In today’s technology-driven world, battery-powered devices have become an integral part of many hobbies and professional applications. From remote-controlled aircraft and cars to drones and other RC equipment, the performance and longevity of these devices heavily depend on the health and condition of their power source – typically LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries. Understanding the state of these batteries is crucial not only for optimal performance but also for safety and longevity of the battery packs themselves.
Enter the Tenergy 5-in-1 Battery Meter, an intelligent cell meter designed to provide critical information about various battery types, with a particular focus on LiPo batteries commonly used in RC hobbies. This comprehensive review will delve into the features, performance, usability, and overall value of this device based on extensive user feedback and real-world applications.
Product Overview
The Tenergy 5-in-1 Intelligent Cell Meter is a compact device designed to provide critical information about battery health and performance. As the name suggests, it offers five primary functions:
- Voltage measurement – Measures individual cell voltages and total pack voltage
- Battery capacity display – Shows remaining capacity as a percentage
- Cell balancing – Balances voltage across cells in multi-cell packs
- Internal resistance (IR) measurement – Measures the internal resistance of each cell
- Discharge function – Allows controlled discharge for storage preparation
The device is compatible with various battery chemistries, including:
- LiPo (Lithium Polymer)
- LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
- Li-ion (Lithium Ion)
- NiCd (Nickel Cadmium)
- NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride)
It supports battery packs ranging from 2S to 7S (primarily 2S to 6S according to user reports), making it suitable for most RC applications.
Design and Build Quality
The Tenergy 5-in-1 Battery Meter features a compact design, approximately the size of a credit card and about an inch thick. It’s lightweight and portable, making it ideal for field use. The device has a clear LCD display with large, easy-to-read numbers – a feature highlighted by multiple users as particularly beneficial.
The unit is powered by the battery being tested through the balance connector, eliminating the need for separate batteries. It features a simple three-button interface for navigation through the various functions and settings.
While the device appears to be robustly built, some users have reported issues with the LCD screen when the unit overheats during extended balancing or discharging operations. A few reviews mentioned the screen developing black spots or distorted displays after prolonged use in these modes.
Functionality and Performance
Voltage Measurement
The voltage measurement function is the most basic and most frequently used feature of the Tenergy 5-in-1. Users consistently report that the voltage readings are accurate, with many comparing them to readings from high-quality multimeters:
“I tested the voltage readings against a high-end fluke multimeter and they were spot on.”
Most users found the voltage readings to be within 0.01-0.05V of their reference multimeters, which is more than adequate for RC hobby purposes. Some reported slight discrepancies:
“Not a bad little device. I bought to check cell voltage quickly with needing my big voltmeter and to see if it would fix my out-of-balance Reedy Wolfpack 3S pack… Only real issue is it’s .01 volts off compared to a proper voltmeter but that’s not enough to complain much, just something to note.”
Battery Capacity Display
The device displays the remaining battery capacity as a percentage, which many users find more intuitive than raw voltage readings:
“In the lower right hand corner it shows the percentage of charge you have which is nice.”
While the percentage display is helpful, some users noted that this is more of an approximation rather than an absolute measurement. For NiMH and NiCad batteries, the manual apparently states that the capacity readings should not be relied upon.
Cell Balancing
The balancing function is one of the most appreciated features of the device. It allows users to equalize the voltage across all cells in a battery pack, which is crucial for battery longevity and safety.
“After balancing with the Tenergy the cells all show 4.180 – 4.182.”
“I am currently balancing every battery I charge AFTER it comes off a charger. And, I’m buying a couple more of these so I can balance more than one at a time. Lipos are too expensive not to take good care of them!!”
However, the balancing feature has some limitations. First, it works by discharging higher-voltage cells rather than charging lower-voltage ones. Second, the unit can overheat during extended balancing sessions:
“It balances by discharging the higher voltage batteries, although it also discharges the lowest voltage battery by a smaller amount, which is why I don’t give it 5 stars.”
“The manual states that you should only do this for 5 minutes at a time and allow the unit to cool.”
For larger capacity batteries (25,000-35,000 mAh), some users report extreme overheating:
“The issue occurs because the batteries I make are from 25,000-35,000 MAH, which is HUGE in comparison to the batteries in the video. This means that it takes upwards of 2 hours to balance. The result is that this thing gets insanely hot and completely defeats the purpose of the balancer.”
Internal Resistance Measurement
The internal resistance (IR) measurement is perhaps the most unique and valuable feature of the Tenergy 5-in-1. The IR value helps users understand the health of their batteries and determine when they should be retired:
“This one does and I think that is quite important for understanding your LiPo battery status and knowing when they should be retired.”
“If the total IR for a LiPo averages more than 10 milli-ohms per cell, it’s likely time for retirement.”
However, there are mixed reports about the accuracy of the IR measurements:
“The IR readings on this unit were not useful, being off by a factor of 10, compared to my BattIR meter, and, compared to manual IR calculations using my $400 Fluke 87V digital multimeter and a couple power resistors.”
“I verified it’s IR readings manually and it’s accurate. I love this thing!”
Some users note that the readings fluctuate and can be inconsistent, while others find them reliable and useful as a relative indicator of battery health over time.
Discharge Function
The discharge function allows users to reduce battery voltage to a safe storage level (typically around 3.8V per cell for LiPo batteries). While this feature exists, many users report limitations with its implementation:
“The discharger function is completely useless, it barely discharges then overheats and you can see the display becoming distorted and have to unplug it to let it cool down.”
“Discharge function is limited to 6 minutes at a time for heat dissipation reasons per the manual and the discharge rate is rather slow.”
Usability and Learning Curve
One consistent critique across reviews is the lack of clear instructions and the somewhat unintuitive interface:
“There are no instructions with the meter however, and I had to resort to YouTube to find how to use this – I might suggest you check out one of those before buying.”
