Lithium-Ion battery is a battery made of a light type of metal. This technology is characterized by its high energy density. This battery technology can store more energy per kg than Ni-MH and Ni-CD batteries. Li-ion batteries are currently the most commonly used batteries for tools, laptops and telephones. The advantages of Li-ion are the low self-discharge, no memory effect and the favorable energy/weight ratio. Unfortunately, the battery experiences a loss of capacity as the battery ages. The loss of capacity begins to occur immediately after production of the cell. This loss is 18-22% per year at 22°C - 26°C. At higher temperatures, the loss of capacity becomes greater.
The use
A Li-ion battery does not require any specific maintenance like the Ni-CD and Ni-MH do. Fully charging the battery when using it has a positive effect on the lifespan of the battery. It is very important that the Li-ion battery is never stored empty. Due to temperature differences, the battery can fall below the absolute low point and recharging is no longer possible and the battery is written off.
Charging and discharging the Li-Ion
Li-ion batteries have an optimal range between 20% and 80% battery charge. As soon as the battery has approximately 20% capacity, the optimal moment to recharge the battery has been reached. The chip that controls the battery cells will switch off the battery when only 5% capacity is available. Li-ion batteries have a longer lifespan if partial discharges occur instead of complete discharges. A deep discharge (<5% remaining capacity) can irreparably damage the battery and possibly disable the battery's protections. To recharge the battery, you can use a suitable Li-ion charger. When the battery is fully charged, the battery does not have to be disconnected from the charger immediately, as no memory effect can occur. An important point for charging is the temperature of the battery. The cells must remain reasonably cool and must not become warmer than 25°C. If this does happen, the capacity of the battery will decrease significantly and in the worst case the battery can explode due to overheating. A Li-ion battery has a very sensitive charging cycle. The charger should check for overheating, peak voltages and deep discharges during the discharge of the battery.
Why choose a Li-ion?
- Favorable weight/performance ratio
- Limited cell size, but high voltage (3.7 Volt per cell)
- Maintenance free
- Limited self-discharge
- Lack of memory effect
Why not choose a Li-ion?
- Decrease in cell capacity immediately after production
- Deep discharge leads to battery failure
- High and low temperatures greatly affect battery life
