How do i measure mAh in regular and NiMH batteries?

[JEDI]

i have THIS digital meter from Sears.

Can i use it to measure mAh in my rechargable batteries? If so, HOW?

OR do i need to buy an analog meter like this? Pic2 (There's a mA setting.)

If the cheapo meter in Pic2 can do mAh, why can't the Sears digital meter?

Edit:
i basically want to see how much power/energy is left in the batteries. or is just measuring the Amps left enuf?

 

[FoBoT]

you can't easily measure battery capacity

you have to do a load test, it is kind of complicated

 

[Minjin]

I suppose you could put the battery under a constant load and use your multimeter to test current at certain time intervals. Graph them and sum the area under the curve using whatever method. Then you'll have amp hours.

 

[SaturnX]

There's a difference between milliamp-hours and milliamps. Both those meters will measure the amperage (mA or A), but neither measures milliamp-hours. As mentioned above you'd need a lot more hardware to calculate the milliamp hours.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you can't easily measure battery capacity

you have to do a load test, it is kind of complicated

:thumbsup:

They've done tests of a lot of batteries on Candlepower forums using different loads.

NiMh: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79302
Alkaline: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64660

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You measure voltage across, current through.... So you could just hook up the multimeter and you're set.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Edit:
i basically want to see how much power/energy is left in the batteries. or is just measuring the Amps left enuf?

You can get a rough idea by measuring voltage. AA rechargeables are 1.2V, so if their voltage is 1.3V, they're nice and charged. 1.2V, good. 1.15V, they're dying.