Software-calibration of a cheap battery charge-meter from Ebay

Does the software-calibration improve the accuracy of the previously tested battery charge-meter?
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It could if it would have been done in the right way to null out the offset-error of the OpAmp used for current-measurement.
But again it´s not done properly.
Not to speak of the additional error in timing due to the +/-10% tolerance in the internal RC-oscillator of the microcontroller.
So the errors are way off the stated 1,5%.

[@hazim38780]

During calibration, you should deliver 10V after that 2.0Amps and not 0.2A. I have seen other people doing the calibration with 2A. I hope it ll help you

[@johncoops6897]

Yes, he has the current calibration WRONG. It needs to be done at 2.0A, not 200mA

[@procrastinator1842]

I received one of these the other day and found a consistent 12% capacity over read error. I tried the calibration method several times and found that I could use the +/- buttons to adjust the device! I.e. I would apply 10.00V exactly, and the device would read 10.14v, so each tap of the '-' would bring the display down 0.02v until it read 10.00v. Same with current, I applied 2.00A, and the device displayed 2.28A! I was able to bring the displayed number down to 2.00A. It seems the software of this version is slightly different. Note that during the 2.00A current calibration, the voltage is around 8-9v with a ~4 ohm resistor. That is a heat dissipation of up to 18 watts, which is too much for a single 5 watt resistor, so be quick with that particular calibration.

[@diyzona]

It should be 2A for calibration not 200mA

[@2112426gh]

OK Roger I am measuring above 1 amp, hopefully with my 18650's, I need a lil help setting these up and a formula, math etc to figure/correct for accuracy in the 7-?% range. Thanks

[@KainkaLabs]

I really would not use this thing. A correction factor would be dependent on too many (unknown) variables like the timing error of the internal oscillator, the error in the current shunt, the offset of the OpAmp etc. Better use the TEC-06 from this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZfRZHZ7i9JmaNE I already have 3 other capacity-meters lying around here for a video (probably in 1 or 2 weeks to be shot). But the TEC-06 is really a recommendable device for your purpose.

[@matschase]

Thanks for your videos. It kept me from buying a bunch of them, though I do not have a decent alternative on hand... Btw: I was wondering why Kainka sounds so familiar to me. This morning I remembered I've been to your website a couple of years ago to build a power source for an LED. Thats was a logbook entry from 2007 on your web page :D Hope you keep doing such videos, I'm a subscriber now

[@KainkaLabs]

The name of the channel (and our "Brand name") comes from Burkhard Kainka who still is the owner of our business AK Modul-Bus

[@matschase]

KainkaLabs ah, ok. Anyway, very helpful video! Thanks from Koblenz

[@rogerio_8820]

Bom Dia! Acabei de assistir seu vídeo e achei muito interessante... Tenho a seguinte dúvida: o zb2l3 que comprei, quando testo com a configuração de descarga de 1amp, não está informando valores corretos... Por exemplo, uma célula que removi do notebook usado tem capacidade de 2200mah e quando vou testar no zb2l3 diz que tem 3.475mha. isso é correto? OU meu dispositivo está fora de calibração.?? Modelo da célula: LG LGDAS31865. E quando eu junto duas células para fazer um pacote, ela carrega apenas um celular de 3.000ma.

[@KainkaLabs]

Video in English. Questios in English!

[@mortrek]

If you know the offset, you can adjust the load current and then adjust the mAh results after the fact, correct? Or am I missing something? I know it's a pain, but many people cannot afford a $500 Rigol.

[@KainkaLabs]

Get the TEC-05. It was the best for my purpose.

[@AP-514]

KKmoon LED Digital Battery Capacity Meter Discharge Tester Voltage Testing . is this one of the units you will be testing ? sorry double post..(posted on your other video) really want a accurate tester that is in the $10-$20 range (18650 Batteries)

[@KainkaLabs]

No. Looks promising. The next I will test is the TEC-06 Battery Capacity Tester.I have ordered one 3 months ago which apparently got lost in the mail.Yesterday I ordered another one in the hope that this time it will get to me in reasonable time.

[@AP-514]

so what is a good checker ? that is in a good price range ?

[@KainkaLabs]

I have ordered 2 other ones for testing 3 months ago from China but they got lost in the mail. I will reorder them and report if one of them is recommendable.

