How to check a phone battery with a multimeter and why it is needed

A smartphone is a portable device powered by a built-in rechargeable battery. A large battery will not work, as manufacturers strive to make phones compact. But it is this element that suffers the most, and after 2–3 years the user notices that the device does not hold a charge. The battery is a consumable material with its own service life, designed for approximately 400 - 600 charge-discharge cycles. You can test your phone's battery with a multimeter to see how worn it is and when to look for a replacement.

Checking the smartphone battery with a multimeter is necessary to understand the degree of wear and tear.

Accubattery

The program measures battery capacity, shows its load and usage data, allows you to optimize energy consumption and extends battery life.

• information about the remaining battery life in sleep and active mode;
• data on the amount of resources consumed by applications;
• charge alerts;
• calculation of wear level during each charging process.

All information in AccuBattery is processed in real time. The calculations take into account screen activity - whether it is on or off. With this application, you can use energy saving mode, track programs that “eat up” the gadget’s energy and get detailed statistics. The advantages of the program are the absence of advertising, a lot of functionality, a simple and intuitive interface.

Compatibility: Android.

Battery alarm

A good application with a standard set of tests, settings and additional user functionality. With this program, you can assess the condition of the battery in real time, optimize its operation and energy consumption.

• basic information: battery status, temperature and voltage;
• control over charging time - warning signal upon completion and auto shutdown;
• energy saving settings;
• thoughtful notification mode.

“Battery Alarm” does not put a load on the system, works even in sleep mode, is small in size and has very simple graphics. Advantages: no advertising. Disadvantages - English-language interface.

Compatibility: Android, iOS.

Battery doctor

The utility evaluates the battery life and extends its life. It increases the battery charging time, evaluates the sources and volume of energy consumption.

What the application can do:

• gives an accurate estimate of the remaining time of use of the gadget based on the current charge level;
• provides the ability to monitor programs with high energy consumption;
• gives advice on saving food;
• controls the charging process.

The program automatically turns off applications that consume a lot of energy, improves battery life and speeds up the device. Features of the utility: Russian language, user-friendly interface, accuracy of calculations.

Compatibility: Android, iOS.

Battery hd pro

This app not only evaluates your battery health but also has a ton of other related features. It shows how much time you have left for making phone calls, watching videos and surfing the Internet before the battery runs out of power. The program analyzes all this data in real time, based on the battery charge level.

• calibration, tests;
• assessment of the battery condition, its heating, voltage;
• indicators of the remaining time until the end of the charge in active and sleep modes.

The duration of calibration in “Battery HD Pro” is 1–1.5 hours. Interface – Russian/English. The advantages of the application are accuracy, many user settings, absolutely free functionality. The paid version of the utility differs from the free one only in the absence of advertising. Otherwise they are identical.

Compatibility: Android, iOS.

How to check a tablet battery with a multimeter?

It is difficult to measure the tablet battery with a multimeter. Some tablets do not have access to the battery. To get to it you have to unscrew the bolts.

Battery life

The program for measuring the maximum battery capacity tests the system and makes calculations as a percentage from 0 to 100. The utility provides a detailed report on the battery condition:

• charge level;
• temperature;
• capacity;
• the number of cycles.

The application also shows the level of energy consumption of various gadgets, games and other programs installed on the phone. It has several preset modes to save battery and a number of functions that allow you to adjust settings to increase battery life. The advantages of “Battery Life” are accuracy of measurements, minimal load on the system, fast recharging.

Compatibility: Android, iOS.

Software method

Google has developed a special utility that monitors battery status. Most versions of OS shells hide the application from the user.

There are also many programs that allow you to check the condition of your battery without resorting to instrumental intervention.

How to check using the utility

List of current programs:

• Battery Care;
• AccuBattery;
• Battery Life;
• Battery Calibration;
• Power Battery;
• DU Battery Saver;
• Kaspersky Battery Life.

You can search for similar programs yourself in the Google store. Enter “battery life care” in the search bar and the system will display a list of suitable applications.

Gsam battery monitor

The application displays detailed information about the state of the battery and its performance, allows you to manage the phone's energy resources and increases its operating time by disabling unnecessary programs. GSam Battery has many information widgets:

• % remaining charge;
• time of complete battery consumption in active and passive mode;
• battery temperature and voltage;
• statistical data on energy consumption for previous days.

