Battery Tool Description

The BATTERY TOOL

The BATTERY TOOL is a portable, microprocessor controlled battery tester and cycler designed for use with 4 to 9 cell packs. The unit is 3" x 5" with storage area for test cords, fits neatly into your flight box. Reads voltages to 16 volts and can test a pack for capacity and cycle pack if needed. With a push of the button the unit reads out milliamps drained and voltage, one digit at a time. The BATTERY TOOL and your charging unit becomes a complete battery maintenance system.

A voltage reading checks the charge of dry cell, gell cell and lead acid batteries. Attach the aligator clips to a 4-9 cell pack. The middle led on the display lights when they are correct. Push teh button for 1 sec. or less and the voltage will read out one digit at a time. Starting with the letter (E), then the numbers, one or two digits for volts, then a period, followed by tenths and hundredths.

A loaded voltmeter is needed to check nickel cadmium (nicd) and nickel metal hydride (nimh) batteries. Their voltage when not in use sometimes drifts. To use as a loaded voltmeter, attach the battery pack to be tested. Hold the button down until the number of cells appears in teh display (about 4 sec.). Release the button. The upper bar on the display should start flashing. Wait 30 seconds, push teh button for 1 sec. or less and the voltage under load (E) will display. The unit will display the capacity it has drained (C) first, before the voltage.

The BATTERY TOOL drains a pack to check for capacity. It's preset to drain at 300 mah, an average about what most 4-5 servo systems draw. This is a higher rate than most cyclers use, and gives a better indication of usaable power. To do a capacity test, charge the pack to be tested. Remove the red jumper connection, push and hold the button until the correct number of cells is displayed, then release. The BATTERY TOOL led will start flashing. You can check the progress at any time by pushing the button. The capacity (C) will display in milliamps, followed by the voltage. When the led stops blinking the battery has reached its limit. Push the button to read the usable capacity.

Cycling is used to completely drain a nicd pack to remove memory or the resistance to discharging at a usable rate. Memory can be a problem with nicd batteries. Cycling 2-3 times should correct this. To cycle a nickle cadmium pack, begin as for checking capacity. (See above). When the unit stops draining, install the red jumper. Hold the button until the correct number of cells is displayed, then release. The led display will start blinking again, eventually becoming intermittent - when it's down to flashing only once every 4-5 sec. the battery is drained. If you didn't disconnect the pack from when you started, pushing the button will now read out the total capacity of the battery. Remove the pack and SLOW charge it.

The Universal Test Lead set has 2 leads with ends designed to fit the charging jacks in models and ends to fit the charge jacks on transmitters. A pollyfuse (auto resetable fuse) is included with the test lead set. It goes inside the transmitter to bypass the charging diode and provide protection.

Single test leads can be ordered at $8 ea. Extra pollyfuses are $2 each.

ORDER FORM: Print and Mail

2720 4th Ave. North * Great Falls, MT 59401 * (406) 727-3001


The BATTERY TOOL The BATTERY TOOL is a portable, microprocessor controlled battery tester and cycler designed for use with 4 to 9 cell packs. The unit is 3" x 5" with storage area for test cords, fits neatly into your flight box. Reads voltages to 16 volts and can test a pack for capacity and cycle pack if needed. With a push of the button the unit reads out milliamps drained and voltage, one digit at a time. The BATTERY TOOL and your charging unit becomes a complete battery maintenance system. A voltage reading checks the charge of dry cell, gell cell and lead acid batteries. Attach the aligator clips to a 4-9 cell pack. The middle led on the display lights when they are correct. Push teh button for 1 sec. or less and the voltage will read out one digit at a time. Starting with the letter (E), then the numbers, one or two digits for volts, then a period, followed by tenths and hundredths. A loaded voltmeter is needed to check nickel cadmium (nicd) and nickel metal hydride (nimh) batteries. Their voltage when not in use sometimes drifts. To use as a loaded voltmeter, attach the battery pack to be tested. Hold the button down until the number of cells appears in teh display (about 4 sec.). Release the button. The upper bar on the display should start flashing. Wait 30 seconds, push teh button for 1 sec. or less and the voltage under load (E) will display. The unit will display the capacity it has drained (C) first, before the voltage. The BATTERY TOOL drains a pack to check for capacity. It's preset to drain at 300 mah, an average about what most 4-5 servo systems draw. This is a higher rate than most cyclers use, and gives a better indication of usaable power. To do a capacity test, charge the pack to be tested. Remove the red jumper connection, push and hold the button until the correct number of cells is displayed, then release. The BATTERY TOOL led will start flashing. You can check the progress at any time by pushing the button. The capacity (C) will display in milliamps, followed by the voltage. When the led stops blinking the battery has reached its limit. Push the button to read the usable capacity. Cycling is used to completely drain a nicd pack to remove memory or the resistance to discharging at a usable rate. Memory can be a problem with nicd batteries. Cycling 2-3 times should correct this. To cycle a nickle cadmium pack, begin as for checking capacity. (See above). When the unit stops draining, install the red jumper. Hold the button until the correct number of cells is displayed, then release. The led display will start blinking again, eventually becoming intermittent - when it's down to flashing only once every 4-5 sec. the battery is drained. If you didn't disconnect the pack from when you started, pushing the button will now read out the total capacity of the battery. Remove the pack and SLOW charge it. The Universal Test Lead set has 2 leads with ends designed to fit the charging jacks in models and ends to fit the charge jacks on transmitters. A pollyfuse (auto resetable fuse) is included with the test lead set. It goes inside the transmitter to bypass the charging diode and provide protection. Single test leads can be ordered at $8 ea. Extra pollyfuses are $2 each.
ORDER FORM: Print and Mail
*2720 4th Ave. North Great Falls, MT 59401 * (406) 727-3001**