Applications for the UBA5

Most people don't think about batteries until they start having problems. Battery packs aren't inexpensive. They should perform for at least 300 to 500 cycles. Are you getting this performance from your batteries? If not, then the UBA5 is the tool you need to diagnose and fix the problem.

The UBA5 can:

• Fully charge and equalize your batteries.
• Check the capacity of your batteries at different discharge rates.
• Recondition your batteries which can restore capacity in NiCd, NiMH and lead acid chemistries.
• Life test your batteries to see if they meet their rated life.
• Test the operation of your battery chargers.
• Be used in a battery monitoring program with computerized tracking.

Once you start using a UBA5 you will find that batteries are not that mysterious after all, and can be understood and qualified.

In the Repair Shop

If you service battery powered equipment you need to test batteries. The UBA5 can help you do that with its ability to test a wide range of batteries and print a test report. It can test batteries according to manufacturer's specification and identify those for warrenty replacement.

In the QC Department

If you sell batteries, either directly, or installed in your equipment, you need to ensure that they meet spec. This is especially important if your buyers are selecting suppliers based on price. Even if you buy only from major battery suppliers you still need an incoming inspection program.

Failure to adequately QC new stock will result in unhappy customers with the resultant loss of repeat business. The UBA5 is ideal for incoming inspection of both primary and secondary batteries. Use it three different ways:

• As a quick 10 second tester on all new batteries to catch defective ones.
• As a capacity tester to test compliance with the spec.
• As a life time tester to ensure that the batteries will perform to spec during their warrenty period.

See our Gallery for some QC setups.

In the R&D Department

Choosing a battery chemistry, capacity, number of cells, and supplier for a new product is a daunting task. Why not use a UBA5 to help you? Program it to simulate the load of your product and use this to test battery samples for capacity and life time. The UBA5 can evaluate different charging algorithms and their influence on battery operation time and expected service life. You wouldn't design electronics without an oscilloscope, why would you design your battery circuitry without a UBA5?