Show more about 18650 battery shrink wrap

We have all seen batteries being wrapped around in a plastic or metal layer. While you might think that it is the active part of the battery, only if you get inside the layer will you be able to see the actual parts of the battery. The wraps are solely meant for protecting the battery from the environment, while also protecting you from the battery. If you see your battery's wrap getting torn or generating cracks, you must immediately recover your battery with a wrap or heat shrink. Knowing why the battery is wrapped and how to wrap a battery yourself will help you save money as you will be able to extend the lifetime of your battery without having to face any hazards.

Why are batteries wrapped?

Batteries are wrapped to protect them from metal to metal contact. These wrappings ensure that the positive and negative terminals do not get connected due to some random piece of metal. If the positive and negative terminal does come in contact, your battery will short circuit.  If the batteries are not wrapped, there are high chances of experiencing a shock when you use them. AA and AAA batteries are wrapped in stiff plastic as these batteries are cheap. However, expensive batteries like 18650 are wrapped using flexible plastics.

18650 battery wraps and insulators

Batteries are a delicate mixture of various chemicals. They need protection from external forces. If your 18650 battery is abused physically or is placed in high temperatures, it can catch on fire and explode. The insulation around your battery pack will protect it from high temperatures and physical abuse, thus significantly extending its lifetime. The batteries also have many toxic compounds that could get leaked when damaged, the wrapping protects you from coming in direct contact with them.

Unlike AA or AAA batteries, the terminals of a 18650 battery cover a bigger portion of their body. If left uninsulated, the terminals can come in contact and short circuit the battery. The insulation around the battery also protects you from getting minor shocks.

18650 battery pack heat shrink

Batteries need heat shrinks as they protect them from short-circuiting and against the weather. There are many different types of heat shrinks available, they vary in color and in the material. The major issue with heat shrink is that they can become brittle over time and will start forming cracks around the sharp corners and the edges of the battery. You can get over this issue by wrapping your battery in multiple layers of heat sinks. This will effectively strengthen your heat shrink and will also help you out should one of the layers crack. You could also line up your heatsinks perpendicular to each other, thus covering all the sides of your battery and effectively sealing it from external damage. You could also add a foam around your battery to stop your heat shrink from cracking over time. If you are willing to spend a little bit more money, you can even choose thicker rubber heat shrinks, these will be able to take more amounts of physical damage.

Once you have chosen what type of heat shrink you need, you must choose the right size of heat shrink for your 18650 battery pack. To decide on the size you must first calculate the perimeter of your battery pack. To get the perimeter, you need to simply double the sum of your width and thickness. You must choose a heat shrink that has a circumference that is not smaller than the perimeter but at the same time, it should not be larger than double the perimeter. If your heat shrink is too small, it will tear during the shrinking process. If it is too big, the battery will not be able to snuggly fit inside the battery.

Once you have chosen the right shape and size for your 18650 battery, you can move to installing it. You must first clean your battery properly and ensure that it is functioning properly. You can wrap your 18650 battery pack in a layer of foam or fiberglass to give a layer of extra protection. Now insert your heat sink over your battery, ensure that the wires are out of your way. Ensure that you have an extra one inch on each side of the battery. Now use a heat gun or a dryer to heat your heat shrink. Do not use excessive heat as you might end up melting the shrink. Always cover the ends of the battery first before you move to the middle, this will ensure that your battery snuggly fits in the heat shrink. You can even add another layer of heat shrink in a perpendicular direction of the first one to cover all the sides of your battery. This will help make your battery more waterproof and also prevent foreign objects from getting inside your battery.

Conclusion

A 18650 battery is one of the best batteries in the market, they are able to efficiently power a wide range of devices for a long time. However, these batteries are expensive and replacing them can burn a little hole in your wallet. Whenever you see your 18650 battery or battery pack's wrap gets a little tear, due to physical abuse or age,  you might be tempted to replace the entire battery, but this can be really expensive.  However, you will actually be able to rewrap it yourself at a much lower cost. You just need to go to the shop and buy a wrap of material and size suitable for your battery and needs. The installation process is a breeze and you can do it without any expert help. Once you have wrapped your battery, you can start using it as usual. Shrink wrapping your battery can thus save you money and a trip to the local supermarket.