Low-temperature lithium-ion batteries mainly include low-temperature lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries, low-temperature 18650 batteries, and low-temperature lithium iron phosphate (LiPO4) batteries. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
Low-temperature lithium polymer batteries
Low-temperature LiPo batteries have the best low-temperature performance especially in smart wearable devices, where the advantages are more prominent.
Performance characteristics
Himax’s LiPo batteries can be made to operate in environments with low-temperatures of -50℃ to 50℃. Under low-temperatures, the batteries can achieve a lower internal resistance and, thus, a high discharge rate. Compared with traditional lithium polymer batteries, Himax’s batteries have broken through the discharge temperature limits of -20℃ to 60℃.
They are able to discharge over 60% efficiency at 0.2C at -40℃ and discharge over 80% efficiency at 0.2C at -30℃. When charged at 20℃ to 30℃ by 0.2C, the capacity can maintain above 85% after 300 cycles. The batteries can be ready for mass production, and they have been widely used in cold climates and military products.
Shape advantage
With stacking technology, battery shapes can be widely customized, which allows for more flexibility and space within products. We can also create small and ultra-thin batteries with low-temperature characteristics used in special fields or professional smart equipment.
Weight advantage
Under the same voltage and capacity conditions, low-temperature lithium-ion polymer batteries and low-temperature lithium iron phosphate batteries are lighter than low-temperature 18650 batteries. However, LiPo batteries are the most expensive in terms of production and manufacturing costs, which is one of the important factors limiting its use in some application areas.
Low-temperature 18650 lithium-ion batteries
Low-temperature 18650 lithium-ion batteries mainly consist of liquid electrolytes. these cylindrical batteries with steel shells have fixed dimensions, which means that their shape and size are fixed as well. The largest capacity is currently 3300mAh, which can only be achieved by a limited number of manufacturers.
Characteristics
At temperatures between -40℃ to 60℃, the effective discharge capacity is 40% to 55%, and the effective cycle life is more than 180 cycles. At temperatures between -30℃ to 65℃ at 0.2C discharge, the effective discharge capacity is above 65%. At 1C rate discharge, the discharge capacity is above 60%, and the cycle life comes out to more than 200 cycles.
At temperatures between -20℃ to 75℃, the effective discharge capacity is more than 80%, and the cycle life is more than 300 cycles.
Due to the fixed performance and size of the battery, there is limited use for this battery, but its production and manufacturing costs are relatively low.
Low-temperature lithium iron phosphate batteries
Low-temperature LiPO4 batteries have two kinds of packaging cases
one is a steel case, which is currently mostly used in new energy batteries, such as energy-storage batteries and new energy vehicle batteries. The other is a soft-pack LiPO4 battery with aluminum plastic film for the outer packaging.
The performance of this battery is basically the same as that of the LiPo battery.
However, the low-temperature performance of LiPo batteries is better than that of 18650 batteries. The development of LiPO4-battery technology has not been long, and the requirements for production equipment are relatively high.
LiPO batteries often abbreviated as Lithium polymer batteries are rechargeable batteries that use polymer electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes. RC cars are the popular market of LiPo batteries, you will be needing batteries for running them and LiPo batteries are the best option. They are best known for maintaining a steady voltage, surpassing all its other competitors.
What is the Best LiPo Battery for RC Cars?
All batteries are the same and identical, but that’s not true. They may look identical and share the same capabilities and compatibilities but they are different, in terms of quality and performance. Choosing the right one for your battery can be a task but here we are with guidelines that will help you in opting for the best one.
The best tip is that do your research and testing before the purchasing. Different brands will have different price tags and you must be ready to invest some money in buying them. Don’t buy a cheaper one that can later be heavy on your pocket but don’t buy an expensive one either. Some brands with low prices also offer good quality batteries that will last you longer than the expensive ones. So, the cost cannot determine the quality of the battery but its performance does. Make sure to do independent testing, consider battery configuration, and check the connectors as well. Also, make sure to check the reviews.
How Long Does a LiPo Battery for RC Cars Last?
LiPo batteries come with a lot of advantages but it has a shorter lifespan if compared to the nickel batteries. A LiPo battery may last typically fr about 150-300 cycles that totally depends on how it is cared for. Just when you will start using your battery frequently, charging and discharging it, it will ultimately be losing its capacity. You take your battery of 1300 mAH out of the box, but it will drop up to 75%, meaning about 1000 mAH.
A 1000 mAH battery bearing a load of 500 mAH will last for about 2 hours. Similarly, if your load is 2000 mAH then it would only last for 30 minutes. A 5000 mAH battery is quoted to last for about 20-25 minutes depending on the driving speed and your driving habits.
