
and since youāve mentioned lack of calibration on this model, I will need to get some reference resistors to check the meter for accuracy
I donāt remember the specific mods that need to be done and I canāt get to them without unsoldering the button from the pcb but Iām pretty sure you are correct.
I removed the balance wires, soldered on my own wires, and now use a spring-loaded ā20Aā cell testing jig from AliExpress for the four wire testing.
I also retained the two main test leads as they are needed for reading very high IR cells. The balance lead method canāt handle cells much beyond 35mOhm (forgot the spec for this).
The RCGroups forum should have the specific mods in a post as thatās where I was hanging out when the meter was released by Wayne.
The RC3563 has been on sale for a few weeks now for $22.90 shipped to my door with the basic probes. The Kelvin clips or the cell holder cost a tad bit more. I would honestly recommend getting all three of the accessories OR skip the cell holder that comes with the RC3563 and buy a ZKE Tech Cell Holder (itās a 4 wire holder) and use a GX16 (pretty sure itās a GX16 and not a GX12 4 pin female connector to wire up the ZKE Tech cell holder. Iāve run my ZKE Tech cell holder at a constant 20A MANY times and it has performed flawlessly even when I had cells getting to 80 Celsius).
The YR series has one advantage over the RC3563 and that is the automatic grading mode that allows you to enter high and low parameters and it will beep a pass or fail so you donāt have to look at the meter.
The RC3563 allows you to measure MUCH larger/lower resistance cells than the YR. I think some of the YR versions have a Low Z mode that allows you to get a bit more accuracy in the sub milliohm range but just today at work (my company does second life storage of mostly LiFePO4 cells) my coworkers were using the YR-1035(? I thinkā¦it has the USB connection) and we were getting 0.26mR on most of the CALB 180Ah cells but my RC3563 was reading more like 0.35mR. I was really confused and was worried my RC3563 wasnāt accurate so I tested a cylindrical cell and both meters matched exactly at 13.21mR. Obviously the digits further out that 2 places past the decimal donāt matter as they have the same accuracy, the RC3563 just has the pointless extra resolution. But as far as Iām aware the RC3563 can accurately read in the sub milliohm range whereas most or all of the YR models canāt read below 0.50mR and the one that can (YR-1035+?) you have to enable the Low Z mode.
I donāt think you can get another ESR meter at just over $20 with the kind of accuracy and resolution that the RC3563 has.
Actually I looked at the computer software for the RC3563 and it has a grading feature available too you just canāt use it on the meter as a standalone feature. Not sure what else the software offers.
Hereās a post from Wolf on SecondLifeStorage forum
Post #13
"I see you referring to the YR1035+ compared to the RC3563? Is the YR1035+ better with AC IR or DC V or both?
If so then I feel another comparison test coming up as I have both of these.
Specs for YR1035+
IR:
20mĪ© 0.01mĪ© 0.7%+7 (when ZR function is enabled)
200mĪ© 0.1mĪ© 0.5%+5
2Ī© 1mĪ© 0.5%+5
20Ī© 10mĪ© 0.5%+5
200Ī© 0.1Ī© 0.6%+5
DC V:
1V 0.35+0.015
10V 0.30+0.010
100V 0.30+0.015
Specs for RC3563 not much info there
Parameters Accuracy:
AC resistance, DC voltage, R:0.5%, V:0.5%
Conclusion:
According to manufacturer spec both have an accuracy range of ā 0.5% for IR. The YR1035+ is a bit more accurate on V
Real life comparison test coming up this evening.
Wolf"
Hereās another post from Wolf
"I do stand corrected 0.16mĪ© Nice!
But as stated above ^^^
Also just a small strip of copper wire 0.069mĪ© all rock solid.
Which is 0.069mĪ© well below 0.16 mĪ©
(Image canāt be transferred via copy and paste)
So again not sure what is happening with your RC3563 but in my case it reads low mĪ© just fine.
