Combination of a battery and a battery condition indicator and condition indicator for an electrolytic cell

摘要

A tester for determining the condition of an electrochemical power source, e.g. a battery or main cell, is disclosed. The tester may comprise an electrolytic (coulometric) cell connected in series to a auxiliary cell. The auxiliary cell is a miniature electrochemical power cell. The electrolytic (coulometric) cell may have no electromotive force of its own and may comprise an anode and cathode of the same material, desirably silver, with an electrolyte contacting at least a portion of both the anode and cathode. The tester may be permanently connected in parallel to a main cell being tested and is thin enough to be integratable into a label for the main cell. As the main cell discharges, the electrolytic cell anode clears proportionally to the discharge of one of the electrodes of the main cell to provide a continuous visually discernible indication of the state of charge of the main cell.