However, there are several methods that you can do for making our battery last longer. It includes the usage of proper charge voltage and balanced charging. Do, all the things that are necessary for maintaining the LiPo batteries for RC cars and you will definitely be treated with good and satisfactory outcomes.
How do you Care for your LiPo Battery for RC Cars?
Generally, good care and maintenance are required for LiPo batteries as they are a little too sensitive demanding some extra attention and care. But you can just ignore them for the fact that they need care because they are giving you a bundle of pros as well, including the lighter weight, higher capacities, higher discharge rates, and much more.
Here are some of the tips that will lead you to a better performance of LiPo batteries of RC cars.
Compatible Charger
Not just for increasing the lifespan, compatible chargers for LiPo batteries are the first thing that should be taken care of. If you are using a non-compatible charger you are not fully charging your battery, increasing the safety risks, and also contributing to shortening the life of the battery.
Effective Charging
It is advised to not over-discharge your battery and store the battery fully charged. do not overcharge your battery past 4.2 V per cell. Using a compatible charger will also help you in keeping the voltage and current same until it reaches the peak. Make sure to charge it as per instructions. Don’t charge them at below freezing point or near the flammable surfaces. Also, ensure that your battery is not damaged, broken, or swollen.
Discharging
Do not discharge your batteries more than amperage rates specified on the labels. Discharging the battery low than 3V can lead you to some consequences. Also, ensure that your battery doesn’t exceed the temperature of 140F during the discharging process.
Storage
Extra Care and attention are needed even in the storage of LiPo batteries. If you are storing your battery fr more than 30 days or planning to leave it as it is for a month or so, do not leave your battery fully charged. Make sure that you are not storing loose batteries together. It’s also recommended that you should not store your battery at extreme temperatures, near the flammable surfaces or in the direct sunlight. Always disconnect the batteries that are not in use and store them in a non-conductive fireproof container as it is really necessary to prevent any unwanted consequences. Improper storage is the most common problem that occurs with LiPo batteries.
Disposal
It’s really important to dispose of the LiPo battery properly as it can be a hazard. If you are having a bad day with LiPo batteries then dispose of them in the bins after completely discharging them, and checking the voltage of them. Place the LiPo in a saltwater bath and it will short out the battery, then check the voltage and then dispose them of.
General Care
Don’t disassemble the cells, never dispose of them in fire or use them near flammable surfaces, avoiding the opening and deforming of the cell, avoiding them to not get hit or bend or striking them with sharp edges are a part of some general care that should be don while handling the LiPo batteries for RC cars. You can also use a fire-resistant container to keep your batteries and yourself safe and sound.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/rc-car-battery-1.jpg480800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-07-15 03:21:412024-04-26 06:25:24RC Car Batteries: Introduction, Cycle Life, and Care
Lithium batteries, or Lithium-ion Polymer (LiPo) batteries, are batteries that use Lithium as a negative electrode material and use a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. In 1912, Lithium metal batteries were first proposed and studied by Gilbert N. Lewis. In the 1970s, M.S. Whittingham proposed and started researching Lithium-ion batteries. However, due to the complications of using the unstable Lithium metal, the batteries were not popular at the time.
It is now with further development that Lithium-ion Polymer batteries have fast become a preferred power source for many applications and industries. It is for this reason that we will explore the charging cycles of lithium-ion polymer batteries in-depth in this article.
What is a charging cycle?
Some consumers may have that the charge and discharge life of lithium-ion polymer batteries is “500 times.” But what is “500 times?” It refers to the number of charge and discharge cycles of the battery.
Let us look at an example: Let us say there is a lithium battery that uses only half of its charge in one day and is then charged fully. On the next day, it again only uses half of its power. Although the battery has been charged twice, this does not count as one charge cycle but two.
A charging cycle is when a battery goes from being fully charged to empty and then from empty to fully charged; this is not one single charge. Just based on the previous example, it’s clear that it can usually take several charges to complete a cycle.
Every time a charging cycle is completed, the battery capacity decreases a bit. However, the reduced capacity is very small. High-quality batteries will still retain 80% of their original capacity after many cycles of charging. Many lithium battery products will still be used after two or three years. Of course, after the end of the lithium battery life, it still needs to be replaced.
Ultimately, a 500-cycle life means that a manufacturer has achieved about 625 recharge times at a constant discharge depth (such as 80%) and reached 500 charging cycles. In other words, if we ignore other factors that could reduce the Lithium-ion battery capacity and we take 80% of 625, we receive 500.
However, due to various factors in life, especially considering how the depth of discharge (DOD) during charging is not constant, “500 charging cycles” can only be used as a reference to battery life.