This program gives an accurate count and even detects hidden applications that increase battery consumption several times. Pros: It performs its tasks effectively. Cons – consumes a lot of electricity.

Compatibility: Android.

Using special software

On smartphones or tablets, such applications may be installed by default. For example, the Android OS provides such a tool and can be enabled by typing the combination *#*#4636#*#*. In the menu that opens, you need to open the “Battery Information” section - there you can find out the current state of the battery and its performance.

For Apple models, we recommend the BatteryCare utility, available in the App Store for iPhone. It will help in the case of iPhone or iPad tablet computers. As for the Android platform, the Nova Battery Tester application has been developed for it. It allows you to check, in addition to the condition of the battery, its actual capacity. Moreover, testing of the program was carried out with laboratory equipment using several dozen batteries.

Nova battery tester

With this app you can test the battery capacity on both your phone and tablet. The program contains several testing modes: fast, standard and long mode. The most realistic indicators are provided by standard and long testing.

When you connect for the first time, the utility requires an Internet connection to enter data about the current consumption of your device and other characteristics downloaded by the application from its own online database.

The program is free, Russified, and has a simple and intuitive interface. There is nothing superfluous in it, it does not hang and copes with the task assigned to it perfectly.

Compatibility: Android.

Car battery

Car owners may also be interested in how to measure battery capacity with a multimeter. The instructions for carrying out this process contain a number of features. Batteries may have a sensor that allows you to determine their capacity and charge changes. However, not every car battery has such a function. In this case, a multimeter will help to evaluate the indicators.

During the test, the voltage at the terminals is measured. A fully charged battery will have a reading of 12.6 V. If the reading drops to 12.2 V, this indicates a partial discharge of the battery. In this case, the car owner must recharge the battery.

If without load on the battery the multimeter shows a figure less than 12 V, this means that the device is completely discharged. Device readings less than 11 V are considered critical. In this case, the battery can no longer be used. Also, the battery cannot be charged, so you will have to purchase new equipment.

Power battery

This is not just an application, but a whole complex for diagnosing and caring for the battery. It has everything: a set of tests to evaluate and improve battery performance, built-in saving modes and a memory cleaning service.

• accurate determination of the remaining battery life;
• assessment of power consumption by applications installed on the phone;
• the ability to remove unnecessary programs and garbage that affects battery consumption;
• memory optimization functionality that improves device speed;
• hardware and software identifier;
• counters of the remaining time for calls, games, listening to audio and video content;
• assessment of the battery condition: its wear, temperature, capacity, voltage;
• the ability to create an energy-saving mode taking into account the user’s personal preferences.

Many functions in "Power Battery" can be used in automatic mode. When they are activated, the application automatically disables energy-consuming programs, puts the phone into saving mode and clears the memory of unnecessary garbage. The program has its own community where its users communicate. It has a lot of functionality and provides it absolutely free.

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Compatibility: Android.

Results

Manufacturers have long had various marketing tricks, thanks to which they manage to achieve beautiful numbers in the specification called “battery capacity”, and only occasionally the technical characteristics of devices indicate the capacity in Wh, by which it would be more correct to make comparisons with other models. But even this value is approximate.

However, this can hardly be called an obvious deception, because milliampere-hours (mAh) are more convenient for the average user to understand, and greatly inflated information about capacity is usually found only in some devices from not very well-known manufacturers. True, a lot depends on the type of device, and while smartphones with overrated battery capacity are becoming increasingly rare, the actual performance of portable batteries does not always meet expectations.

We should not forget that a large battery capacity, no matter how honest it is, does not guarantee a long operating time of the device, since much depends on the optimization of the operating system and software, as well as on the maximum brightness of the display, additional functions and on the hardware used , which may not always be energy efficient.

Source

Types of batteries

Portable batteries differ both in operating principle and in appearance. Main types of batteries:

All cylindrical types of charge storage devices have an operating voltage of 1.2 to 1.6 volts. The voltage of Kron type elements is 9 V, and flat 4.5 V. The performance of the element depends on the load to which it is connected.

In low-power devices, a decrease in battery voltage does not affect performance for a long time, but in powerful devices, such as cameras or electric motors, even a slight drop in voltage will cause equipment failure.

