Battery Tester

Application

DataCan’s Battery Tester is used to verify all DataCan battery packs have their connector wiring and fuses intact, and the supplied voltage is correct. It is also used to de-passivate packs with a temperature rating 165 °C and below. Battery packs develop a defensive layer to retain battery life that needs to be broken to initiate the current draw, this process is defined as de-passivation. De-passivation ensures that tools function correctly as soon as the pack is plugged in. *Packs rated 180°C and above should not be de-passivated below operating temperature.

Features

• Check Battery Wiring, Fuses and Voltage
• De-passivate Lithium Cells rated 165 °C and below
• Simple and Lightweight Design
• Green/Red Light Indicator for Battery Condition

Benefits

DataCan's Battery tester is designed to be simple, lightweight and easy to use. The two button design offers quick voltage readings, fast de-passivation with the test button, and verification with the green/red light indicator.

Battery pack life is critical. Measuring the voltage of a lithium battery pack will not help determine its remaining life. The voltage discharge curve of a Lithium cell is very flat as shown below. 

When measuring the voltage of a lithium battery pack, there is no indication of how much life remains in the battery cells. The voltage of a lithium battery pack will be “acceptable” until near the end of the battery life, at which a lithium battery cell quickly loses all its available energy.

The most common question DataCan receives is, “How long, will the battery pack last downhole?” To correctly answer this question you need to know the following:

1. What battery pack are you using, or more specifically, how much energy do you have available?

Different battery packs have different amounts of available energy. All of DataCan’s new battery packs have their available energy printed on the label.

It is good practice to note down battery usage (time) before and after use to ensure there will be enough power for the duration of the job. 

2. What type of tool?

Different tools use different amounts of energy as they sleep and sample.

3. What sample rate?

DataCan’s tools use more battery energy while they are recording samples. In the case of the downhole-shut-in-tool, relatively no energy is being used unless the motor is on.

4. What is the expected downhole temperature?

This is critical as battery packs have significant levels of self-discharge at higher temperatures.

Once the above criteria are known, users can input this information in DataCan’s “Battery Calculator”. The Battery Calculator program can be found in DataCan’s program and download software under the "Utilities" tab.