How to Measure Battery Internal Resistance Using the Current Interrupt Method

James Niemann, Analog Design Engineer, Tektronix

One of the demonstrations we often set up at battery conferences is to use a source measure unit (SMU) to measure the internal resistance of an energy storage device such as a battery or a fuel cell. In such demonstrations, the SMU changes the load current from the battery operating current or the polarizing current to the open circuit potential and simultaneously measures the change in cell voltage. In this “current interrupt method,” the battery’s internal resistance is equal to the change in voltage divided by the change in current. Read more about How to Measure Battery Internal Resistance Using the Current Interrupt Method

How to Measure Battery Internal Resistance Using the Current Interrupt Method

James Niemann, Analog Design Engineer, Tektronix

One of the demonstrations we often set up at battery conferences is to use a source measure unit (SMU) to measure the internal resistance of an energy storage device such as a battery or a fuel cell. In such demonstrations, the SMU changes the load current from the battery operating current or the polarizing current to the open circuit potential and simultaneously measures the change in cell voltage. In this “current interrupt method,” the battery’s internal resistance is equal to the change in voltage divided by the change in current. Read more about How to Measure Battery Internal Resistance Using the Current Interrupt Method