Batteries also differ in the type of internal filling. The following types are distinguished:

• “Salt”, “dry” - carbon-zinc. This type of battery is the cheapest, but it discharges the fastest and does not work well in cold conditions and with powerful loads;
• HeavyDuty - zinc chloride, similar to the previous type, have a slightly larger capacity;
• “Alkaline”, alkaline - work better at low temperatures and hold a charge at high current, but discharge quickly;
• With the use of mercury - high-capacity, they are difficult to quickly discharge, however, due to the danger of mercury, they have fallen out of use;
• Using silver - they discharge slowly and work well with a powerful load, but are expensive;
• Lithium - have the highest capacity and the smallest weight among similar ones. Long shelf life. High price.

Also, all batteries are divided into two types: primary, that is, galvanic cells and secondary, that is, rechargeable or rechargeable. The former are usually cheaper, but must be disposed of after use. The latter often have a lower capacity, are more expensive, but can be recharged with a charger.

Voltage test

A less dangerous method of checking batteries is a voltage test. When testing important portable power sources, both voltage and amperage must be checked. To find out the voltage you need:

For example, for an 18650 battery, if everything is done correctly, the meter will give values ​​from 0 to 3.7 V. If the numbers are more than 3.5 V, then the battery is fully functional. With values ​​from 3.0 to 3.5 V, the resource of the element is reduced, but it can be discharged in devices of lower power. If the voltage is below 2.9 V, the power supply needs to be charged. The minimum acceptable voltage for such batteries is 2.4 V; a lower value will contribute to the degradation of the battery electrolyte.

Visual inspection

Owners of smartphones with a removable battery have a definite advantage here. The inspection can be carried out much easier and with greater accuracy. First, assess the state of your contacts. The appearance of traces of oxidation and corrosion (whitish or greenish spots) are clear signs of wear.

The second point is bloating, the formation of a “hump”. I strongly recommend not using a smartphone with such a battery. The bulge indicates the occurrence of degenerative processes, the chemical substance loses stability, and there is a high risk of leakage with further ignition.

Many modern smartphones are now made in monolithic cases; there is simply no removable rear panel, meaning it is impossible to get to the battery without complex disassembly. In such a situation, focus on visible changes in the case, indicating deformation of the battery:

• Bulges on the back panel;
• Gaps, backlash;
• Incorrect display of colors on the screen, loss of clarity. A swollen battery puts pressure on the matrix from the inside, which leads to this effect. In the most severe cases, the internal pressure is so great that the glass simply cracks.

An important point is that deformations are often accompanied by intense heating of the battery.

Visual inspection of non-removable battery

In recent years, manufacturers have been making monolithic designs in their smartphones. That is, you cannot take out the battery and check its condition. However, there are other methods to check the performance of the battery.

Deformation

If there is a “hump” on the battery under the cover, then it will put pressure on other elements of the smartphone. What external signs are inherent in the appearance of a bulge:

• displacing the back cover;
• visible gaps;
• backlashes;
• Deterioration of screen performance (distortion of colors, dimness of the backlight, cracks on the display).

Heating

A worn-out battery tends to heat up quickly and strongly. Even when at rest, the phone will feel hot to the touch.

Cell phone repair courses (and more;)

To test a cell phone battery, you need a tester in voltage measurement mode or a voltmeter:

Attention! This charging method is only suitable for Li-ion batteries. We select the DC voltage measurement mode and set it to tens of Volts, in my case it is 20 Volts. We apply the positive probe of the tester to the plus of the battery, the negative one to the minus (you can do it the other way around, then you will see a negative value).

The display panel of the multimeter will show the battery charge. If the charge is above 2 Volts, then the battery is more or less charged and the phone simply must turn on. In general, the normal (also called nominal) value of a charged battery is 3.7 Volts, the maximum is 4.2 Volts.

If the battery charge is below 2 Volts, the phone will not turn on (unlike a smartphone, which will turn on). Then you need to recharge the battery from an external power source. Of course, I can’t talk about everything in the video, otherwise it would turn out to be very long. This is how you can schematically show what a modern battery looks like:

Roughly speaking, the battery consists of a connector for connecting to the phone board, a controller and the battery itself. The controller collects various information about the battery condition (charge level, temperature, number of charge cycles and other characteristics, and also performs protective functions).

