My name is Michael James. I am an Engineer at Ocean Technology Systems in California. We manufacture and sell a line of high quality underwater communications systems and equipment (see our web site www.otscomm.com).
After considerable research, I chose the CBA II based on price and performance. I have been using the CBA II for about a year now. I evaluate Ni-MH, Lead Acid, and Li-Ion battery packs for use in our products. It has proven to be a valuable tool for my department. I have been able to identify several problems we have had including a discovery that one of our vendors battery packs were below spec; we were seeing an average of 1.8 amp hours on packs that were rated at 2.6 Ah.
I just downloaded the new version of the software and it's great! I'm using an older (slower) pc and the new software doesn't slow my system down at all compared to the old version. In addition to the pause function, I now have the ability to evaluate chargers, so my old paper chart recorder is joint to the graveyard.
This product works very well in a professional test environment, and I would not hesitate to recomment it in either an industrial or consumer/hobbyist application.
Best regards,
Just wanted to state that the CBA-II is one of the primary test devices used at the Battery Clinic. It handles all battery analysis tasks where an accurate display of the battery discharge characteristics are needed. While being one of the most valuable pieces of test equipment in the Battery Clinic lab, it is also one of the easiest to set up and use. Straight forward, easy to understand displays. It should find its place in the modeling device hall of fame should there ever be one. Well done.
Red Scholefield
R/C Battery Clinic
AMA Model Aviation Magazine
I love my new CBA II, it operates exactly as advertised, thank you. In a future software release please consider adding an on screen elapsed time indicator showing the discharge progress after the start button is pressed and the ability to add simple notes to the printed graphs on setup.
Best,
Gerald L. Keller [Jer]
First, I would like to say how wonderful your little CBA is. I have discovered things that I never quite saw before in my batteries like... the effects of bad or dirty contacts in the capacity measurements of a battery. How many batteries have I charged over the years incorrectly due to less-than-perfect battery contacts (I'm thinking AA cells in non-soldered battery holders). With CBA I can wiggle a cell in my battery holder and immediately see the effects of voltage on the graph. So, I have learned to clean my battery contacts and terminals much better with an immediate impact on charger efficiency and battery performance.
The list of benefits goes on and is well reflected in the customers comments on your web site.
I'm totally hooked on this thing and I hope you continue to develop and improve this product. You can count me in as a loyal customer.
Best regards,
Carlos Martin
I just wanted to take a moment and tell you what a wonderful job you folks at Optim Engineering did on the Computer Battery Analyzer. I have been concentrating on consumer single cell testing of primary and secondary cells.
The CBA has allowed me to share information on how well a certain brand does under the loads that we are using them. The graph also tells us how well the voltage is holding up under load.
I know the CBA is not sold as a lab grade instrument, but I am continually amazed at its accuracy. I have gone head to head with very expensive battery testing equipment and the CBA results compare quite favorably.
I have tested all chemistries at a wide variety of loads and the CBA just keeps churning out the data. I am very pleased with it.
Secondary (rechargeable) cells are only as good as the chargers used to charge them up. I have found the CBA to be very valuable in determining how well the various chargers do at charging cells. I did not expect to find much of a difference, but was surprised. The CBA has demonstrated its ability to do consistent tests time after time again.
I have logged over 800 single cell tests and over 30 battery pack tests, and would (and do) recommend the CBA to anyone who wants to understand their battery packs and/or cells.
Once again, thanks for this wonderful product.
Tom Poast
I just finished giving my new CBA II a couple of test runs, and I am quite impressed with it's performance as well as ease of use. The last battery tester I used that was this good cost over $5,000, and had only a few more features! Good job, Optim Engineering!
Norm Anderson
Just received my Computerized Battery Analyzer, and I'm really happy with what I can now do with my battery packs !! I've been asking around, and even taking shots at building my own device like this one, for many years. Then yours shows up… Great product!! Thanks again!! I already have three other individuals looking at your package, and I thing all of them will buy…
Regards,
Duie Matenkosky
I happen to have a few very capable chargers/dischargers - none of which can discharge beyond 2 amps (including a $450 Schulze 636). As I type this, my CBA is cranking right along at 3 amps discharging a 700 mAh pack a little over 4C. Sure is nice to have it capacity checked in under 15 minutes!