[@IstvanMagi]

Hello! How to enter the calibration menu in V3.0? Even if I press the three buttons at the same time (+ power on), it won't enter! I have six such cards (all V3.0) and none of them can be accessed.

[@KainkaLabs]

There seem to be different versions on the market. You have to google it or ask the seller! I have abandoned this device.

[@IstvanMagi]

Thank you, there is no information about this yet.@@KainkaLabs

[@MohammedNovalija]

I managed to mess up my board by attempting a calibration. I have the Voltage reading correctly but get error messages when testing for mAh Could anyone clear up what the step is after connecting a 10 Volt supply and pressing OK ? Where do you connect the 2 Amp supply ? Do you remove the 10 Volt Supply ? I notice Kainkalabs that you seem to have a time lapse in your video when you get to this stage of calibration and am unsure if your calibration was succesful. It appears that your board rejected the calibration procedure , as the error was the same after your effort

[@321tryagain]

You need to connect a 0.2A supply to P+ and P-

[@MohammedNovalija]

@@321tryagain LOL - reply after 3 years - have moved on since then but appreciate your thoughtfulness. Is it 2 Amp or 0.2 Amp ?

[@321tryagain]

@@MohammedNovalija 200mA (0.2A) I wrote it because I thought maybe others will have the same question as you :)

[@johncoops6897]

NO - you calibrate it at TWO amps, not 200mA

[@MohammedNovalija]

@@johncoops6897 5 years late reply is better than never I guess. I thank you regardless for your assistance.

[@exgenica]

One very critical result I've found with this device (rev 2.3s) is that the results are VERY CONSISTENT under a given set of conditions and test parameters. And in testing...consistency is goodness. For example, it displays results that are +/-5mAh in measurements of battery packs with capacities over 1000mAh, and mAh plotted vs. time are also extremely consistent under a given set of test conditions (Vtermination, load, etc). In other words, for a given new battery pack/cell, it provides virtually the same mAh capacity over a series of multiple mAh capacity tests for that cell. A REALLY "1410mAh" cell will always result in a measured capacity of X mAh time after time with very little variation in the result. (the "1410mAh" is not what the label says...it is the actual as yet TBD value for that cell. For all I know, the label may fraudulently claim "2500mAh" capacity). In addition, it takes the same amount of time to decrease the cell by Y mAh. For example, it takes 5 minutes to "consume" 100mAh, and always takes very close to the same 5hrs 25minutes to deplete the cell to Vtermination. Logging mAh v. time I could practically use the real-time mAh displayed as a stopwatch...if I see that another 400mAh are reported as having been "consumed", then I can calculate (or plot) that 20 minutes have gone by without even looking at a clock...and I can rely on that same mAh v. time in test after test under the same test conditions. That means one can rely on the consistent results even if one cannot directly claim the DISPLAYED results. The good news is that it means one can formulate an algorithm to compensate under given test conditions to compute the "real" mAh value...or very close to it for a given device....by using results from tests on devices with accurately known values. If a given cell is ALWAYS reported by the analyzer to provide "1325mAh", using the correctional data (if any) from testing known devices one could determine that a report of 1325mAh under the given test conditions is really "1410mAh". CONSISTENCY also means that one can perform COMPARATIVE evaluations that are meaningful in real life. One can for example, determine that a battery pack/cell that tests to and displays 3025mAh is ALWAYS superior to a similar battery pack/cell under test that displays 2400mAh...and it can be inferred that it is superior by an appreciable amount. The superior pack/cell may in fact be 3200mAh or 2950mAh, but it will always be more than the inferor pack/cell and that may be all that one needs to know...that "brand X" is superior to "brand Y" when X and Y are CLAIMED to have equal specifications/performance in a given application. note: the numbers used above do not reflect any real devices or results. They were arbitrarily selected as representative rather than literal.

[@KainkaLabs]

As some other commenters have suggested there seem to be different versions of this device. Getting stable results is only half the price if the absolute value is completely off. As I suggested, try to compare the displayed value of a low discharge current of e.g. 10...50mA with your multimeter in DC-Amps and in series with the charge-meter.

[@jamest.5001]

what's the specs on this . how much current And volts?

[@KainkaLabs]

15V/3A max.