On many batteries of this type, a “friend or foe” module is built into the controller and, as you may have guessed, because of this module you cannot connect the battery directly to the power supply. The controller may fail, since the power supply is clearly foreign. Therefore, before charging the battery through a power supply, you need to make sure that the battery either does not have such a controller, then you can connect the power supply directly to the external terminals of the battery.

If such a controller is present, then we disassemble the battery a little and get to the battery module. We find two contacts (indicated in red and blue in the picture, we find the positive and negative contacts using a multimeter) going from the battery to the power controller and connect the external power supply to them.

Next, the external power source sets the current and voltage values ​​in accordance with the values ​​​​indicated on the battery. For example, if the battery says 1200mAh and 3.7V, then the power supply is set to 3.7 Volts and half the battery capacity, i.e. (1200mAh) / 2 = 600 mAh.

We continue charging for 2 hours. At the end of the charge, LiOn batteries begin to get very hot. Don't be afraid of this, this is how it should be. I recommend checking the voltage on the battery with a third-party tester during charging, because... The battery can be charged in less than two hours.

As soon as you see that the charge has reached 3.7 Volts, you can disconnect the battery from the power supply. Here's another thing, 3.7 Volts is the average voltage value. A fully charged battery has a higher voltage value. Often this is 4.1 Volts. It’s okay that the value will be so high; many phones themselves charge the battery to this level.

Loss of Capacity

Physically the battery looks good, but it gradually loses its capacity as it is used. For example, Li-ion, due to the peculiarities of its internal structure, loses about 20% of its capacity after 500 charge and discharge cycles. Complete instructions for determining the actual battery capacity are on our website.

To understand whether you need to change the power source, you should monitor the battery life of your smartphone. If the device is idle and loses a few percent or suddenly turns off, although the charge indicator showed about 20-40 percent, then you need to calibrate the battery. If the proposed instructions do not bring results, we recommend replacing the battery with a new one.

Rules for recycling used elements

If instrument readings show that a battery or accumulator has expired, it must be properly disposed of. The fact is that the substances contained in them are very aggressive and cause serious harm to the environment. Electrolyte, which contains various acids and alkalis, cannot be stored in any form at home.

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Recommendations for disposing of discharged batteries include the following simple rules:

• It is prohibited to store such elements near or inside other electrical appliances. Acid or alkali, which after some time makes a hole in the housing, will cause damage to surrounding objects.
• Destruction of batteries and accumulators by mechanical means is not allowed. In addition to the possibility of electrolyte getting on your skin and causing burns, you should be wary of a chemical fire due to damage to the casings of some lithium-ion batteries. Since lithium is a very active alkali metal, if exposed to open air it can ignite and burn for a long time. If such fires occur, such fires should be extinguished exclusively with powder or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.
• Throwing them in trash cans is also prohibited. In any city there are collection points for used batteries; it is better to use their services, because by throwing away batteries just like that, you expose the environment to the danger of contamination with harmful substances.
• Avoid using methods to “set fire” to batteries - applying high current to completely depleted cells in order to restore the ability to charge them. Such manipulations shorten their service life even more and are not safe.

And most importantly, if you use self-powered devices, do not allow them to overheat. This significantly reduces their service life, leads to damage to the power elements and reduces the possible number of charge-discharge cycles. This is due to the fact that as the temperature inside the device increases, the processes of oxidation and degradation of the metal components of batteries and batteries are significantly accelerated.

How to measure voltage

Many people use rechargeable batteries, but completely forget about such a parameter as voltage, which ultimately leads to dire consequences, or rather to breakdown. Voltage measurement using a multimeter is performed in the following way:

1. The measuring device is switched to voltage mode up to 20 V;
2. The tips of the probes are attached to the power terminals;
3. After a couple of seconds, the battery voltage can be seen on the screen, if this does not happen, try repeating the first two steps again.

Reference! If the “-” sign appears on the display next to the digital symbols, this means that a “polarity reversal” occurred when connecting the clamping parts or probes. This is not dangerous, but for the normal functioning of the meter, it is better to avoid such errors. Take your time when measuring voltage, this is already a short procedure.