Overall, it is better to think of the life of the lithium battery as related to the number of times the charging cycle is completed and not as directly related to the number of charges.
Deep and shallow charging
Here is another way to think of the cycle lives of lithium-ion polymer batteries: the life of a Lithium battery is generally 300 to 500 charging cycles. Assume that the capacity provided by a full discharge is Q. If the capacity reduction after each charging cycle is not considered, lithium batteries can provide or supplement 300Q-500Q power in total during its life. From this we know that if you use 1/2 each time, you can charge 600-1000 times; if you use 1/3 each time, you can charge 900-1500 times. By analogy, if you charge randomly, the number of times is uncertain. In short, no matter how a Lithium battery is charged, it is constant to add a total of 300Q to 500Q of power. Therefore, we can also understand this: the life of a Lithium battery is related to the total charge of the battery and has nothing to do with the number of charges. The effects of deep charging and shallow charging on lithium battery life are similar.
In fact, shallow discharge and shallow charges are more beneficial to lithium batteries. It is only necessary to deep charge when the power module of the product is calibrated for lithium batteries. Therefore, lithium-ion-powered products do not have to be constrained by the process: they can be charged at any time without worrying about affecting the battery life.
Effects of temperature on battery life
If a Lithium-ion Polymer battery is used in an environment higher than the specified operating temperature (above 35℃), the battery’s power will continue to decrease. In other words, the battery’s power supply time will not be as long as usual. If a device is charged at such temperatures, the damage to the battery will be greater. Even if the battery is stored in a hot temperature environment, it will inevitably cause damage to the battery. Therefore, it is a good idea to extend the life of lithium-ion polymer batteries by using it under normal operating temperatures as often as possible.
If you use Lithium batteries in a low-temperature environment (below 4℃), the battery life will also be reduced. Some older Lithium batteries of mobile phones cannot even be charged under low temperatures. However, unlike in high temperatures, once the temperatures rise, the molecules in a battery will heat up and immediately return to the previous charge.
Having explored battery performance under these extreme temperatures, the question now becomes if there are any batteries that can be used in environments with low or high temperatures.
Currently, GREPOW’s batteries can be used at temperature ranges of -50 ℃ to 50 ℃ or 20 ℃ to 80 ℃. Our low-temperature Lithium batteries’ discharging current of 0.2C at -50℃ is over 60% efficiency, over 80% efficiency at -40℃, and around 80% efficiency at -30℃.
We can further custom-make batteries depending on your specifications.
Charge-discharge cycle
To get the most out of lithium-ion batteries, you need to use it often so that the electrons in the Lithium batteries are always in a flowing state. If you do not use lithium batteries often, please remember to complete a charging cycle every month and do a power calibration, i.e. deep discharge and deep charge, once.
After the nominal number of charge and discharge cycles is used up, a battery’s ability to store power will drop to a certain level, but the battery can continue to be used.
Lithium batteries have no limit on the number of times they can be recharged. Regular manufacturers can charge and discharge batteries at least 500 times, and the capacity is maintained at more than 80% of the initial capacity. If charged and discharged once a day, batteries can be used for two years. Usually, batteries in mobile phones are charged 1000 times or more, which causes the batteries to be severely non-durable.
Below is a proper method of maintaining your mobile device’s battery:
When you charge your phone, fully charge it each time.
Do not fully discharge the battery. The battery needs to be charged when the power is less than 10%.
Charge with the original charger; do not use a third-party charger.
Do not use your mobile phone while it is being charged.
Don’t overcharge: stop charging after the battery is full.
According to the experimental results, the life of a lithium battery continuously declines with an increase in the number of charges.
Lithium battery cycle specified by the national standard
In order to measure how long the rechargeable battery can be used, the definition of the number of cycles is specified. Actual users use a wide variety of tests because tests with different conditions are not comparable, and the comparison must define the definition of cycle life.
Lithium battery cycle life test conditions and requirements specified by the national standard are as follows:Charge at 1C under the environment temperature of 20 ° C ± 5 ° C. When the battery terminal voltage reaches the charging limit voltage of 4.2V, change to constant voltage charging until the charging current is less than or equal to 1 / 20C, stop charging, leave it for 0.5h to 1h, and then discharge it at 1C to the termination voltage of 2.75V.
After the discharge is completed, leave it for 0.5h to 1h, and then perform the next charge and discharge cycle two consecutive times. Less than 36min, the end of life is considered, and the number of cycles must be greater than 300 times.
Having gone over the national standard, we should explain the following:
The standard specifies that the cycle life test is performed in a deep charge and deep release mode.
The cycle life of the lithium battery is specified. According to this model, the capacity is still more than 60% after ≥300 cycles.
