Frequently asked questions
Why are specific gravity readings still essential for wet cell battery testing?
Even though electronic instruments that measure impedance, resistance, and conductance are fast and non-invasive, specific gravity (SG) testing remains the absolute "gold standard" for determining a flooded lead-acid battery's true chemical state of charge and identifying internal flaws. In the critical power industry (such as data centers, nuclear plants, and telecommunication hubs), backup batteries cannot be allowed to fail. Techs still use SG readings alongside electronic testers.
What is the best replacement for the discontinued Vertiv Cellcorder CRT-400?
The Megger BITE5 Advanced is the best replacement for the discontinued Vertiv (Alber) Cellcorder CRT-400 because it modernizes battery impedance testing with a color touchscreen, supports modern lithium-ion and NiCD chemistries alongside lead-acid, and handles much higher voltage ranges (up to 500 V module testing and 1000 V DC measurement) that older legacy units cannot match.
The BITE5 Advanced is backed by Megger's established calibration, technical support, and global distribution network.
Features
Measures impedance on modules up to 500 V
Measures inter-cell (strap) resistance
Supports lead acid, NiCD and lithium-ion
Supports battery discharge testing
Monitoring battery recharge
Test parallel strings without segmenting
Touch screen set-up and trending
RFID Tag Reader
Measure and record DC voltages up to 1000 V DC
Measure and record AC voltages up to 600 V AC
Wirelessly transfer data to PowerDB
Key Technical Upgrades Over the CRT-400:
Battery Chemistry Support: Tests lithium-ion, NiCD, and lead-acid (VLA/VRLA) cells, whereas the older CRT-400 is limited primarily to traditional lead-acid systems.
Higher Voltage Limits: Measures and records DC string voltages up to 1000 V and module impedance up to 500 V, far exceeding the CRT-400's 0–16V range.
Discharge & Recharge Testing: Actively supports full discharge and recharge cycle logging (tracking voltage, current, temperature, and impedance simultaneously over time), which legacy Cellcorder models do not support.
Parallel String Testing: Allows testing of parallel strings without needing to segment them first.
Built-in RFID Reader: Automatically recognizes and logs assets in the field without manual text entry.
Advanced Data Management: Features a large color touch display for on-site data trending, paired with seamless wireless and SD-card data transfer into Megger's PowerDB software suite rather than relying on legacy flash drives or older PC companion tools