Testing domestic batteries

[Dunstable Dasher]

Due to constantly using a vast amount of batteries (AAA/AA/9V etc) in all sorts of domestic equipment I thought it would be worth checking to see if any power was left in them before I thow them away when my camera/smoke alarm etc tells me to replace battery (and therefore maybe use them in a less demanding piece of equipment). I have a TP-5SN TMK Tester which was my fathers and I have no idea what the settings are for, on a clock face dial there is an AC/DC choice of 0.5/5/50/250/500/1000, a choice of RX1/10/100/1000, or 50?A/5mA/50mA/500mA and a small turning knob. The graduated dial with needle looks as if the information would be better than modern battery testers I have seen advertised (if only I knew how to use it !) So my question is can I use it and what settings should i choose ? If you have got this far without moving on thanks for your patience.

 

[Taylortwocities]

What you have got is a regular multimeter (there's one, same model, for sale on eBay by the way!!)

It will test that there is some voltage coming out of the battery but not if the battery is any good. It has to be tested under some load.

You can get battery testers for around £3 from maplins. check out http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=6058&criteria=battery tester&doy=25m6

 

[RF Lighting]

If I have used non-rechargeable batteries in my camera, then once they are too low for the camera to work, I put them in my torch, and they last for ages.

 

[breezer]

would that be an LED torch?

 

[RF Lighting]

No its just a standard 2xAA mini maglite.

 

[breezer]

oh.

 

[casinojoe1]

"oh"