However, the number of cycles obtained by different cycling systems is quite different. For example, the other conditions above are unchanged, and only the constant voltage of 4.2V is changed to a constant voltage of 4.1V for the cycle life of the same type of battery. In this way, the battery is no longer under a deep charge, and the cycle of life can be increased by nearly 60%. Then if the cut-off voltage is increased to 3.9V for testing, the number of cycles should be increased several times.
With regard to this statement that the charge and discharge cycle is one less life, we should pay attention to the definition of the charging cycle of a lithium battery: a charging cycle refers to the full charge of the lithium battery from empty to full, and then from empty to full the process of. And this is not the same as charging once.
In addition, when we talk about the number of cycles, we cannot ignore the conditions of the cycle. It is meaningless to talk about the number of cycles aside from the rules because the number of cycles is just a way to measure battery life.
If you want to learn more about batteries or our custom-made batteries, please contact us at sales@himaxelectronics.com and visit our website: https://himaxelectronics.com/
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2-60-79.jpg376800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-06-30 03:34:542024-04-29 01:31:56The Charging Cycles of Lithium-ion Polymer Batteries
The cycle life of a Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery is more than 4 to 5 times that of other lithium ion polymer batteries. The operating temperature range is wider and safer; however, the discharge platform is lower, the nominal voltage is only 3.2V, and the fully-charged voltage is 3.65V.
Lithium iron phosphate is mostly used to replace traditional lead-acid batteries. We also often find that lithium iron phosphate batteries are used in household solar energy systems, fishing, golf carts, outdoor portable energy storages, and electric motorcycles.
What is a Lithium iron phosphate battery?
Lithium-ion polymer (LIPO) battery
A lithium ion polymer battery is a kind of rechargeable battery that mainly relies on the movement of lithium ions between positive electrode and negative electrode to work. Lithium ion batteries use an intercalated lithium compound as an electrode material. At present, the commonly used cathode materials for lithium ion batteries are: lithium cobalt oxide (LCO battery), lithium manganate (LMO battery), lithium-ion ternary (NCA, NMC battery), and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 battery).
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) battery
A lithium iron phosphate battery is a type of lithium ion polymer battery that uses LiFePO4 as the cathode material and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode.
The LiFePO4 battery, also called the LFP battery, is a type of rechargeable battery. It is the safest Lithium battery type currently available on the market today. It is made to be small in size and light in weight, and the cycle life can reach thousands of cycles.
The difference between LiFePO4 batteries and other li-ion batteries
Inherited some advantages from Lithium-ion batteries
Large current charging and discharging are one of the advantages of LiPo batteries, which allows a device to release more energy in a short period of time. These batteries are used more in racing and power tools: almost all drones and RC model batteries use lithium ion batteries.
Batteries for RC models normally reach 15C, 30C, 50C discharge. Lithium-ion polymer batteries with high discharge rate can reach a maximum of 50C (continuous) and 150C (pulse). They are light in weight, have a long life, and can be manufactured into various shapes. These are just some of the advantages of lithium ion batteries, and lithium iron phosphate batteries have these advantages.
Long cycle life
Because a LFP battery’s cycle life is 4 to 5 times that of other lithium ion batteries, it can reach 2000 to 3000 cycles or more. The LiFePO4 battery can also reach 100% depth of discharge (DOD). This means that, for energy storage products, there is no need to worry about over discharging a LFP battery, and it can even be used for a longer period of time. A good LiFePO4 battery can be used for 3 to 7 years, so the average cost is very affordable.
For more content on depth of discharge (DOD), you can read this article: What is DOD for LiFePO4 batteries?
However, a LiFePO4 battery is not suitable for wearable devices as its energy density is lower than that of other lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, the battery compartment has limited space, so the capacity is relatively lower.
Thus, compared to another LiPo battery, a LFP battery does not have quite as good endurance and compatibility with the conditions and internal space of wearable devices.
Why are most lithium iron phosphate batteries 12V?
It is said that the lithium iron phosphate battery can perfectly replace the lead-acid battery. The nominal voltage of a lead-acid battery is 2V, and the six lead-acid batteries connected in series are 12V.
However, the 12V LiFePO4 battery pack is generally composed of 4 battery cells connected in series. The nominal voltage of a single lithium iron phosphate pouch cell is 3.2V. When adding the voltage of the series, we get 12.8V (3.2V * 4 = 12.8V). There are also the 24V (25.6V) and 48V (51.2V), which are commonly used.
In addition, the voltage requirement of most industrial applications is 12V or above, which is also the minimum standard of the nominal voltage of general industrial batteries. There are also many applications that need to reach 220V, even 380V or above, such as an industrial forklift, winch, electric drill, etc.
