How to Test a 18650 Battery?

Many times, we have been confused while thinking about the 18650 battery as we complicate 18650 with model and sometimes with year in which it was built. However, 18650 is neither a model nor year of the battery in which it was built, in fact, it is the size and classification of the battery. Basically, 18650 is a battery made to store energy for longer periods of time and help to run portable electronic devices. These batteries are mainly used in laptops, mobiles, cameras, and such type of other devices. However, more experiments are being conducted and performed to run bigger appliances and devices on 18650 Batteries. Best thing about these batteries is their more charging power and less charging power. It means, these batteries take less time in getting recharged while give more working time to the devices. How do they do so?

18650 Batteries are made with lithium ions and many other elements. However, these are also named as lithium batteries because core element used in then is lithium. Lithium is used in form of ions. Lithium ions are prone to circulate even on low temperatures and maintain the production of charge and help electronic devices to run. Lithium ions are so sensitive of temperature that they start moving without any external power source just when temperature inside the room gets higher than the normal. This the reason, 18650 batteries kept in the basements or yards like high temperature zones, require testing before use.

This is because, a lithium battery with higher temperature gets hotter. Besides this, lithium ions are moving too fast hence they start emitting a fluid from them. This fluid is actually life of the 18560 batteries and its discharge means the battery is no-more good to use. It can blast at any minute, it can harm your device, and it can even harm your health too. This is the reason, testing a lithium battery is necessary.

When Do You Need to Test an 18650 Battery?

Basically, whenever you have kept your 18650 batteries out of use for so long, you must test them before using. I am saying this because most of the 18650 batteries are damaged from inside like their ions have damaged their power however they show no traces of disturbances on the outside. Nevertheless, when you put these batteries in the devices to use, they get blast. Due to this blast, not only devices get harmed and brunt, but skin of the person get also harmed and burned. If you will use 18650 batteries without testing, the thing will harm you in two ways: one economically and secondly, heath wise. Therefore, make sure to test your batteries 18650 every time you want to use them.

Secondly, if you are buying used toys or devices, they come with built in 18650 batteries. However, these batteries are easily removable for testing. You should remove these batteries before turning on the devices and using them and check for health and power of the battery. Otherwise, a wrong battery can burn your devices and even your home and skin too. To beware with any sort of damage, you must test the batteries of used devices you purchase.

How to test and what tools you require for these batteries is given in the next lines:

What Tools Can You Use To Test an 18650 Battery?

The tools you require to test an 18650 battery are:

· 18650 Batteries: These are lithium batteries not in use from a long time

· BMS: it is a battery management system, easily purchasable from Amazon or eBay

· Ni Stripe: a Nickle stripe you will use on the way of testing batteries

· Battery Power indicators: it will be used to show the power of your batteries like how much it is holding

· A Rocker Switch: it will help you to connect the battery with power source and get charged without creating any problem.

· Jacks: to connect batteries

· Battery holder: made specifically to hold 18650 batteries

· Screws: dimensions will be 3M x 10MM

· Spot welder

· Air blowers

· Wire cutters

· Lithium ion charges

· 3D printers

· Mustimeters

· Safety goggles

· Safety gloves

How Do You Test 18650 Battery by Yourself Properly?

First of all, before testing you need to make sure to figure out the maximum charge and minimum discharge voltage of your batteries. For this, you will have to find out the constant current value of your battery. The C rating of the battery shows the constant current of the battery while getting charged or discharged. Make sure to determine a lowest capacity range for the 18650 battery because a larger range means lower battery life.

Now, you will have to use a load tester. This load tester will require you to select a value. You will select a value on which you want your battery to work and operate. Now, it is time to take the C rating of your battery. Make sure to write this rating on paper for later use. Here is how C rating works: A battery with 1-amp per hour charging rate will be discharge at 1c per amp rate. Gradually the amps will increase the battery life will decrease such as a battery showing rating of 2C will be discharged within 30 minutes. Now, take note of the readings and compare the C rating of the batteries. You can use this same method, every time you want to test the 18650 batteries.

Bottom Line:

18650 batteries are amazing batteries that come in compact sizes. These batteries are able to be used in devices and toys. These batteries are rechargeable. You can use them over and over again by recharging and by doing so, you can save a lot of money. All you need is a genuine charger and 18650 batteries. Every time, a battery indicates to be low, you can recharge and reuse it.

This was all about 18650 Battery, its way of testing and the tools you require to test these batteries. Hopefully, the content will help you to test the power of your 18650 batteries.