Testing cr123a lithium batteries

[rrman61]

Will a good cr123a battery brightly light up a
standard 12 volt circuit tester.I’m at hunting camp
and need to determine if my batteries are good or
not.the ones I have barely light the tester

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

A single cell is only about 3.6 Volts fully charged, so no, it would not brightly light a 12V test light if you are testing individual cells.

You need a voltmeter.

 

[rrman61]

How about 2-3 batteries in line? I need to find out if this infrared light is good or not.I guess I could
go to Napa they might be able to test them.these batteries are expensive

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

For about $5 you can get a cheap digital multimeter just about anywhere, and test them yourself.

 

[SkipperII]

Adding batteries end to end will increase the voltage output 3 volts with each battery, side by side + to +, -to-, voltage will remain at 3 volts, amperage will increase. As was already stated, inexpensive voltmeters are readily available.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

You still need a meter to get half an idea of the state of charge on the batteries. The light will only tell you that there's power, but you really won't know how much. How bright it is is purely subjective.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

They are 6 for $13.34 (Duracell) on Amazon. If you are unsure of the ones you have just throw them away and replace. Or buy a 6 pack to take on your trip with you,

 

[rrman61]

Not here in the woods

 

[MarkB_MI]

All you'll do is discharge the batteries, so don't do that. Use a digital multimeter to check their voltage.

 

[Determined]

Being that you are with limited resources where you are I will reply with a bush fix version of an answer.

I am guessing you probably have a flashlight or something that takes normal batteries; any common AA, AAA, C or D cell is rated at 1.5 volt.

If you compare the brightness of the test light with two of the above batteries in series (2 x 1.5 = 3 volt) to the brightness you get from one cr123a (3 volt) battery it will give you a ballpark idea of their condition.