Ultra High Precision Battery Testing

For battery applications that demand both high power and long-term performance, precision is an essential testing factor. Higher precision assists researchers in quickly identifying battery performance signals, leading to more efficient and accurate long-term forecasts. Arbin’s high-precision battery testing solutions provide precision that can be relied on to move battery innovation forward.

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Arbin battery cell testing in a temperature chamber

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Why Battery Researchers Rely on Arbin Test Equipment

Arbin's HPS battery test systems provide state-of-the-art battery test performance.
Arbin offer battery test solutions starting from small benchtop models, up to Gigafactory-scale testing with remote management & control, and network database solutions.
The Arbin MITS testing software suite allows clients to grow from laboratory materials research to industrial battery test applications and production in a single platform.
All Arbin battery test equipment is safe and robust with multiple layers of safety protections and dedicated microcontrollers for each channel module.
Comprehensive options and accessories are available to expand and complete any cell test lab.

Solutions for Ultra High-Precision Testing Applications

Ultra High-precision battery testing solutions from Arbin Instruments address the following applications:

HPC Measurements (Coulombic Efficiency)
Electrochemical R&D, Battery, and Supercapacitor Testing
Half-Cell Testing and Materials Research
Life Cycle Testing

Importance of Precision

This plot illustrates the difference between an Arbin battery tester and another leading manufacturer. The first of the two distinct dips in the plot may have been missed using inferior test equipment. While many companies try to sell the same legacy equipment for over a decade, Arbin has been hard at work improving our designs to meet future industry demands. We learned a lot during our three year ARPA-E project to develop high-current high-precision testers, and have implemented this new technology in our LBT, RBT-Cell, and HPS test equipment series. The HPS ultra-high precision systems represent our premium product, but LBT is superior to other standard testers on the market.

Measurement precision is more critical for long‐term battery testing and long‐term battery projections than control accuracy alone. Most other battery testing systems do not correctly specify their precision and/or have relatively poor precision, which hinder the conclusions drawn from results data. Important trends and electrochemical indicators may remain unnoticed; lost in the measurement noise as illustrated at right.

What Affects Test Equipment Precision
Resolution of DAC
Resolution of ADC
Non-linearity of calibration
Short-term drift (temperature)
Long-term drift (material characteristics)

Arbin Test Equipment Improvements
Higher Resolution
Improved Software Algorithms
New Methods of Thermal Management
New Patented Shunt Design
New Method of Time Keeping
New Materials

Auxiliaries and Optional Accessories Available to Enhance Testing

MZTC Multi-Chamber

Arbin's MZTC "Multi-Chamber" provides 8 fully independent mini-temperature chambers to isolate cells under test.

EIS Integration

Add a Gamry EIS unit or Arbin ACIM module that is shared across up to 32 test channels (each).

Battery Holders and Racks

A variety of racks and battery holder are available for all cell types for an organized test environment.

Temperature Control Temperature Measurement EIS Auxiliary Voltage Measurement Digital or Analog I/O

Temperature Control

Arbin MZTC Multi-Chamber allows researchers to isolate individual or pairs of cells in their own fully independent min temperature chamber.
- Temperature range is [Ambient-10] to 60 degC.
- Interface trays are available for all cell types.
- Optionally add temperature sensors to mount on each cell.

Arbin's 3rd party chamber Interface module allows the Arbin tester to set the chamber temperature and record chamber reading automatically during the test and synchronize all data. This is compatible with many chamber brands, but please consult your Arbin sales engineer for details.