The sales of 24V and 48V electric forklifts are on the rise especially recently, so a primary concern is over how safe a battery is. Compared to the lithium cobalt oxide and lithium manganese oxide batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries are a lot more safe. The advantage of high life can reduce the whole costs of maintaining and replacing the battery as well.
The shortcomings of cold temperature
Compared to other LiPo and lead-acid batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries have poor resistance in low-temperature environments; generally, they can only discharge at -10℃ to -20℃.
However, clients think positively of LFP batteries and their high safety functions. They sacrifice some battery performance and specify that they discharge at -30℃ to -40℃. These batteries are mostly used in the military or deep sea and space equipment.
Learn more about batteries
Keep an eye out on Himax’s official blog, where we regularly update industry-related articles to keep you up-to-date.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LiFePO4-vs-li-ion-polymer-battery.jpg480800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-06-23 03:02:322024-04-26 07:53:17A LiFePO4 Battery Vs Lithium Ion Polymer Battery
Lithium polymer battery is a kind of lithium-ion battery, but it has obvious advantages over liquid lithium battery (with high energy density, more compact, ultra-thin, lightweight, and high safety and size), is a novel battery. Below we detail the advantages of lithium polymer batteries.
1. Good safety performance
Lithium polymer batteries are structured in soft aluminum-plastic packaging, which is different from the metal case of liquid batteries. Once a safety hazard occurs, the liquid batteries are liable to explode, and the lithium polymer batteries can only be inflated.
2. Can be made thinner
Ordinary liquid lithium batteries adopt the method of customizing the casing first and then plugging the positive and negative electrodes. The thickness is less than 3.6mm. There is a technical limitation. The lithium-polymer battery does not have this problem. The thickness can be less than 1mm( ultra-thin battery can be 0.4mm in thickness), which meets the current mobile phone requirements.
3. Lightweight
Batteries with polymer weights do not require a metal case as protective packaging. Lithium polymer batteries are 40% lighter than steel-case lithium batteries of the same capacity and 20% lighter than aluminum-case batteries.
4. Large capacity
Polymer batteries have a capacity 10 ~ 15% higher than steel-case batteries of the same size and specifications, and 5 ~ 10% higher than aluminum-case batteries. They have become the first choice for color screen mobile phones and MMS mobile phones. The newest color screen and MMS mobile phones currently on the market also Polymer batteries.
5. Small internal resistance
The internal resistance of lithium polymer batteries is smaller than that of ordinary liquid batteries. At present, the internal resistance of domestic polymer batteries can even be less than 35mΩ, which greatly reduces the self-power consumption of the battery and extends the standby time of the mobile phone. It is completely possible. Reached the level of international standards. This kind of polymer lithium battery that supports large discharge current is an ideal choice for remote control model, and it has become the most promising product to replace the nickel-metal hydride battery.
6. The shape can be customized
Lithium polymer batteries can increase or decrease the cell thickness according to customer needs, develop new cell models, are cheap, have short mold opening cycles, and some can even be tailored to the shape of the cell phone to fully utilize the battery case space and enhance the battery capacity.
7.Good discharge characteristics
Lithium polymer batteries use colloidal electrolytes, which are subdivided into liquid electrolytes. Colloidal electrolytes have stable discharge characteristics and a higher discharge platform.
8.Simple protection plate design
Because of the use of polymer materials, the battery core does not ignite, does not explode, and the battery core itself has sufficient safety. Therefore, the protection circuit design oflithium polymer batteries can consider omitting PTC and fuses, thereby saving battery costs.
HIMAX specializes in custom, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf lithium polymer batteries. With over 15 years of customer service experience, HIMAX has developed a very complete service system, specifically tailored for our customers, which helps us in better understanding your needs in the first step of our communication, in a highly time-efficient way.
If you are interested in our lithium polymer batteries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time!
Email: sales@himaxelectronics.com
Himax Website: https://himaxelectronics.com/
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LiPO-Battery.jpg400800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-06-09 06:11:052024-04-26 03:48:338 Advantages of Lithium Polymer Batteries
There are three types of medical batteries commonly seen in hospitals and clinical settings, and it is important to be able to distinguish them in order to know which custom battery adapter is the right fit when analyzing battery life:
Removable batteries: Nurses charge these packs on charging stations and get periodic analysis in the service center. Typical uses are defibrillators, infusion pumps, diabetic monitors, and surgical tools.
Built-in batteries:Increasingly, batteries are internal to the devices and are charged while the device is connected to the grid. Battery maintenance is done by the bio-med technician by opening the instrument. Typical uses are modern defibrillators, patient monitors, ventilators, surgical tools.
