Rechargeable batteries are a blessing, especially if you own a ton of electrical devices that use AA’s. The problem with them is that they don’t last forever. Like every other battery, NiMh or NiCd batteries loose some of their capacity with every charge/recharge. That can lead to some headaches, especially if you’re relying on some juice only to find out that you only have 5 minutes of it.
You could sit around with a multimeter and check each battery every time you use it, but then again you have a life, or could build yourself and automated battery capacity tester like Instructables user BrianH did and make your life a lot easier.
BrianH has a full write up chocked full of details on building this simple circuit that drains any AA battery, 3 at a time, and records it’s useful capacity in milliamp hours. All packaged up in a nice wooden case.
[Link to Automated Battery Capacity Tester]
DIY: Rechargeable Battery Tester originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2011/09/03. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.
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