Testing for batteries 

Combining versatility with compact yet robust construction, the new BITE5 battery tester from Megger provides comprehensive facilities for testing lead acid (VLA and VRLA), NiCD and lithium-ion batteries. Featuring an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, this innovative instrument supports both impedance testing and, when used in conjunction with a load bank, discharge testing. Ohmic testing can be performed on individual cells or on entire strings, up to a maximum of 200V.

“Storage batteries are playing an increasingly important role in many sectors, from domestic solar power systems to standby power sources for critical business applications,” said Sandy Woodley, Sales Manager Power Products at Megger. “There is therefore a clear need for a convenient and versatile instrument for testing these batteries. Drawing on our many years of experience in the battery test sector, we’ve developed the BITE5 to meet this need by providing users with the full range of essential battery test facilities in a single instrument.”

Measurement options provided by the new BITE5 battery tester include cell impedance, cell voltage, cell ripple voltage, AC ripple current and DC float current. For impedance tests, users can set pass, warning and fail limits for impedance and voltage. For discharge tests, measurements are recorded throughout the full discharge period. Historical trending can be displayed on the instrument’s integrated touch screen and the stored results can be downloaded via a USB connection or an SD card for detailed analysis and archiving. Wireless transfer of data to Megger’s PowerDB measurement software suite is also supported.

Among the additional features provided by the BITE5 battery tester are provision for measuring DC voltages up to 1,000 V and AC voltages up to 600V. This means that it is ideal for making measurements on solar combiner boxes, and for checking the input and output voltages of inverters used renewable power systems.