How much do you know about USPS Lithium-ion battery?

A lithium-ion battery also called Li-ion battery is a rechargeable battery used for portable electronics such as cell phones, cameras and laptops, and vehicles which uses electricity. Also, it is used in military applications to serve many purposes. Lithium is the lightest metal among all other metals but is greater in having electrochemical potential because of which lithium-ion batteries have high-density energy stored in it and there is a very minimal chance of self-discharge which eventually increase the life of these batteries.

A United States Postal Service (USPS) is the agency of Federal Government of the United States providing postal service to all over the state and the associated states. They provide Lithium-ion cells and batteries with total care and protection. The USPS Lithium-ion batteries have many advantages over other batteries which are discussed below.

1.When do you need USPS lithium ion battery?

Lithium-ion batteries are fast in charging, they last longer and have a high energy density as compared to other batteries with having a longer battery life. It is a good choice over other batteries. There is a variety of lithium-ion batteries which makes it easy to choose for particular applications. Some batteries provide a current density which needs for mobile electronic equipment and some with a much higher current density that is ideal for power tools and electric vehicles.

When you need a battery with low maintenance, the lithium-ion battery is best among all. To ensure their performance they do not require maintenance procedures.

Lithium ion cells and batteries don’t need to be primed on their first charge while some batteries need to be primed.

When you need batteries with longer charging time lithium ion serves the best. It has a low self-discharging rate than other cells and batteries.

2.What do you need to pay attention to USPS lithium ion battery?

Batteries and the devices that store energy has a major risk factor because of which some disasters happened in early 1800 and happening up till now. Many firms do not even bother to give the details and documentation about safety and risk management if something bad or unusual happens. They just need shortcuts to increase their sales and reputation in the market.

Basically, there are two types of battery failures which leads to bad results. First, a design flaw which involves flaws in processes or connection of separator, electrode or electrolyte. These defects are mostly covered by recalling for their correction. The other kind is difficult and is random which is not analyzed in the first place. These happened when the battery is in function like charging at a temperature which is not suitable for the battery, or when the battery starts vibrating.

In the inner working of the cell, a short happened because of the elevation of self-discharge but the heat building up is minimized because the discharging power is very low. If metallic particles covered one single spot, the flow of the current between the electrodes is maximized because of which that spot picks up heat and becomes weak. The insulation layer in a cell cannot bear the heat and cause an electrical short. The sudden temperature increase happened which results in an explosion by the fire catches by the cell.

Safety Measures:

Whenever fire catches lithium-metal battery, use a class D fire extinguisher. Lithium metal having a lot of lithium which when meets with water it makes the situation even worse.

If a Li-ion battery catches fire, move the device away from flammable materials without wasting seconds and place it to the material that not creates combustion.

*These batteries must be stored in cool places with at least 40% charging to reduce the aging effect.

*One regular charge is needed. There is no memory issue, so you do not have to discharge it again and again.

*Take extra care if traveling with such cells and batteries to control the damage.

3.How to ship a lithium-ion battery through USPS

New Standards:

U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)  set some regulations in shipping lithium batteries for safe transportation containing the shipments of batteries and cells. Shippers must follow the rules to minimize the risk factors in transferring these batteries.

All batteries, lithium metal batteries; non-rechargeable ones and lithium-ion batteries; the rechargeable ones are mailable in limited quantities. The mailing is done by surface transportation or air when they are installed in the equipment or packed with that equipment for which the battery is needed. And this service is also available in limited quantity without equipment by surface transportation only.

All such shipments required markings or a handling label of the lithium battery and the documentation indicating the following points:

*The package can contain lithium metal batteries or lithium-ion batteries or cells.

*If the package is damaged there is a potential to overcome the flammability hazard.

*In case of any damage happen to the package, some special procedures must be followed immediately.

*For additional information there should be given a telephone number.

Marking or labelling and any documentation is not required for the batteries which are already installed in the equipment. Also, the packages having up to 4 cells / 2 lithium-ion batteries or lithium metal batteries that are installed in the equipment don’t need documentation or marking in it.

In air shipments, there is a Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express which can have a maximum number of 2 batteries or 8 cells in both the cases. Either having lithium ion cells or batteries without equipment or lithium cell or batteries with equipment.

International Shipment of the Batteries

There are no such additional requirements of USPS shipments except the standard to determine the size is watt-hours. In international shipment, lithium batteries must be installed in the equipment they power. No shipping carrier can ship a standalone lithium cell or lithium battery internationally. The product is a must in the package. Also, no documentation or marking is allowed in international shipments. All international, as well as APO / FPO and DPO destinations, follow these rules.