“Not super intuitive but the instructions are pretty simple.”
“I got this for when I’m at the RC field to keep track of my lipo batteries. This is a very handy tool and I would 100% recommend having this. My only issue is that it is not very intuitive. To use the different functions can be VERY confusing, even with the manual.”
The three-button interface requires some practice to master, and the manual is often criticized for being unclear or incomplete. Many users resort to online videos and forums to learn how to use all the functions effectively.
Limitations and Compatibility Issues
Several limitations were consistently mentioned across reviews:
- Single-cell compatibility: Many users were disappointed to find the unit doesn’t support single-cell batteries:
- “The only reason for the 4-star rating and not 5 is that it won’t work on single cell batteries (like the Syma X5 battery and others).”
- “Doesn’t work on 1s batteries and has a weird glitch when the battery is low on power where it thinks it is a 4s when it is a 3s and it thinks 1s batteries are 3s”
- Connector compatibility: The device works with balance connectors but has limited support for other connector types:
- “To use the nimh or nicad function you will have to create your own connector to adapt for all the different battery connection types.”
- “I like the engineering and design but I don’t like the idea that I have a lot of deans plugged batteries and isn’t find adapters”
- Overheating during discharge/balance: As mentioned earlier, the unit can overheat during extended use of the balance or discharge functions.
- No backlight: Some users noted the lack of a backlight on the LCD display.
Value Proposition
Despite the limitations, many users consider the Tenergy 5-in-1 Battery Meter to be good value for money, especially for RC hobbyists:
“If you have a RC collection with a few or more batteries this device is awesome.”
“This is a good product, but some use information would be VERY useful.”
“I will tell you without any hesitation that you will be glad you bought one of these.”
“For the price, it does what it says and does it well.”
The price point (typically around $15-20) places it in an accessible range for hobbyists while offering more functionality than basic battery checkers. While there are cheaper alternatives available, many users suggest that the additional features, particularly the IR measurement, justify the slightly higher cost of the Tenergy model.
Use Cases and Applications
The reviews highlight several primary use cases for the Tenergy 5-in-1:
- Field checks during RC operations: “Use it every time I fly my rc planes. So far it has not failed me.” “I can just plug in each of my battery and it will tell me the average percentage so I can quickly glance at the display, figure out if I need to swap in a new battery and get back to flying.”
- Post-charging battery balancing: “I am currently balancing every battery I charge AFTER it comes off a charger.” “So before use, I attach this meter, turn on the balancing function, and 20 minutes later the cells are within 0.01 volts of each other.”
- Battery health monitoring: “It also makes checking cell resistance fast and easy. Now I know when when a battery is degrading (other than just the swollen ones) and know when they become risky to use.”
- Custom battery pack building and testing: “I got this unit because I build custom batteries for ROVs. I needed something to balance the cells…” “I tested it on a 2s Lipo and 3s. Balancing is pretty easy…”
- Electric vehicle battery maintenance: “I had bought a Hobbymate balanced charger for my Shorai LFX14L2-BS12… I read about Tenergy cell meter checker here on Amazon and for $14.99, ok. It work’s great on my Shorai battery ($135.00)” “This is the best option for tesla modules.”
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Accurate voltage measurements
- Easy-to-read display with large numbers
- Multiple functions in one compact device
- Internal resistance measurement for battery health assessment
- Balancing capability to equalize cell voltages
- Portable and field-friendly design
- No separate power source required
- Good value for money
- Compatible with multiple battery types
Cons:
- Overheating during extended balancing/discharging
- Limited discharge functionality
- Not compatible with single-cell batteries
- Unintuitive interface and poor documentation
- Limited connector compatibility out of the box
- Inconsistent internal resistance readings reported by some users
- LCD screen issues when device overheats
Conclusion
The Tenergy 5-in-1 Battery Meter is a valuable tool for RC enthusiasts and others who regularly use multi-cell LiPo and other rechargeable batteries. Its ability to measure voltage, display capacity, check internal resistance, balance cells, and discharge batteries makes it a versatile device that addresses most battery management needs.
The device’s strengths lie in its voltage measurement accuracy, internal resistance testing capability, and cell balancing functionality. These features help users maintain their batteries in optimal condition, potentially extending their lifespan and ensuring safer operation.
The most significant limitations include overheating during extended use, lack of single-cell compatibility, and the somewhat confusing user interface. The documentation is also frequently criticized, though many users note that online resources can fill this gap.
At its price point, the Tenergy 5-in-1 represents good value for money, especially for those who understand and need its more advanced features. For casual users who simply need to check battery voltage, a simpler and cheaper device might suffice. However, for serious RC hobbyists or those working with custom battery packs, the additional capabilities make this device a worthwhile investment.
As one reviewer succinctly put it: “If you’re into RCs and especially if you want to be on top of the health and danger of LiPos!” this device is “a must have.”
Recommendations for Potential Buyers
- For RC hobbyists: Highly recommended, especially if you use multiple batteries and want to maintain them properly.
- For custom battery builders: Useful but be aware of overheating issues with high-capacity packs.
- For casual users: May be more feature-rich than necessary; consider if you’ll use all functions.
- For single-cell battery users: Look elsewhere, as this device does not support 1S batteries.
- For those unfamiliar with battery technology: Be prepared to invest time in learning how to use the device properly, as the included documentation is limited.
In summary, the Tenergy 5-in-1 Battery Meter is a specialized tool that excels at helping users maintain and monitor multi-cell batteries, particularly in RC applications. Despite some limitations, it offers significant value for its target audience and has earned its place in many RC enthusiasts’ toolkits.
Buy on Amazon: Here