Temperature Measurement

Arbin offers thermocouple and thermistor sensor types to measure and record temperature during testing. They function independently so the user may flexibly assign them in any configuration with the main charge/discharge test channels. All data is automatically synchronized with the cell charge/discharge test data. Available sensor types include:
- K-Type Thermocouples
- T-Type Thermocouples
- PT100 Thermistor (NOTE: PT100 thermistor inputs are compatible with Arbin MZTC Multi-Chamber.)
- 10kOhm Thermistor

EIS

EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) is an optional module to add to Arbin test systems to further enhance their capability. Each EIS module can be shared/used by up to 32 Arbin test channels. EIS data is synchronized with Arbin test data.
Compatible EIS modules include:
- Gamry 1010E
- Gamry 5000E
- Gamry Ref 3000
- Arbin ACIM module

Auxiliary Voltage Measurement

Auxiliary Voltage inputs (auxV) may be added to any Arbin system to measure the voltage of additional reference electrodes in a multi-electrode cell or experiment. Any number of auxV inputs can be added to the Arbin system. They function independently so the user may flexibly assign them in any configuration with the main charge/discharge test channels. All data is synchronized with main Arbin test data.

Digital or Analog I/O

Digital Input/Output (I/O) channels allow the Arbin system to send and receive a digital relay (high/low, on/off) signal it interface with external hardware. They function independently so the user may flexibly assign them in any configuration with the main charge/discharge test channels.
Digital I/O are commonly used to interact with client facility hardware or external hardware used with flow battery applications.

Analog Input/Output (I/O) channels allow the Arbin system to send and receive a (-10)-10V voltage signal or to interface with external hardware. They function independently so the user may flexibly assign them in any configuration with the main charge/discharge test channels.
Analog I/O are commonly used to interact with client facility hardware or external hardware used with flow battery applications.

Battery Holders Racks UPS CANBus

Battery Holders

A variety of battery holders are available to complement any test lab. Arbin offers individual cell holders as well as trays & racks which can be used with a higher quantity of cells.

Individual cell holders are available for coincells, cylindrical cells, pouch cells, and a general interface with alligator clips.

Multi-cell Trays are available for coincells, cylindrical cells, pouch cells, and a blank tray interface. A variety of rack sizes are available to house these cell trays.

Racks

Arbin battery test equipment is always provided as a turnkey system with fully integrated chassis. They will be benchtop models or larger, floor-standing units.

Tester Racks are available to hold multiple Arbin test equipment modules and/or auxiliary options include the MZTC Multi-Chamber. Sizes include 15U, 24U, and 36U. These are each floor-standing racks to help organize various configurations of Arbin hardware for a growing test lab.

Battery Holder Racks are also available to house the multi-cell battery trays. Sizes include 5-layer, 8-layer, 16-tray, and 24-layer. These are each floor-standing racks to help organize large quantities of cells under test. The cell trays are purchased separately.
(1 layer holds 1 tray.)

UPS

Arbin offers an optional UPS (uninterruptable power supply) that is intended to provide power for the PC used with the Arbin battery test equipment. This allows the PC and Arbin software to continue running during a brief power outage and tests can automatically resume when power is restored. Relatively longer power outages will safely shut down the PC. Tests can always be resumed manually after any stoppage.

CANBus

Arbin offers CANBus interface(s) to allow real-time external control of the Arbin tester using CAN protocol. This option is typically applied for battery modules and packs to communicate with a BMS (battery management system), but can also be utilized for cell testing is the client needs external control via CAN.

NOTE: Additional methods of external control are available through Arbin's optional TCP/IP interface (Arbin "CTI").

Accelerated Innovation with Ultra High-Precision Test Equipment

Artificially accelerated life cycle testing protocols result in aggressive test patterns and alter battery performance in unrealistic ways. By supporting more realistic calendar-life use profiles, Arbin’s high-precision testing systems (HPS) allow researchers to see the minute trends and nuances in data that are the first signs of battery degradation – without resorting to these flawed, accelerated methods. This approach can screen out less promising materials and shorten battery development time by focusing on precision rather than speed.

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Complete our contact form to request a quote or learn how battery test equipment from Arbin Instruments can meet your testing requirements.

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Ultra High Precision Battery Testing

Why Battery Researchers Rely on Arbin Test Equipment

Solutions for Ultra High-Precision Testing Applications

Importance of Precision