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10
Apr 11

18650 Battery Dimensions: What to Consider When Buying

For many years, we have been using a lot of rechargeable batteries. Battery packs have gone a long way beginning from its nickel-cadmium roots. This is considered to be the first alkaline battery. This was used heavily for commercial purposes before being replaced by the more advanced nickel metal-hydride rechargeable battery. This was more reliable and lasts longer compared to nickel-cadmium batteries. However, the nickel metal-hydride battery was soon replaced by an even more advanced battery. The lithium-ion rechargeable battery stores even more power and so, lasts longer in-between charges. With more power, it can also juice up more power-hungry devices, but do you know the 18650 Battery Dimensions & Specifications?

A standardized format used in producing li-ion rechargeable batteries is the 18650 format. This is a cylindrical cell measuring 18 X 65mm. The 18650 format battery is the most economical li-ion rechargeable battery format based on cost-to-energy ratio.

Advantages of Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries
Li-ion batteries are usually chosen for various purposes. These are as follows:

  • It is able to store more power.
  • It can provide power to power-hungry devices.
  • Relatively low maintenance.
  • Built in features for longer lifespan.

The best rated li-ion 18650 batteries can store a lot of power with only a relatively short charge. This allows you to use your appliance for a much longer period. For instance, with just about 2 hours of charge, the best rated li-ion 18650 battery can run for about 8 hours.

The 18650 li-ion battery can provide a stronger power during usage. This means that it can cater to appliances that require more power such as electrical drills. If the battery provides less power, the drill may not operate in its optimum condition since it is not drilling as hard as it should. With a stronger power, the drill is able to turn faster and thus, drill harder.

With best rated li-ion 18650 batteries, you do not need to take care in charging as you do with other types of batteries. This is because it is relatively difficult to overcharge the battery. When it has reached its full capacity, its integrated circuit will stop it from being charged further. On top of that, you do not need to discharge the battery periodically even if you do not use it since there is no memory effect.

As mentioned above, the 18650 li-ion battery contains extra features that help it to have an easier maintenance. This includes the ability to regulate voltage levels when discharging. Other than that, some products also have thermal cut off protection, effectively terminating access to the battery if it overheats. All this adds to a longer lifespan of the best rated li-ion 18650 batteries.

When buying 18650 rechargeable batteries, there are a few points that should be considered. These are:

  • storage and output levels.
  • chargers.

It is very important to take note of a li-ion rechargeable battery’s storage levels. Usually, it is available in the following flavors:

  • 1600mAh
  • 2400mAh
  • 2600mAh
  • 3000mAh
  • 3600mAh

The higher the number, the more storage the battery is capable of. It should also be noted that with a higher storage capability, it will take a longer time for it to be fully charged. In relation to that, the output levels of the battery should also be noted. The normal output level for 18650 li-ion batteries is about 3.7V. A higher number means more power is output to the appliance.

Along with rechargeable batteries, we should also consider the chargers for these batteries. There are many different types of chargers. Some of them can charge only 2 batteries at a time while others can charge up to 4. Some chargers have light indicators while others do not. We should choose one that fits our requirements and budget.

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10
Apr 11

AW 18650 battery: The Best Li-Ion 18650 Battery Brand?

Much like any other product that people buy these days, even electronic accessories come under brand names which all have their own pros and cons. Especially in terms of batteries, these brands are basically indicators to define which among these is better from the rest and why. Almost every electronic item we see and use these days is operated with a battery, may it be our cell phone, laptop, car, camera and countless other items. Therefore, knowing the right brand of batteries is very important for each of us.

Coming far ahead from the time when the batteries were supposed to be for one-time use, manufacturers have now been producing rechargeable batteries extensively. These batteries are a one-time expense that people need to make. For a long time after that, they can easily be reused by recharging them. The 18650 batteries, which rely on lithium ions’ movement from one terminal to another, have come to be one of the most popular types in terms of usage and production. With a large number of people using these batteries for various electronic gadgets, the best rated Li-ion 18650 batteries are available in a number of categories, which are:

-          Small cylindrical battery – This type of Li-ion battery has a solid body and is made without terminals. It is mostly used in gadgets such as 18650 flashlight and even laptops. Popular brands include Tenergy, AW 18650 battery and rechargeable Ultrafire 18650 batteries.

-          Large cylindrical battery – Also a solid bodied battery, it has large size terminals that are threaded. It is mostly available in China-made brands.

-          Pouch battery – The pouch battery is flat and has a soft make. This type of battery is mostly used in mobile phones. The popular brands include Sony and LG.

-          Prismatic – It also has large sized terminals that are threaded. It is encased inside a semi-hard casing and is generally used in packs for vehicle traction.

Besides the fact that Li-ion batteries can be recharged again and again, they also have a number of other advantages which make them a good option for anyone:

-          They are available in a large range of sizes and capacities, making it easier to fit them in the gadgets that require them.

-          Considerably lightweight in comparison to other external batteries.

-          The self discharge rate is around 5 to 10 percent monthly, much lesser than the commonly used nickel metal hydride battery (30 percent a month).

-          Safe for the environment due to the fact that the lithium metal is not exposed in any way.

