Battery testing - Lithium

[saab95]

I need to check what battery life is left in a lithium 3v battery that is used in my car alarm module.
Is their a tester to do this ?
My batteries are the ones from the below link with the only difference being the end tabs are two pronged rather than one as in their photo.
I have a multimeter but im told I cant use that as I will get a reading back of 3v even if if the battery is near dead.
Thanks

2X Brand New SANYO Lithium Battery CR17335 3V W/tabs on eBay (end time 28-Oct-10 09:18:15 BST)

 

[J@mes]

We have battery condition testers at work, but they are about £500. You need to measure the battery voltage while it is "under load" which we also so at work by basically putting a dead short on the battery with an analogue voltmeter to see how the volts drop when high current is being drawn.

so in all honestly, buy new batteries

 

[saab95]

Getting hold of the batteries is a bit difficult.
The ones I have linked too are from china but the date range on them is due up so who know how long their good for.
Also the tabs on them are not ideal so if you can help with putting tabs on batteries that may be a easier way for me.

Fo instance I have the below linked batteries which will work but need tabs or battery clips to be wired to the pcb (Any recommendations ?)
Energizer CR123 Pack of 1 at Battery Force

 

[J@mes]

Tabs can be soldered on, but you need to be gentle when doing it as too much heat too quickly in the battery will damage it.

Best thing to do would to be solder separate connections on to the PCB and have a detachable battery box for the batteries themselves.

Any TV A/V repair shop should be able to do this soldering for you for not much money really.