Checking your phone battery using special apps

Systems of new and modern models of tablets and smartphones may already be equipped with similar programs. For example, there is such a program on Android. In order to activate it, you need to enter a certain combination of characters: *#*#4636#*#*. After entering the menu, go to the “Battery Information” section, where you can find all the necessary data about the condition of the battery and its current performance.

There is a BatteryCare app that can be downloaded from the AppStore. It also checks the battery capacity of Androids and smartphones. In addition to it, there is also a good utility, Nova Battery Tester, designed specifically for tablets and smartphones, with the option of determining the actual battery capacity. During the development of this program, battery capacity indicators were tested in laboratory conditions for a long time.

If such a program is not installed on your mobile phone, or, for some reason, it is impossible to download it, check the smartphone battery capacity manually with a multimeter.

More accurate battery check on Android

Google has built a battery monitoring utility into its mobile platform. In most versions of the shells, it is hidden from prying eyes.

Built-in utility

On some phones, its statistics with temperature and wear can be seen through the service menu (for example, the well-known code in the dialer *#*#4636#*#* for Android). But if the code does not work, or you need comparative and more detailed information, then it is better to download a third-party application .

Check the battery on Android using the following programs:

• AccuBattery (Digibites) • Battery Life (AndroidAppTools) • Battery Calibration (Dalton Brothers Apps) • Power Battery (LIONMOBI) • DU Battery Saver (mark Jayson) • Kaspersky Battery Life (Kaspersky Lab) • Battery Care (Firefly apps) • or any others upon request on Google Play “battery life care”

Is Root necessary?

If you need advanced statistics and battery testing, then these applications will help, but will require Root rights. But even during normal use, they will clearly show the degree of wear and the actual characteristics of the battery.

Bottom line: almost always the reason for rapid discharge is installed programs due to background activity, errors, viruses or incorrect settings - just using the application you can find out what exactly was the source of the problem and clarify the state of the battery itself in Android. But remember that only after visual inspection and testing is its exact degree of wear determined.

If you are sure that you are faced with battery wear, then look at detailed instructions on how to replace the battery yourself using the example of specific Android phone models.

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Over time, especially with intensive use or frequent full discharge, the battery on an Android phone loses its capacity, and when replacing the battery with a new one, you can often get less capacity than the factory battery, even if the same numbers are indicated on the sticker. In all these and many other cases, it may be useful to find out the real capacity of the Android battery, which is what this instruction will discuss. May also be useful: Why does the battery drain quickly on Android and what to do?, How to turn on the battery percentage on Android.

Unfortunately, there are no built-in functions for assessing the current battery capacity on Android: some manufacturers have built-in applications or sections in the settings for assessing the “health” of the battery, but it is not always possible to draw the right conclusions from them. There is also no system information about the actual capacity that could be used in Android. However, data on energy consumption at each moment of time (this information is provided to the system) and information about the remaining charge allow third-party applications to analyze and calculate the capacity of the installed battery close to the actual one.

Current test

To understand how to check a battery with a tester, you need to know the parameters of the charge storage device, which includes batteries and any portable batteries.

A fully charged power supply must have the manufacturer's specified output terminal voltage within ±5%, and must deliver a specified current sufficient to power the load for which it is intended to be used.

In order to check the battery current, it is important to properly configure and connect the tester. You need to do the following:

1. Connect the black wire with the probe to the COM socket of the multimeter, and the red wire to the socket marked 10 A;
2. Set the DC measurement mode, measurement limit - 10 A;
3. Briefly touch the battery terminals with the probes, the black probes to the minus terminals, and the red probes to the positive terminals. It is important to take measurements for more than 2 seconds to avoid damage to the element;
4. The display will show the current value.

If the current value is within 4 - 6 amperes, then the element is “fresh” and can be used for its intended purpose. With readings from 3 to 3.9 A, the battery life is reduced, but it will still work for some time. If the current is 1.3 - 2.9 A, such an element can only power low-power equipment. If the readings are lower, it is better to replace the battery, and the battery with such parameters needs to be charged.

Device structure

When delving into the question of how to determine the battery capacity with a multimeter, you also need to understand how the device works. The design of the device has a dial. Test information is displayed on it. If an analog type of device is used, it is necessary to study the meaning of the divisions before use.