Again not saying your RC3563 is not happy with this low of an ohmage and I certainly donāt have as much experience with ELO (Extreme Low Ohmage) nor the Electric Light Orchestra as you have with the LiFePO4 cells.
According to the RC3563 specs it should measure Resistance: from 0.001mĪ© ~ 200Ī© and they are of course just specs from china which we all must take with a grain of salt.
So in the long run I suppose having an YR1035+ and a RC3563 is a given. Although now with the help and guidance of @Oleksii I have the YR1035+ talking to my PC and can also import that data to excel.
For standard 18650 Li-Ion harvesting I still stand by the RC3563 as my favorite, and with the CP2102 chip mod on the YR1035+ a very close second."
The consensus is that the YR-1035+ is the most accurate meter but as far as voltage goes anything under 5V both the YR and the RC3563 do quite well. Whether or not the RC3563 can actually measure with any degree of accuracy down in the 0.001mR range is up in the air. The YR-1035+ is only claiming 0.01mR at 7% +7 (with the ZR function enabled).
The RC3563 used to come with a red cell holder that is identical to the ZKE Tech one. No idea why it is so hard to find now?
I am very happy with my RC3563 and as shown by my (inexperienced when it comes to batteries of any kind) coworkers having a milliohm meter that possibly needs a special function enabled for measuring 100+Ah cells is an issue.
ā¦Granted they also ignored the 99% isopropyl alcohol I brought in to clean the terminals with. The first time I tried using the companyās YR meter the pogo pins were so full of crap that you couldnāt get a solid measurement that would light up the display.
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Thanks!
there is YR2050 for higher accuracy apparently
is this the battery holder you have from ZKE?
looks like battery positioning will be a concern v/s a slotted cradle-style slot
Thank you for the information. I own a YR1035+, and the comparison with RC3563 was very helpful. I am quite happy with my YR1305+ for my useātesting mostly 18650 and 21700 cellsābut your post was informative in that I know there are other options for meters as well as accessory options. I think I will try out the ZKE Tech holder with GX16 4 pin connector.
I have one question for RC3563 users.
I have been using the default 4-wire pins with my YR1035+. The use of the testing pins requires two-hand operation, and thus I use the hold button to freeze the readings while I contact the pins to the battery. Without the battery holder, I think the hold button is critically important.
When I looked at the RC3563, I didnāt see any hold button. Is there a button that holds the readings on the RC3563?
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I got the cell holder available for the RC3563 as an accessory. I have never had the ZKE so I am not sure, but the one they are selling now appears to be much more substantial. I am sure it uses the same type of contacts as the ZKE. I have not tried to take it apart to see how well the wiring is done. It is a molded case rather than the PC board type construction. So far it works well for me. Plus is is wired with the correct plug for the RC 3563. It also works with the BA1020 that I got which is a bonus.
It will hold up to protected 21700 cells. You can get them individually at
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832763307902.html?
spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.166.15f91802wfABqw&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt
But it is cheaper to just buy one when you get the meter.
As to accuracy and displayed digits, I think anything under a single milliohm, or maybe tenths of a milliohm, is beyond what is needed for what most people do with this kind of cheap meter. For LiIon cells, voltage to two decimal places is all I need. The RC2563 is easy to calibrate to the DMM that I use as my standard (and to which my MC3000 is calibrated). Anyway, I am new to this so I am still playing with things a bit. So this is just what I am thinking so far.
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I have an older ZKE. Mostly the same but has a different wire connection mechanism. What Iāve learned:
You have to make sure the mounts are parallel. Itās easy to get them slightly skewed.
Even batteries that are supposed to have a standard lengthā¦arenāt. You have to get the length right. Itās not horribly fussy, but to do 4-channel properly you need the right setting. The notes on the slider are approximate only.
You have to get them in straight. Not hard, but you need good light and pay attention.
It fits a lot of sizes.
Never tried the ones with ānotchesā.