Standby batteries: These batteries are built into instruments on wheels and service as backup during transit and at bed-side. Many of these batteries are still lead acid. The depth of discharge is small if the nurse remembers to connect the AC cord. Typical uses are COW (Computer-on-wheels) blood transfusion units, as well as portable x-ray.
Dave Marlow, a certified biomedical equipment technician at the University of Michigan Health System, categorizes the battery as a “mixed bag of challenges”, with different medical facilities having different assortments of capabilities, battery technologies, manufacturing approaches, user training and experience differences. This is due to the fact that medical batteries must be designed, manufactured and labelled specifically for their use with specific medical devices (source) making the list of batteries designed for each machine essentially endless.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Medical-battery.jpg400800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-06-09 06:03:482024-04-26 03:48:11Identifying Different Types of Medical Batteries
Lithium is thought to be one of the first elements made after the Big Bang. An enormous amount of Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium (the first three elements on the periodic table) were synthesized within the first thee minutes of the universe’s existence.
This process is called Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Essentially, all elements heavier than lithium were made much later by stellar nucleosynthesis (like what is happening in the Sun).
Lithium is special for other reasons too
Lithium facts on history
Lithium is from Greek lithos meaning “stone”
Was used in the first man-made nuclear reaction in 1932
Lithium interesting facts
Soft enough to be cut by scissors
The lightest metal, and least dense solid element, so it can easily float on water
Does not occur freely in nature (it’s too unstable), but is found in nearly all lava, mineral water, and sea water
Pure lithium corrodes immediately when exposed to the moisture in air
Lithium in biology
All organisms have a little lithium in their bodies, but it does not seem to serve a biological purpose
Lithium in pills is used to treat bipolar disorder
Lithium in economics
80% of the world’s lithium is in salt flats between Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia
Let’s look at some pictures
Here are some pieces of raw lithium. Notice the lines and grooves cut into the soft metal by the tool they used to cut it. Also note what appears to be a bubble. It is most likely Hydrogen, as this is what is released when lithium reacts to water (or water from moisture in the air).
This is a photograph taken in Bolivia, in what is called ‘Salar de Uyuni’ – the biggest salt lake in the world. The amazing scenery holds a secret – a huge reserve of lithium. With the right investment, Bolivia may become what Kuwait was for oil to the new rechargeable revolution.
A fully developed lithium mine in the Atacama Desert. This is where the material in your 18650 battery most likely comes from.
This is a depiction of Asteroid 2012 DA14 which nearly missed Earth a few years ago. It was once famously valued at $195 billion US dollars for the large amount of metals like iron ore, copper, and lithium trapped inside. Maybe one day we won’t have to dig up our backyard to get the resources we need to enjoy ourselves.
So remember, next time you turn on your vaporizer, or other machine that uses li-ion batteries, to think a little about where it came from and what it means for our future.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lithium.jpg400800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-05-21 09:42:552024-04-26 07:10:06Lithium Was Made In The First Three Minutes Of The Universe’s Existence
Whether you are planning to buy a RC drone as a gift to gift someone or want to buy one to fly in your leisure time, some mini RC drones with hidden camera options that can be used as a spy video camera, others with LED blades that can be flown at night. With so many designs and features to choose, following are some useful tips for buying some of the best RC drones available from the market:
Ready- Made vs Build-Your-Own
For teens, RC drones can be a wonderful hobby. It allows them to go outside and develop technical skills to operate various types of gadgets and vehicles. For adults, flying these drones can be a great way to relieve stress from work and studies. Comparing to other RC gadgets and vehicles RC drones can be quite complicated to operate.Therefore, you need to practice a lot before flying them outdoors. On the other hand, before buying an RC drone, you need to choose between ready-made or build-your-own option.
Ready-made RC drones are perfect for those who wish to fly one without considering technical and mechanical sides. Ready-made RC drones are usually preferred by newbie’s as it is easier to operate than build-your-own drone.
Those people who prefer an RC drone kit and build it from scratch are usually those who are interested in exploring everything about their RC drones. If you build one by yourself, you can even customize it and improve its performance. However, bear in mind that it requires a lot of time, patience and efforts.
Gas and Electric Powered RC Drones
Generally speaking, RC drones that run on gas are more rare and expensive than electric ones. They are also more complicated to operate and fly.
Electric ones are less expensive than gas powered RC drones and can be easily operated outdoors. Although their battery packs can be quite expensive, however, they are easier to maintain and operate.
Indoor and Outdoor Drones
Indoor RC drones are perfect for newbie’s and amateur players as they are not as powerful as outdoor RC drones. Moreover, they can only go up to a certain level as they are meant to be used indoors.