The device also has a button or function switch. This design element allows you to switch modes and the scale of the counter. When storing the device, the handle is set to the off position. To start working with the multimeter, turn the lever into the desired mode.

The housing must have holes for probes. The probe with the red wire has a positive polarity, and the one with the black wire has a negative polarity. These are the main points that a novice user should know.

Checking batteries with a multimeter

In addition to testers, you can use a more universal tool. The multimeter allows you not only to measure current or voltage values, but also to record breakdowns, wire breaks, if any are removed from the battery, determine the integrity of the windings of various transformers, and much more.

To obtain the values, a pair of probes are used, usually red and black, corresponding to the plus and minus polarities. This greatly simplifies the process by avoiding polarity errors. All multimeters are equipped with a digital screen and a mode switch. You can use it to measure:

• The magnitude of direct and alternating currents.
• Voltage of various electrical parts and connections.
• The resistance of these parts.
• Frequency of the harmonic signal.
• Coil inductance.
• Electrical capacity (charge amount).

Additional functions of the device include:

• Continuity of electrical circuits with low (less than 50 Ohms) resistance. In this case, the resistance is measured followed by an audible indication. The function is useful for identifying short circuits on printed circuit boards of various devices.
• Generation of the simplest pulse or harmonic test signals.
• Temperature measurement using a thermocouple connected to the probe connectors.
• Testing diodes and transistors.

To check batteries, the current and voltage measurement modes are sufficient.

A way to check the battery on Android visually

Any user can independently check the battery on Android and determine its “health”. General problems can be detected with the naked eye. First of all, find out whether the back cover of the phone can be removed to access the internal components.

If the battery is removable.

Contacts

Turn off the device, open the lid and look for corrosion on the metal contacts of the battery (green or white spots). This will be the first sign of serious battery degradation.

"Hump"

If there is a bulge (“hump”) on the body, then further operation is prohibited. The battery does not lie flat on the table and is easily untwisted. With such deformations, there is a risk of shell rupture, chemical leakage, and even fire.

Multimeter

A multimeter only helps to further verify the wear of the battery, and often it is simply unnecessary to use it in this procedure. Use it to measure the battery voltage at the contacts after full charging. The specifications usually correspond to 3.7V (check in the instructions for the phone). Deviations from this value from 0.8V to 1V or even more are evidence of aging. But keep in mind that you cannot directly measure battery wear with a multimeter (the tool will simply show the voltage).

If the battery is not removable.

Non-demountable design

Expensive phones, as well as most recent models, do not allow the user to remove the battery from the case. But you can still get an idea of ​​the critical conditions of the battery.

Deformations

The increasing size of the “hump” will put pressure on other components of the phone. It displaces the back cover (gaps and backlash are noticeable) and even the display (the touchscreen works worse, color and backlight distortions appear, the screen may ultimately crack).

Heat

A worn-out battery becomes noticeably hot. The phone does not charge and just sits there with no load on the processor, but is hot to the touch.

Bottom line: if there is corrosion on the battery contacts, the appearance of a “hump” on its body and overheating, the old battery must be disposed of and replaced with a new one .

Checking the battery capacity of a windows phone

There are several application options with simple, self-explanatory names:

1. Battery Information - An application for the battery of a Windows Phone mobile phone, showing the main parameters of this equipment.
2. Battery indicator – displays information about the operation and health of the battery on the lock screen or on a live tile, and keeps statistics.
3. Battery by smalltech - shows how much time is left to listen to music, watch videos, talk, etc.
4. Battery – displays the current status, the time until the device turns off or until it is fully charged, as well as other notifications.
5. Battery Doctor - shows the charge level, how long the device can operate at the current level, and also gives tips on saving battery.

All of them are suitable for phones, laptops and other Windows devices.

Battery Doctor

Deformation

If the battery begins to deform, or rust or corrosion appears on the contacts, it needs to be replaced urgently. It is dangerous to use: there is a risk of damaging the phone and its components.

The first signs of deformation are difficult to detect. If the smartphone has a non-removable battery, then when it swells, the body of the device will most likely be damaged. If the battery is removable, then you can remove it from the gadget and conduct a short test. Place the battery on a smooth surface. If it wobbles, then the surface of the battery is uneven and it’s time to change it. Tips to prevent batteries from swelling are in this manual.

