18650 Rechargeable Battery And Charger- Charging Method And Choice

For understanding the charging method and the best choice regarding the 18650 battery let us first understand what is 18650 battery The 18650 battery is the most popular lithium-ion battery composed of 18650 battery cells. 18650 is the dimension of these cells which are 18mm in diameter and 65mm in height and the last zero refers to the cylindrical shape.

The lithium-ion technology has been used since the 1970s when it was first developed for storing an electrical charge and charging small portable devices when needed. Today small portable devices have become the backbone of modern technology as they have become a part of everyday life like our mobile phones and laptops.

These batteries in our laptops and mobiles are rechargeable and provide us the ease of taking our devices anywhere without the hassle of using them connected to a socket every time like a desktop computer or a traditional telephone.

Characteristics Of 18650 Batteries:

1. Standard Charge:

Standard Charge shall consist of charging at a constant current of 1150mA unless specified. The cell will be charged at a constant voltage of 4.2V while tapering the charge current. When the charging current has tapered to 50mA, charging shall be automatically terminated.

2. Standard Discharge:

46mA to 3V constant current will be observed while standard discharge. At 23 oC ± 2 oC discharging shall be performed, unless or otherwise noted (such as capacity versus temperature).

3. Initial Capacity:

At 6.1 the cells shall be charged and shall be discharged at 6.2 within an hour after a full charge. Initial capacity will meet the requirement of 2550mAh.

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4. Cycle Life:

At a constant current of 1150mA to 4.2 Volts with an end current of 50mA the cells will be charged. And the cells will be discharged at a constant current of 1150mA to 3.0V. Cells should be given a rest time of 10 minutes after charge and 20 minutes after a discharge. This is defined as one charge and one discharge cycle. As per standard charge and standard discharge the cycle life shall be measured after 300 cycles.

5. Initial AC Impedance:

At 1kHz the initial AC impedance is measured after standard charge. At 90mF the impedance is Initial (with PTC)

6. Temperature Dependency of Capacity:

According to the charge rate the cells shall be charged at 23oC ± 2oC and discharged as per discharge rate at the following temperatures.

Charge Temperature: 23oC

Discharge Temperature: -10 oC (70%), 0 oC (90 %), 23oC (100 %) & at 60 oC (95%).

7. Storage Characteristics:

According to the charge rate the cells shall be charged and stored for 30 days in a temperature-controlled environment at 23oC ± 2oC. After storage, according to the discharge rate the cells shall be discharged for obtaining the remaining capacity. The remaining capacity at 90 % (of minimum capacity in 3.1).

Can You Charge 18650 Rechargeable Battery With AA Charger

As 18650 batteries are rechargeable so you will need a good charger for their enhanced life. Any battery charger that can terminate charging at 4.2V and supports lithium-ion batteries can be used for charging 18650 battery cells. Single cells can be charged with a constant 4.2V supply without a charger but the lithium batteries cells require specially balanced chargers for performing in long runs.

Charging of lithium-ion batteries is relatively simpler than charging Nickel-based systems. In this the circuit is pretty straight forward; current and voltage limitations are easier to handle rather than analyzing complex voltage signatures that change as the battery ages.

Like the lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not require saturation so the charging process can be intermittent. This can be very beneficial for renewable energy sources like solar energy panels and wind turbines as they do not charge the battery in full.

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How Many AMPS Should You Charge Your 18650 Rechargeable Battery

Charging of lithium-ion batteries can be a bit complex and critical too when compared to lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion cells charge to a maximum of 4.2 Volts and with a charge current of 0.5 times of the capacity. We can say that a 3000 mah battery would be charged at 1500mA maximum when this rule is followed. The data sheets of cells specify the precise number of charging.

By this, it can be said that the charge would be done in two hours, but that's not the case. Well, you see that the protocol for charging a cell or group of cells will explain why charging at half of the capacity for two hours will not charge the battery fully. You see, you cannot put 1500mah into the battery from start to finish in two hours. As the cell reaches 4.2Volts the charge will taper. The charge rate also called CC or constant current will be absorbed by the bat

How Do You Choose The Best 18650 battery Charger

Choosing the best 18650 battery can be a difficult job as the battery is the most popular one so it also has several charger varieties. But, you will have to select the one with a good brand name so that it can be ensured that it is completely compatible with 18650 cell charging features. Here are some of the top-rated chargers for 18650 batteries:

Klarus K1 single cell smart battery charger: This is the best choice for lithium 18650 battery cells. Besides charging lithium 18650 and other versions this charger is also compatible with AA and AAA batteries.

2. Miboxer rechargeable battery charger: This charger has a big LCD that shows the charging time, voltage battery type, and battery capacity data. This information will help to analyze the battery performance. With its convenient 1 click setting, it can charge at different rates depending on the type of battery.

3. XTAR MC1 Plus first one-slot charger: This charger is as good as the Klarus K1 but has some limitations like it cannot charge LiFePO4 batteries. It is a super compact and high-quality charger best for single-cell charging. It is an easy travel charger option with fast charging and a convenient LCD, and it will choose the most suitable charging current at 0.5 amp ensuring a longer lifespan of the battery.