Also, you need to make sure that no obviously objects or pets getting into your road when flying RC drones indoor.
Outdoor RC drones are more expensive and powerful than indoor drones and can be easily operated from a wide distance.
Outdoor drones are not recommended for new players as they can harm travelers or vehicles if they get crashed from a high height.
Mini vs Large Drones
RC drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Smaller RC drones do not cause any severe damage in case of an accident. They are quite versatile and can be flown indoors and outdoors as well. They’re perfect for new players and do not require much time to set up.
However, they are not as sturdy as bigger RC models.
Larger drones are more suitable for professional players. They closely resemble real helicopters and can be easily flown in windy places.
Bigger models can be quite expensive and you need to follow certain rules while flying such drones outdoors.
LED Blades for RC Drones
RC drones are equally fun when flown at night. You can use special blades that consists of bright neon and LED lights for a better night vision. You can even customize your blades yourself with LED strips. Whether you are flying your drone during the day or night time, try to avoid flying them in public places.
Currently on the market common drone batteries are mainly divided into three kinds.
1. lithium polymer batteries, with high energy density, lightweight features, most stores sell drones mostly powered by lithium polymer batteries.
2. lithium batteries: higher price, but large capacity, lightweight, high stability, and longer service life than lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride batteries. 3. nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries: the battery can be used to power drones.
3. nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries: moderately priced, but heavier, with longer safety and service life, suitable for large drones that require long flight times.
Li-ion batteries are the most common type of UAV batteries nowadays, which have the advantages of high energy density, large capacity, light weight and easy charging. Polymer batteries are one of the thinnest and lightest drone batteries, capable of meeting the energy needs of small drones, but relatively susceptible to temperature effects. From a comprehensive point of view, Li-ion batteries have become the most popular type of drone batteries on the market.
Common Drone Battery Voltages and Capacities
Drone batteries come in a variety of voltages, with 3.7V, 7.4V, 11V, 14.8V, and so on being commonly used. The higher the voltage, the more power and speed the drone can provide, but at the same time the battery will be heavier and larger.
Generally speaking, small drones use 3.7V or 7.4V batteries, while larger drones require higher voltage batteries to provide sufficient power and speed. But at the same time, the battery voltage also needs to be matched with the motors used in the drone to ensure the efficiency and life of the motors.
Batteries used in drones generally have a capacity of 500mAh to 10,000mAh. The higher the capacity, the longer the battery will last, but it will also be heavier and bulkier.
For small drones, a battery with a capacity of 500mAh to 1000mAh is the most common choice, while larger drones require a higher capacity battery to provide sufficient battery life. Battery capacity also needs to be considered in relation to the weight, flight speed and altitude of the drone.
Maintenance and Repair
The maintenance of an RC drone includes changing the motor and preventing it from overheating. For beginners, it is recommended to seek for some professional help in case a drone is damaged or is not properly working.
A battery with lower C rate can negatively affect the speed and overall performance of your drone. In order to maximize the life cycles of your drone’s battery, please wait for at least half an hour to recharge your drained battery. Also, avoid overcharging it.
You can also join an online website or group to get valuable insights and information regarding RC drones. You can follow various threads and blogs to get updates and reviews for the latest RC drone kits.
Keep an eye out on Himax’s official blog, where we regularly update industry-related articles to keep you up-to-date on the battery industry and related peripheral market.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1.jpg480800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-05-05 03:12:212024-04-26 03:46:39Tips To Buy a RC Drone
A standardized battery fits into any compatible compartment – after all, that’s why standards are defined. Depending on the application, however, button cells and cylindrical batteries reach their limits.
A Smartwatch, for example, has a significantly higher energy consumption than an ordinary wristwatch. A simple button cell is therefore far from sufficient to cover the device’s power requirements. However, the case of the watch is far too small for a powerful lithium-ion battery. Only a lithium polymer battery is capable of meeting the specific requirements of a Smartwatch.
Flexible product design
Lithium polymer technology is a match to lithium ion batteries in terms of performance, but is much more flexible in terms of design and size. The reason for this is the absence of a solid metal housing, as is common with lithium-ion batteries. Instead, the cells are merely enclosed by a thin layer of plastic-laminated aluminum foil. Thanks to the sandwich-like structure of the battery cells, even curved or ultra-flat designs with a thickness of less than one millimeter are conceivable.
For product developers and designers, the great flexibility of Lithium-Polymer batteries is a blessing. Conversely, the new design freedom can also lead to uncertainty. It is therefore advisable to take battery developers such as Jauch Quartz GmbH on board at an early stage for new developments.
The following six parameters must be defined at an early stage if design-in is to be successful.
