How to Use Multimeter on Ebike Battery

We’ve all used devices powered by batteries. So, it’s common knowledge that batteries expire after going through a certain number of recharge cycles. E-bikes are also battery powered. And, being transportation devices, it would be convenient to keep tabs on the batteries health. Using a multitool you can do exactly that. But, how to use multimeter on ebike battery?

For using a multimeter on an e-bike battery, first, you will have to recharge your e-bike for at least 6 to 8 hours straight. Then, place the bike in such a way that it does not move while using the multimeter. Next, set the multimeter function mode to DC. Using DMM probes, measure the voltage. Finally, turn on the bike and again measure the voltage.

I’ve discussed the basics of using a multimeter on an e-bike battery. But, now I’d like to provide some valuable insights into this topic. In this article, I will extensively discuss how to use a multimeter on an e-bike battery. For a better understanding of this topic, it would be wise to read through the whole article.

Steps of Using Multimeter On E-bike Battery

If you are planning to purchase an e-bike, then you must know how to measure the voltage of the e-bike’s battery to determine its health. Using a multimeter for measuring would be the easiest way to know the battery’s condition. The steps are given below.

Step One: Charge the E-bikes Battery

If you are a regular e-bike user, and you haven’t charged it for a long time, then the first thing you need to do is charge the battery for at least 8 hours straight. For getting an accurate result, fully charging is very important.

If you just purchased an e-bike, you should still charge it for a minimum of 6 hours. Most of the people out there think charging a new bike is not necessary, but in most cases, even a new battery is not fully charged up. Skipping this step will provide inaccurate results.

You must be wondering why someone would measure a new battery’s voltage. Well, many people use custom batteries on their bikes as they perform much better than the battery provided with the e-bike package. For knowing which custom battery should be picked, measuring the voltage of the bike is necessary.

Step Two: Steady the E-bike

After recharging the e-bike, you will have to place it in a way that it stays steady. While measuring the voltage, your bike might move left and right which will affect the resulting value. Usually, I use a wall of my garage to support the front wheel of the e-bike so that it stays still.

If you don’t prefer this method, two tire holders will keep your bike steady. These products are available on Amazon but I would highly suggest you just place the bike against the wall as spending money on tire holders would be a waste.

Step Three: Use DC or VDC Mode of the Multimeter

After placing the bike, take the multimeter and check its settings. Put the multimeter on DC or VDC mode. This is one of the most crucial steps since you are measuring the DC voltage of the e-bike’s battery.

Step Four: Measure the Voltage of Battery

Now, you will have to measure the voltage of the battery. There are two ways to do that. You can either take the battery out from the e-bike and measure or just turn off the e-bike and directly connect the multimeter to the battery.

There should be two DMM probes on your multimeter. Just connect the probes to the terminals of the battery using your hand and read the voltage value. Some of the multimeters have clips on the DMM probes. In that case, you can use the clips to attach the probes to the terminals. Remember the value of the voltage.

Step Five: Measure the Voltage Rating of E-bike

Now you have the battery’s voltage rating. After finishing all the steps mentioned above, you will have to measure the e-bikes voltage rating as well. For getting a precise and accurate result, you will need an extra hand.

Just ask a family member of yours to sit on the bike. This will help the e-bike to stay still and the tires will not rotate. After that, you will have to turn on the bike and measure the voltage again. This time, you will have the e-bike’s voltage rating.

By following the mentioned steps accordingly, you will be able to easily measure the voltage of your e-bike’s battery. One of the most important things before using a multimeter is knowing the type of battery you are using in your e-bike. If you do that, you won’t have to worry about the delays in the multimeter.

A user manual will be provided with the multimeter you have bought. Always read it cover to cover for using the multimeter safely and properly. You can always call an expert of an auto-part store for help. But after a few rounds of practice, I think it is doable by almost everyone out there.

When Should You Change the Battery of Your E-bike?

For those who are using an e-bike for a very long time, checking the voltage of the battery is very important. We all know that the total capacity of the battery degrades with time. So using a new one after 2 to 4 years of usage would be a smart choice.

Not only may that using an old battery cause issues in your e-bike. So, knowing when you should change the battery is very important.

Now, I have already discussed how you can measure the voltage rating of your e-bike and e-bike’s battery. Just follow the steps and note down both of the values. If the battery’s voltage rating is a bit higher than the voltage rating of the e-bike, you won’t have to change the battery. But, if that’s not the case, go out and buy a new battery before using the bike again.

Which Type of Multimeter Should You Use?

There are basically two types of multimeter out there that you can buy for using it on your e-bike. You can either buy an analog or a digital multimeter. Which one you should choose, depends on how much you are willing to spend and you experience with using such devices.

Analog multimeters are usually very cheap and affordable, but they are definitely not ideal for taking measurements such as voltage. Inside the display of an analog multimeter, there is a needle and a scale. For those who are not experts in using multimeters, choosing the analog one would be a wrong step.

For measuring voltage, most of the professionals out there use a digital multimeter as it provides accurate results. The key difference between the analog and the digital multimeter is the display. You can read the voltage rating of your e-bike on an LED screen if you are using a digital multimeter.

In digital multimeters, a higher range of resistance (1M to 10M) is used. That’s why the accuracy of the readings of this multimeter is excellent. There are many digital multimeter options out in the market, but I personally use the Fluke 101. The performance of this multimeter is unmatched and it is all you’ll need to check your batteries health.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can easily measure the voltage of your e-bike’s battery using a multimeter.  In this article, I have extensively discussed how to use multimeter on ebike battery.Hopefully, after reading the whole article, you can perfectly measure the voltage rating of the battery to determine if it needs replacing. Thanks for stopping by.