A rechargeable battery consists of different cells to achieve a certain voltage and capacity. The height of the voltage is determined by the number of cells connected in parallel. To achieve a higher capacity (Ah), more cells are connected in series.
Quality of the cells
The quality and lifespan of a battery is largely determined by the quality of the battery cell used. In general, a distinction can be made between Chinese cells and cells produced by Samsung, Panasonic or LG. The Chinese cells are cheap but have a shorter lifespan. For electric tools, the 18650 cell from LG, Samsung or Panasonic is used. These cells are also used by the manufacturers of electric tools.
The difference in quality between the Chinese and A-brand cells is noticeable in the number of charging cycles that the battery can withstand. The Chinese cells cannot actually meet the desired energy supply for electric tools. By overloading the cell, the capacity decreases significantly and the lifespan is limited. The A-brand cells can be charged up to 500 times, after which the battery capacity decreases significantly. For the Chinese cell, this loss of capacity already starts after 350 charging cycles.
Battery cells have undergone considerable development in recent years. Where cells only required capacity above to form a 3.0Ah battery, 6.0Ah can now be achieved. For more information about the capacity, click here.
