Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

[redwire]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Some (good) battery blue ESR measurements:
AAA Panasonic alkaline, 0.11 ohms, 0.13 ohms
AAA Ikea alkaline, 0.07 ohms
AAA chinese alkaline [weak almost dead] 0.2 ohms
AAA Energizer lithium, 0.22ohms, 0.24 ohms
----------------------------------------------
AAA Ikea Ladda NiMH 900mAh charged, 0.06 ohms. Discharged, 0.06 ohms
AAA Eneloop NiMH 750mAh charged, 0.17, 0.23
----------------------------------------------
9V Energizer Industrial alkaline, 1.2 ohms
9V Duracell alkaline, 5.0 ohms I just want to take a leak?
----------------------------------------------
12V 7.2Ah gel-cell good 3yrs on standby, 0.03 ohms
----------------------------------------------
AA Ikea Ladda NiMH 2,450mAh new, 0.03 ohms
AA Eneloop Pro NiMH 2,450mAh used, 0.06 ohms
----------------------------------------------
AA Ikea alkaline, 0.05 ohms
AA Duracell alkaline weak, 0.77 ohms I just want to take a leak
AA Duracell Procell alkaline weak, 0.70 ohms I just want to take a leak
AA Duracell Procell alkaline weak, 0.13 ohms
----------------------------------------------

I think the main advantage to using ESR is it doesn't depend on state-of-charge, so dead or alive it checks the plate's active surface area and cell interconnects etc. which go downhill with corrosion.
But I really need to build a new blue ESR meter with an extra digit of resolution.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

AnaTek worked with Bob Parker to get the Blue ESR Meter assembled for sale.
I would trust anything he says because he would know!

As for ESR getting better with charge cycles,... It could happen.
I have seen old caps that have just sat around in equipment unused get better
after some time back in service. Reform I guess.

You got me playing with battery's at my desk now!

New AA alkaline 1.5 volt reads .00 on the Blue while Old almost dead ones removed from my belt flashlight read 1.0 ohms. Same brand from the same package!

Interesting!

Another interesting thing is if you put one sharp tip test lead on the bottom of a cheap
AA battery you can touch the positive and negative through the plastic at the same time producing a red glow hot enough to make a small blister on your finger!

Never done that before! Ok,...I`m done testing stuff now. LOL

[jayjr1105]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

What ESR chart did you go with?

I've heard measuring battery ESR can also be done if you add a series DC blocking capacitor. Good for many testing different batteries, LiIon and car batteries with the Blue ESR meter.

This guy seems to think the meter can check batteries charged or not.
https://youtu.be/toq3msUeQ40?t=207

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Looks Good Enough to do the job jayjr !

Everybody can use it if you want. Its not to fancy but it works!

I remember typing the omega / ohm symbol was a pain for me!
The colors just looked kinda cool. I saw similar on the net and they got added at the end.

I have two printers that i use. One HP Laser Jet P1006 for cheap black and white and
a HP Office Jet Pro 8210 for color printing.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Interesting the "old" table seems to include some compensation to limited testing frequency, but the "new" graphs do not...

Now to attach a table to the AVR transistortester ... heh...

[jayjr1105]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Glad to help... looks more professional in color. lol
I know i love mine now!

I should have printed it out at work on our $3000 copier instead of my monochrome $80 home laser printer. It looks good enough and I didn't use sticker paper either. I was just really careful with packing tape and used a razor to trim the excess.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Glad to help... looks more professional in color. lol
I know i love mine now!

[jayjr1105]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

I kinda made one from the old Bob Parker meter.

Thanks for the printout. Doesn't look as "professional" as the original but 10 times more useful.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

bcstedt,..

About your FA error code.
Lots of reading gives me this from Bob Parker. (Don't try out the self-diagnostic function unless you really need to. And don't use a 9V battery with the diagnostic function because it will report an 'F2' fault which probably doesn't exist. It must be powered by 5.5v to work properly.)

As far as errors and faults check here. http://www.bobparker.net.au/esr_meter/esrprob.htm

Lots of good Info on errors and problems with the Blue ESR Meter from Bob himself!

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Those minor upgrades add up to ease of use!
The longer leads would keep me from dragging my Blue around so much!
Nice job on the holder!

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

doesnt esr on batteries vary with charge?

i know on 18650's i salvage that they look a lot better after a full cycle

I never tried testing 18650's.
Just lead acid, nickel metal hydride and nickel cadmium's.
Can't recall really checking for charged verses dead.
Lots of charged verses charged to compare their health is all.

[jayjr1105]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Did a few more minor upgrades. New thicker and longer cables, better banana plugs, cut off the massive finger guards on the probes, and 3d printed a case that holds the meter upright.

[stj]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

doesnt esr on batteries vary with charge?

i know on 18650's i salvage that they look a lot better after a full cycle

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Cool,... You got a new toy!

[redwire]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Hey I looked at the schematic and it's already got a 22uF BP cap to block DC and not damage the ESR meter
It must be other shitty ESR meters I've built like the 5-transistor special that need a cap.

Tried a bad 12V 7Ah gel-cell and its ESR 2.3 ohms, a good one is 0.1-0.2 ohms.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Hey redwire
You can measure battery ESR with the Blue as is. No need to add anything.
This is only if you did not do any diode mod to your meter!
(back to back diodes on the input)

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

I can`t recall but i bet there was some hot air involved.

[jayjr1105]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Did the included sticker give you trouble removing it? I agree it's a bit too vague. Need a simple chart. Plus I put mine on a little too high so you can't quite see the decimal positions if it's slanted too much.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

Printed it to sticker paper and after applied I put clear laminate over it!
I made a bunch in case i messed up. lol
Worked fine on the first one.

[volkswagenvan]

Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

I kinda made one from the old Bob Parker meter.