A simple method for restoring battery capacity: “boosting”

The phone battery must be checked regularly because it can lose its capacity level not only due to intensive use of the phone for communicating on social networks. Do not forget that during storage the battery capacity also becomes smaller.

In such situations, the so-called process of “boosting” the battery helps, thanks to which you can return its previous level of performance:

• Charge the battery of your mobile phone or tablet completely;
• then discharge it completely;
• repeat the same three times.

If after the “buildup” the working time of the battery has become longer, then there is no need to purchase a new one yet, but it is advisable to constantly monitor its performance. It never hurts to master a simple method of “boosting” after a preliminary analysis of the battery condition. Carrying out the simplest actions with the battery yourself is much better than immediately running to a service center, where they can charge money for each manipulation with the phone - and sometimes quite a lot.

Content

As it may seem at first glance, with the battery capacity of mobile devices everything is extremely simple and clear - roughly speaking, the more milliamp hours (mAh) in the battery, the better, and the longer the device will work. But such an indicator, to which everyone or almost everyone is accustomed, does not always reflect the real state of affairs, which means that comparing data on battery capacity for different devices is not always correct. What secrets do modern batteries hide, and what additional indicators can shed light on their real capacity? All this will be discussed in our article, and we will also consider popular methods for measuring battery capacity at home.

Find out the capacity of a smartphone using a USB tester

A USB tester is essentially the same multimeter, only designed for modern devices. Unlike a conventional device, it can also measure the battery capacity of a mobile device.

The device is simple and easy to use and connects via a USB port. It is capable of measuring current and voltage and displaying the received data on the display. Counts the amount of energy passing through it, which is used to determine the battery capacity.

The device stores all its calculations in independent memory blocks; you can always return to the data and double-check it. Unneeded information can be deleted using the Reset Content key.

How to measure battery capacity with a tester:

1. Completely discharge the battery under test.
2. Set the value of the active memory cell of the tester to 0.
3. Connect the charger and the desired battery in series.
4. When the device is fully charged, the tester will show the battery capacity level.

You can do the complete opposite: first fully charge the phone, and then measure the time it is fully charged.

USB Battery Capacity Tester

If less than 50% of the original capacity (declared by the manufacturer) remains, it is better to change it. This should also be done if its appearance leaves much to be desired - there are swellings and deformations.

You can take measurements in various ways, but according to reviews and opinions on various forums, everyone - including mobile applications - has an error, which means the result will be inaccurate.

The most reliable measurement is via a USB tester. However, it is advisable to purchase this device only if you intend to use it regularly. It doesn't make sense for one or two batteries. It’s good that measuring capacitance is not its only function.

Still have questions about how to find out the battery capacity of your phone, or have something to add? Then write to us about it in the comments, this will make the material more useful, complete and accurate.

Types of Multimeters

When wondering whether it is possible to measure the battery capacity of a car, smartphone, laptop or any other household appliance with a multimeter, you need to consider the types of devices presented.

There are analog and digital multimeters. In the first case, the measurement result is shown by an arrow on a special scale. This is one of the cheapest types of devices. However, for those who have never used such devices, it is better to give preference to digital varieties. Also, analog multimeters have a small measurement error.

Digital multimeters display the measurement result on the display. This distinguishes them from the previous group of devices. The information on the screen is highly accurate and understandable to any user.

Fourth step

Let's do a more detailed test by disconnecting all components connected to it from the motherboard and try to find out if there is a problem with any of them. To do this, disconnect all connectors (RAM, video card), except for the central processor and power. After that, turn on the power supply and speaker to the network and press the computer's power button.

If the motherboard is healthy, you should hear one short and one long beep from the speaker, which indicates a faulty RAM and indirectly indicates that everything is fine with the board. If the speaker is silent, then the motherboard is faulty. In this case, it will have to be replaced.

Next, we connect the RAM modules and listen to the speaker again. If the RAM is good, you will hear one long and two short beeps. This indicates that the problem may be with the video card.

We repeat the procedure, only this time, connecting the video card and monitor. If everything is fine, you will hear one beep in the speaker and see the BIOS splash screen on the monitor. If not, the problem is with the video card. However, there may be no signal, and the video card will also be working properly.