[@DavidLeeMenefee]

Did you mean +8.12V and not +9.82V @ 1:18 . Just saying...PEACE

[@KainkaLabs]

Yes. I screwed it up in the overlayed text. GRRRH.

[@johncoops6897]

Calibration used here is WRONG. It needs to be done at TWO AMPS, not 200mA. Follow the instructions, and calibration will work just fine.

[@Enes_Yildiz]

200mah, thats true. Helpful

[@johncoops6897]

Nothing in this video is helpful. The described way of calibrating the Amps is completely wrong. Therefore, after wrecking that it cannot calculate anything correctly.

[@exgenica]

TEST (cont'd): IS A 25mA OR 50mA CURRENT A SINGULAR CAUSE OF mAh MEASUREMENT ERRORS WITH ZB2L3 ANALYZER? CONCLUSION: Test results empirically show there is no significant error in mAh at the 50mA or 25mA test current that can be blamed on JUST the current being lower and near these values. Any significant mAh difference in other tests must be due to another factor or combination of factors that may or may not be affected by a sub 100mA load current. Note: the same disclaimers and factors apply to these results as in my prior ZB2L3 tests regarding possible differences due to test equipment, components, etc. OVERVIEW: Earlier today I ran a 4.00 hour test at 50mA and a 5.00 hour test at 25mA on the ZB2L3 "rev2.3s" using the same protocols as my earlier tests at 150mA and 500mA currents. (see kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJrMg6Kro6h_jdk&lc=UgwGE7Q5ItTS2YV6HsJ4AaABAg ) I decided to perform these low-current tests because there has been discussion that the ZB2L3 produces errors that increase very significantly under low current conditions. 50mA in particular was noted, and I wanted to see if this error increase would happen with my equipment and protocols. Seeing no impact in the 50mA tests, I took the testing even lower to a 25mA current load. Again, I was stunned by the accuracy and consistency of the results displayed by the ZB2L3 Analyzer I received, even at these low currents. =============================================================== 50mA TEST RESULTS AND PARAMETERS Vsource~12.3V and Load=246.0 ohm to produce ~50mA constant current. (Load=250ohm 10W 5% Ceramic Resistor, measures 246.0 ohms) (Note that ZB2L3 displayed 50mA load is consistent with independently measured 12.30V bench supply output and 246.0 ohm resistor) Here are the results over time as displayed by the ZB2L3 at hourly observation intervals. 0.00 hours, I=50mA, mAh=0mAh..........START of test 1.00 hours, I=50mA, mAh=50mAh 2.00 hours, I=50mA, mAh=100mAh 3.00 hours, I=50mA, mAh=150mAh 4.00 hours, I=50mA, mAh=200mAh....END of test (Note: at the end of the test, the ZB2L3 display actually transitioned from 199mAh to 200mAh about 6 seconds before the 4.00 hour mark. Since 0.01hours=36seconds, I consider that 6 second early transition at 3.998 hours a negligible significant digits issue in this type of test so just recorded it as occurring at 4.00 hours) CONCLUSION (50mA): These empiric results thus show that BY ITSELF, reducing the test current to 50mA is not a significant factor in producing any meaningful error in mAh measurement and calculation. =============================================================== 25mA TEST RESULTS AND PARAMETERS Vsource~6.15V and Load=246.0 ohm to produce ~25mA constant current. Here are the results over time as displayed by the ZB2L3 at hourly observation intervals. 0.00 hours, I=25mA, mAh=0mAh..........START of test 1.00 hours, I=25mA, mAh=25mAh 2.00 hours, I=25mA, mAh=50mAh 3.00 hours, I=25mA, mAh=76mAh 4.00 hours, I=26mA, mAh=101mAh 5.00 hours, I=25mA, mAh=126mAh...END of test CONCLUSION (25mA): These empiric results thus show that BY ITSELF, reducing the test current to 25mA is not a significant factor in producing any meaningful error in mAh measurement and calculation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ edit 201911130915UCT to fix improperly parsed hyperlink

[@OrbOPic]

i know this has a bit of age, there a video like yours where he uses only short jumper wires no resistors " m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKDGaHZ8a7FqbsU" have you tried this way ( infull ) no resistors while calibrating no volt in while calibrating. then after that fact apply resistance an voltage one on one for each item an see what you get.