This is a battery load tester, capable of delivering an 18 amp load and measuring:
- Internal resistance
- State of charge (SOC)
- Can determine the overall health of the battery
The Battery Beak supports all battery chemistries but has additional features to determine battery health for both Lead Acid and NiMH chemistries in a variety of voltages and capacities. The Battery Beak mates directly with the SB-50A connector used in the FIRST Robotics Competition, but we've created bundles for FIRST Tech Challenge and Vex Robotics users to give them the same great experience. These bundles ship with the Battery Beak configured for the correct battery type and with the appropriate adapter cable for those battery terminals.
The high resolution OLED display displays all the information you need for a quick decision on battery health:
- Internal resistance
- SOC
- Open-load voltage
- Voltage at 1 amp and 18 amps
- Battery status of 'Good', 'Fair' or 'Bad'
The internal resistance measurement is useful in determining if any bad cells are present. When the Battery Beak is used to track a battery's internal resistance over time and compared to its manufacturer specs, it is possible to determine when to take a battery out of service before a failure occurs. The built in powerdown feature allows the Beak to be connected to your battery indefinitely without draining your battery. The housing of the Beak is a durable ABS/Polycarbonate blend and mates directly to the Anderson SB-50A connector.
Included with this part is the Battery Beak and a stylish lanyard.
FIRST Tech Challenge Version Overview (am-3430):
This version of the Battery Beak is designed with FIRST Tech Challenge teams in mind. When you order this version, your Battery Beak will arrive configured for the 12V 3Ah NiMH batteries used in FIRST Tech Challenge. You will also receive the new SB-50A to Tamiya and PowerPole cable necessary to connect to your batteries, whether you left them stock or converted them to PowerPole connectors.
Included Hardware:
- One - FIRST Tech Challenge Battery Configured Battery Beak
- One - SB-50A to Tamiya Adapter (am-2070a) Note: Don't use both the Tamiya and PowerPole connectors at the same time. It will form a complete circuit, which could damage your batteries.
Vex Version Overview (am-3431):
This version of the Battery Beak was made for Vex users! Your Battery Beak will come configured for Vex's 7.2V 3000mAh NiMH batteries, and it will have the adapter cable you need to connect to Vex batteries.
If you use the 2000 mAh batteries, you can reconfigure your Battery Beak in seconds to support the different capacity. Instructions are in the User Manual (PDF).
Included Hardware:
- One - Vex Battery Configured Battery Beak
- One - SB-50A to Tamiya Adapter (am-2070a) Note: Don't use both the Tamiya and PowerPole connectors at the same time. It will form a complete circuit, which could damage your batteries.