Before buying the batteries, however, one should consider what purpose one buying them for because the choice of batteries will depend on the purpose they are needed for. While buying the batteries, one should look for the ones that have self-discharge. This is because there have been bad examples of substandard Li-ion batteries that seemed to be self-discharging but were actually losing their capacity to perform. This is why it is always advisable to go for the best rated Li-ion 18650 batteries because although they charge more than the average batteries, they save the user from any worries.

There are a number of Li-ion 18650 battery brands such as Tenergy, AW 18650 battery, LG, rechargeable Ultrafire 18650 batteries etc. According to amazon.com, three of the best rated Li-ion 18650 batteries in the U.S. include:

1. Tenergy – Being the topmost in terms of user ratings on amazon.com, the Tenergy batteries are also the most expensive of the lot. However, the price becomes secondary considering the five-star rating its 3.7 volts battery has received from the users. The feedback shows that the battery has been able to garner 100 percent customer satisfaction. They have not only received positive reviews for packaging but also for the fact that they don’t heat up that quickly. As a result, the devices can be used for a longer time.

2. Obtronic – Also receiving five star rating from the users, this brand of batteries was found to have the highest energy density and was praised by the users. Only one of the users mentioned it being the same in use as the China-made batteries.

3. LG – The LG battery cells are another one of the best rated Li-ion 18650 batteries that have received good reviews from the users. It can be utilized for multiple purposes, with a greater density for energy and a design for optimizing electrodes. It can be used for cameras, 18650 flashlight and e-books as well.

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10
Apr 11

18650 Lithium Ion: Rechargeable Battery Review

Rechargeable 18650 Lithium Ion Batteries
Li-ion batteries are the most advanced rechargeable batteries currently used in the consumer market. It is currently being used in many items including mobile phones, laptops, cameras and other mobile consumer electronics products. Its ability to store power and quick charge to full capacity makes it attractive for common and frequent use.

Li-ion usage has been steadily increasing in the past few years. Sales are increasing by 10% every year. Conversely, the prices of li-ion batteries have dropped from $4 per watt-hour to about $1.50 per watt-hour. With a lower price, more and more products are now using li-ion batteries. This in turn drives the price down even further.

One of the most economical formats of li-ion batteries is the 18650 Lithium Ion format. Batteries with this format have the measurement of 18 X 65mm.

Choosing 18650 Lithium Ion Rechargeable Batteries
It is not easy to choose the best rated li-ion 18650 batteries. There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into account. However, 18650 li-ion rechargeable batteries have a lot of advantages over other rechargeable batteries. These include:

  • No memory effect.
  • It is able to store more power.
  • It has built-in protection to extend its lifespan.

With other types of rechargeable batteries especially nickel cadmium, there is a serious problem called the memory effect. This happens when the battery is charged before it has fully discharged. This causes the battery to be ‘confused’ about its maximum possible charge. Subsequent charges will cause it to charge to a point lower than its maximum possible charge. This is known as the memory effect. In the long term, the battery will lose its capacity and will have to be replaced. This problem is not present with li-ion batteries. As a result, li-ion batteries last longer than its counterparts.

With a different chemistry used in li-ion batteries, the best rated 18650 Lithium Ion Batteries are able to store more power compared to other types of rechargeable batteries. This effectively means that li-ion batteries can provide power for a longer period of time.

A new feature found in the best rated li-ion 18650 batteries is the integrated printed circuit board (PCB) protection. This feature controls the voltage that goes in and out of the battery. It prevents under-voltage at 2.5V and over-voltage at 4.25V from happening. If voltage falls too low, it will cause the battery to over discharge. On the other hand, when voltage rises too much, it will cause the battery to overcharge. With the internal PCB protection, the issue of overcharging and over discharging will not happen anymore.

There are many different manufacturers of the best rated li-ion 18650 batteries. These include Ultrafire, Tenergy and Trustfire. The prices of li-ion 18650 batteries between these manufacturers vary. The price difference is mostly caused by extra features or capacities between one battery and another. Usually, the more expensive battery will have extra features such as thermal cut-off protection. Sometimes obtaining a more expensive battery can ensure a battery that is of better quality comparatively as well as a battery that has a longer lifespan.

Typical 18650 Lithium Ion Rechargeable Batteries
Unfortunately, all the li-ion 18650 batteries produced by the manufacturers mentioned above have similar features. All Ultrafire, Tenergy and Trustfire li-ion batteries have the following characteristics:

  • Integrated PCB protection prevents batteries from over charging and over discharging.
  • The batteries can be charged more than 400 times.
  • The batteries come in a range of different storage levels.

Doing a search for li-ion rechargeable batteries with the 18650 size in Amazon.com provided information on the more popular choices. The Tenergy brand of li-ion rechargeable batteries seems to be more popular than the rechargeable Ultrafire 18650 batteries.

Tenergy li-ion 18650 rechargeable batteries can still maintain 90% of their initial charge even after 400 charges. It is expected that these batteries will last more than 500 charges. The rechargeable Ultrafire 18650 batteries, on the other hand, can only maintain about 85% of their initial charge after 400 charges.

With this in mind, it is clear that popular choices are made based on the features that differ from one battery to another. This can be due to the fact that a lot of the features are already very similar. As such, the battery that has that extra edge will be the more popular choice.

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