Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

The Battery Charge-Discharge Test is one of the most important qualifying tests to assess a battery manufacturer’s claimed life cycle. In this test, the battery is subjected to repeated charge-discharge cycles.

Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

Advancements in batteries have created a demand for high quality and precision products to ensure better performance. Among various battery testing methods, charge-discharge testing is one of the battery performance evaluation techniques. This test is performed to determine the number of charge-discharge cycles a battery can undergo before degradation in its performance. The standard test method is to repeat the charge-discharge cycle at recommended rates. Generally, this repetitive loop is studied at a constant current with a set voltage.

The cycle life of a battery is defined as the number of charge/discharge cycles that a battery can complete before its charge capacity falls below 80% of the initial capacity. Batteries in vehicles call for charge-discharge testing, as a combined profile of charge and discharge cycle is used to access the battery’s cycle life. 

Typically, there are three different types of batteries available in the market i.e. Lithium-ion batteries, Nickel-cadmium batteries, and Lead-acid batteries. The life cycle of these batteries depends on the temperature, depth of discharge, and charging cycle.

Video 01: Method to charge and discharge batteries

Common Uses of Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

• Determine the cycle life of a battery
• Battery R&D

Advantages of Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

• Helps in accessing the cycle life of batteries
• Increases the quality standard of batteries

Limitation of Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

• Requires skilled labor 
• It is an additional cost 

Industrial Application of Battery Charge-Discharge Testing

• Battery manufacturing industry
• Automobile