Practical Usage of Lithium-Ion Battery

November 14, 2007

Battery is a device which contains and supplies electrical powers to electronic device with the supply of main current. Some batteries can be charged again for usage and is termed as rechargeable batteries. But most of the batteries are use and throw battery. Let us have a perception over the differences between the lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

In practical we find that lithium batteries are not rechargeable whereas lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable. Chemically lithium battery uses pure metallic lithium, but lithium-ion uses the compounds of lithium which are more stable than lithium. Lithium battery must never be recharged whereas lithium-ion is designed to be recharged for number of times.

Advantages of lithium-ion battery:

• It has high energy density to store more energy than other rechargeable batteries.

• It operates at a higher voltage about 3.7 for lithium-ion than NiMH or NiCD batteries.

• Its discharge rate is low which can maintain their charge for long time even for months once it is charged.

• Though lithium-ion batteries are small or lightweight, it has high voltage and holds a charge much longer.

Disadvantages of lithium-ion battery:

• Lithium-ion batteries are more costly as it is more intricate to manufacture.

• As a special circuitry is included, it protects the battery from damage making it expensive.

• Another reason for its cost is due to its manufacturing deficiency.

• You cannot find standard cell size in lithium-ion like other batteries.

• You need to use sophisticated chargers to monitor it charging process carefully.

• Lithium batteries are available with different shapes and size, so it requires charger manufactured to accommodate its size and shape.

Dangers due to improper charging of lithium-ion batteries:

Standard sized lithium-ion is not available to the date. If you charge lithium-ion battery with other charger not designed of lithium-ion, it creates a potentially hazardous condition. It might ignite as it operates at higher voltage of 3.7 V.

Name brand and generic lithium-ion batteries have less difference between them. Manufactures of camera device often make less sale of the camera itself, but gain profit for the accessories provided with camera such as battery and flashes. You cannot get same quality battery from third party batteries than original battery, which are virtually identical.

Method to store Lithium-ion battery:

You know that lithium-ion battery has the ability to store charge for many months, so it is better to store them with a partial or full charge. If you store them for long period with very low charge and its voltage slowly drops allow it to be charged again. If you store the battery for several months, it is better to take it out and recharge after few months. Leave this battery either partially or fully charged.

Exchange of batteries in electronic device

As you know the size, shape and voltage of alkaline and lithium-ion battery differs, they are not interchangeable. But now cameras are designed which can allow the camera to run with CRV3 type lithium-ion or AA size batteries. CRV3 rechargeable batteries under various brands cannot be used with each others chargers. They are manufactured as a set and have different charging requirements. If your digital camera runs with NiMH or NiCD battery you can switch on to lithium-ion battery.

Disposing lithium-ion batteries:

Unless lithium-ion batteries get exploded, never incinerate them. Rechargeable battery sales person also accept them back for recycling.

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