Should I use zb206 testers?

After buying a few HW586 testers, I did some repeated testing on 1 cell with one of the HW586 devices and I was disappointed with how variable the resulting capacity numbers were.

I like the idea of the zb206 testers from how they look on paper, however I am wary of the same thing happening with them and they turn out to be no good.

I have been really keen to see Wolfs testing of these but I think it is still too cold in the shed where he is, so it has not happened yet.
PS Wolf, thank you for all the information you share with the community!


I now have over 800 cells extracted, so it is really time for me to start on testing.

Is anyone here using zb206 as their main tester?

With repeated testing of the same cell in a single zb206, how consistent are the capacity results and the IR results?
If you then test the same cell on different zb206 devices, do they give similar results to each other?

Should I use these?
Should I avoid these?
What is good?
What is bad?

Oz18650 said:

......... have been really keen to see Wolfs testing of these but I think it is still too cold in the shed where he is, so it has not happened yet.
PS Wolf, thank you for all the information you share with the community!

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Yes it is cold still on March 20th and 19F this AM brrr.
I already have 4 of the ZB206 and a bunch ofZB2L3 akaHW586. So as soon as weather permits I will set up and do a test on both of those modules.
Actually this weekend may be OK to do some soldering on the holders I plan on using for the test.The rest can be done inside but I always like to build a Lexan board to hold all the projects with banana plugs for ease of portability. I don't like all kinds of wires strewn all over the place.
Although there have been others that have tested these boards and have had favorable results.
In my case of course there will be a spreadsheet attached and all documented to be seen by hungry eyes like yours.
I am glad you find my posts and sharing beneficial and I will continue to do so.
Stay tuned as I will probably kick the hornet's nest with a post (in a week or so) onIR and the benefits of it being the first thing to measure when you get a battery. Got to gather more irrefutable proof and once that's done look out and get the hornet spray out.

Wolf

Go get them wolf.....
Over here we are not scared of hornets, just waiting like an old junkyard dog...........in silent....

Best

I have taken a chance and ordered 8 zb206 testers.
It's going to take a while for them to make thier way around the globe to get here. I will have well over 1000 cells to test by the time they arrive.
My cells are all exactly the same type and have dates of manufacture on the packs.
I have kept the extracted cells grouped together by their original packs with the date, so I might be able to collect some statistically significant data on iR / initial voltage / age / capacity, however I dont have a lot of spare time and I am not sure how much extra time that will take.

Oz18650 said:

My cells are all exactly the same type and have dates of manufacture on the packs.

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OZ

What are the cells Part Number and Manufacturer if they are all the same that will make it easy to establish a baseline.

Wolf

The cells are not in the database and I have not been able to find a datasheet for them.
I suspect it wont matter as I think testing should show what is good/typical/bad for IR and capacity.

Oz18650 said:

The cells are not in the database and I have not been able to find a datasheet for them.
I suspect it wont matter as I think testing should show what is good/typical/bad for IR and capacity.

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Take some photos and submit it in the Cell Database. Maybe someone will have better luck finding a datasheet.