In my opinion, the CBA is far more capable than any charger with a discharge function. The graphs I can print to prove performance are near priceless. I've now tracked all the newest packs and cells from Apogee, Kokam, Tanic and Thunder Power and am very pleased with what I've found
While true you can only discharge a 3S pack up to around 10 amps, even on an 8000 mAh pack, this would be a tad over 1C. You can have the capacity check done in less than an hour, rather than 4-8 hours on a Schulze, Triton or Astro. And in single cell (lipo) form for those truly dedicated, 30+ amps is 15C+ on a 2000 mAh cell. Since I'm addicted to testing LiPolys both at home and at work, I buy 2S packs to split down to single cells for testing, and 3S packs to actually gain flight performance data with. Granted, this isn't likely what most will do, but for just about any application in discharging from capacity check, to consistency checks, to discharge capability checks, the CBA cant be beat!
Jason @ Thunder Power
Add my voice to the positive chorus about the CBA. Yes, charging is important, but discharging and record-keeping is probably more important (no flames, please). It's interesting that while there are untold numbers of very competent battery chargers available commercially, the CBA is the only one I know of that lets you test the batteries under the actual load they see in use and then save the tests! The software (and update) loaded easily on A Sony Vaio on Windows 98 and the unit and software works perfectly! Good job, West Mountain, keep it up!
Richard Shilling
I'm sitting here using this thing right now -- extraordinarily intuitive! I would have killed for something like this over the past 30 years while sitting there with dummy load, voltmeter, and ruled paper! Congratulations on a superb product.
Thanks again,
Paul
I received my CBA today. I've been using it and I absolutely love it. This thing is too good to be true.
Danny at Shekinah
Ok, I've been running tests with this thing for the past several days. I've tested everything from various lipo packs, NiMH packs, and dozens of single cells. The single cell test is very cool. I have some older packs that have bad cells. In one case, a 12 cell GP3300 (details in another thread) I had a bad cell. I ended up breaking the pack up and testing each cell. Using the overlay function, I could clearly see that I had 9 good cells, 2 marginal cells, and one bad cell.
Fishstyx
Hi, Gents...
I bought a CBA, and am extremely pleased with it.
Two suggestions for the control panel:
1) A running timer. Once the test has been underway a while, and the stats aren't changing much, one can get the idea the software's hung. It isn't; but something moving like a timer would confirm everything was still on the tracks and chugging along.
(WMR comment, there is a "running" software indicator and a test in progress LED)
2) A cut-off alarm. Maybe a gong sound as the test terminates. Or provide a hook where some other user-selected WAV file could be triggered as the test ends.
(WMR comment, good idea, maybe a future downloadable software update)
One suggestion for the physical device:
A slightly longer Red/Black cord coming from the device. One foot would be way better than the short-short that's on there. The first thing one has to do is make an adaptor extension... ;-)
(WMR comment, we had to keep it short so we measure as accurate battery terminal voltage as possible)
Even so, a VERY cool device. Congratulations! You'll sell a lot of these to the film and video production business. We all use and abuse batteries like Chickletts... Conditioner testers for film & video are WAY crazy expensive... I hope you find these comments useful. Nice device...
Bill Barrett, W1WJB
Studio One (Video Production)
It's already paid for itself in resurrecting some batteries I was about to replace for professional video uses. Each saved battery retails for more than the CBA does...
The thing has hardly been idle since it arrived...
Nice job...
73
Bill Barrett, W1WJB
Been using the CBA now for about 2 weeks. Very nice device. Software seems to run flawlessly even on Windows 98 second edition. My main use of the CBA is evaluating cells donated to my ARES organization from several municipality utilities.
One comment I have is on larger capacity, lead acid cells such as Gel Cells. I started to find that the capacity via the CBA test was way below published capacity. I notice a voltage drop across the Powerpole connectors and associated wiring, especially if I'm drawing 8 amps or greater during a test. If the CBA cutoff for a 6 volt battery is 5.7 volts, I'm actually reading 6.05 volts at the battery terminals and early shutdown occurs. Obviously this small error makes a big difference in computing capacity. I've tried to overcome the error by adjusting the cutoff down after measuring the voltage drop with another precision meter on the battery terminals. Results have been much better with the adjustment and I'm more in line with published specs for a new battery, therefore I'm more accurate in my assessment of used cells. I'm wondering if a future accessory is possible such as external reference voltage leads, which could connect directly to the battery terminals. Again, thanks for a great product and the PowerPole line of connectors. Emergency communications is greatly enhanced by your products.
73, Bob, WX2NJ
Ocean County Amateur Radio Emergency Service EC