1) Voltage
The average single cell voltage for lithium polymer cells is 3.6 volts as standard. The switch-off voltage is 3.0 volts and the maximum charging voltage is 4.2 volts. If a higher voltage is required, several cells can be connected in series. A parallel connection of several cells also makes it possible to increase the capacity.
2) Currents
In addition to the voltage, the current requirement of the application must also be defined. The average continuous currents must be specified as well as the maximum pulse currents and pulse lengths. The inrush currents and their lengths must also be taken into account.
3) Temperature
In connection with the current power load profiles of the application, the temperatures at which they are used must also be taken into consideration. By default, lithium polymer cells are designed for a temperature range between -20 and 60 degrees Celsius. Temperatures between 0 and 45 degrees Celsius should prevail when charging the cells.
Special cells are available for use under extreme temperature conditions above or below this range.
4) Dimensions of the Battery Compartment
Of course, the dimensions of the battery compartment must also be defined in advance. It is important to remember that lithium polymer cells expand over time. This “swelling” phenomenon is responsible for the cells to become up to 10% thicker over time. Accordingly, the battery compartment should be generously dimensioned. In addition, sharp edges or the like in the immediate vicinity of the battery compartment must be avoided at all costs so that the battery is not damaged.
5) Capacity
The capacity of a battery indicates the amount of electrical charge that a battery can store or release. Capacity is determined by voltage, current consumption, temperature and the available space in the battery compartment.
6) Safety
To protect lithium polymer batteries from overcharging, deep discharge or short circuits, they are equipped with individually programmable protection electronics. In order to optimally adapt this so-called “battery management system” to the respective application, individual switch-off values for the system are defined.
In addition, batteries must meet certain norms and safety standards to ensure that the applications are approved. Strict regulations apply here – understandably – especially in the field of medical technology.
Based on these six parameters, Jauch’s battery experts will find the right lithium polymer battery solution for every application. In order to guarantee optimum results, however, contact should be made as early as possible in the design-in phase. Otherwise, the desired battery solution may not be available or feasible.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LiPO-Battery.jpg400800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2020-04-07 08:54:542024-04-26 06:44:296 Important Parameters for the Design-In of Lithium Polymer Batteries
One thing is for sure: lithium battery technology is currently leading the way in the field of mobile power supply. Just look in your pocket: There is no smartphone that is not powered by a lithium polymer battery. Since the Swedish mobile phone provider Ericsson launched the first mobile phone with a lithium polymer battery in 1999, the technology has become an indispensable part of the industry. The reasons are manyfold.
Just like lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries have a very high energy density compared to other cell chemistries and are therefore particularly powerful. At the same time, they are extremely durable thanks to the low self-discharge of the battery cells.
Same Performance, Higher Flexibility
The flexibility of their design makes lithium polymer batteries particularly attractive. While lithium ion cells always have a sturdy metal housing, lithium polymer cells are only enclosed in a thin layer of plastic-laminated aluminium foil. In addition, the sandwich like structure of the lithium polymer cells enables significantly flatter battery designs than what is possible with lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to these two factors, lithium polymer batteries are available in almost every imaginable size. Even curved designs, for example for fitness bracelets or smartwatches, as well as ultra-thin batteries with a thickness of less than one millimeter are feasible.
Due to their flexibility and performance, lithium polymer batteries are in demand not only in mobile communications and consumer applications, but also in other industries such as medical technology. At the same time, however, the high voltage and the absence of a protective metal housing pose new challenges.
Safe Handling of Lithium Polymer Batteries
First, it must be considered that the cells of a lithium polymer battery expand while charging. If the battery is discharged, the cell reduces its thickness. This phenomenon, known as “swelling”, can cause lithium polymer cells to expand by up to ten percent of their original thickness over several cycles. Manufacturers of battery powered products should take this into account and calculate the size of the battery compartment accordingly. In addition, no sharp edged components should be placed in the immediate vicinity of the battery compartment, as they could potentially damage the battery.
Finally, lithium polymer cells require protective electronics for safe operation. This “Protection Circuit Module” (PCM) interrupts the circuit in critical operating conditions such as overcharging, short circuit or deep discharge.
As you can see: lithium polymer batteries are as powerful as they are demanding. For this reason, Jauch supports its customers throughout the entire project phase: from planning to developing the right battery pack and programming the right protective electronics. An overview of the entire Jauch portfolio of lithium polymer batteries can be found here.
https://himaxelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/封面-1.jpg400800administrator/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Himax-home-page-design-logo-z.pngadministrator2019-11-05 02:29:202024-04-26 03:44:29Powerful and Flexible: The Lithium Polymer Battery
