If you’re replacing your laptop’s battery, it’s important to know that the new unit is in prime condition. The easiest way to do this is with a multimeter.
A multimeter can test voltage levels and ensure that the battery is adequately charged; it can also check resistance levels to test whether there are any damaged areas or shorts on the board.
To troubleshoot your laptop battery with a multimeter before buying, follow these steps:
Process to check a Laptop battery with a multimeter
Disassemble the laptop’s battery pack
The first step in ensuring your laptop’s battery is working properly is removing it from the machine. To do this, you’ll need to disassemble your machine’s battery pack.
This may sound intimidating at first, but it’s quite simple: all you have to do is unscrew any screws holding the battery and then remove it from its compartment.
Remove the lithium-ion cell from between the battery pack’s plastic casing
Remove the lithium-ion cell from between the battery pack’s plastic casing, which is made up of two plastic halves that clip together around a black rectangular component with a white sticker on it (the lithium-ion cell).
This can be done with your bare hands if you’re careful not to break anything—although we recommend using a set of needle-nose pliers to remove this small piece of plastic because it can be tricky to get out otherwise.
The clip in this part is held in place by friction; gently pry it upwards and pull straight outwards until it comes off completely.
Use a Multimeter to check the cell’s voltage
Using a multimeter, check the voltage of your battery. The ideal voltage will be somewhere between 3.6V to 4.2V.
If your cell’s voltage is lower than 3.6V, you may want to replace it before using it again in any device that requires a fully charged battery (such as an electric toothbrush).
Use Multimeter to Test the Resistance of the cell
You can use your multimeter to check the resistance of the battery. This will allow you to ensure that your battery is in good working condition and can also help you troubleshoot issues with your laptop’s connections.
If you are replacing a laptop’s battery or even just looking for another one, it’s good practice to check the resistance of both terminals and connections before making a purchase.
Use Multimeter to Test the current
You’ll use your multimeter to measure the current flowing into and out of the battery. This is important because it tells you how much energy is being stored in the battery, which can help you determine whether it’s time to replace it.
- Step 1: Connect your positive lead (red) as shown above.
- Step 2: Connect your negative lead (black) as shown above.
- Step 3: Read the display on your multimeter to see the number displayed for either milliamp per hour (mA/h) or amps (A).
Place the battery in its original configuration, and then check it with your multimeter
The first step is to make sure the connections are secure. This can be done by simply touching the multimeter leading to each of the four contact points at both ends of the battery, as shown above.
If there’s a problem with any part of these connections, you’ll see either an open circuit or a closed circuit on your meter display—either way, this indicates that something is wrong with one or more terminals.
Next up: double-check that your battery has been installed correctly by checking its orientation and correct positioning in relation to other parts of your laptop (e.g., how far down into its slot it goes).
If everything looks good here, proceed further down this list of possible problems until you find something amiss or are confident that nothing else needs inspecting!
Also Read: Why Laptop Fan Make So Much Noise When Charging
If you’re replacing your laptop’s battery, use a multimeter to troubleshoot and avoid buying a defective one
Testing your laptop’s battery with a multimeter is an ideal way to troubleshoot problems before you buy a new one. A multimeter is essential for any DIYer, whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience under your belt.
If you decide to replace the battery yourself instead of purchasing a new one from Dell, testing it first will ensure that it has sufficient charge for your purposes—and help avoid buying a defective unit that won’t hold its charge in the long term.
You’ll also be able to check if there are any other issues with your laptop at this point as well (like faulty wiring or hardware).
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that you should only use tools like multimeters when troubleshooting batteries.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a high risk of damaging the battery and creating an unsafe situation for yourself or others.
The best way to ensure your laptop is safe is to leave it up to the professionals at an electronics store.