Correct Use of Lithium Batteries

Lithium battery is a kind of energy storage conversion device that is more and more widely used. Because of its excellent electrochemical performance, it realizes a small-medium-large market application scenario that keeps pace with the times. When we talk about the correct use of lithium batteries, we usually refer to small applications, namely consumer electronics, such as smart phones and laptops. Large and medium-sized applications are based on small-scale application technologies, small-scale applications have common characteristics, while large- and medium-scale applications are much more complicated. Usually, medium-scale applications are in new energy vehicles, which are generally called power batteries; large-scale applications are usually on the base station, we generally call it an energy storage battery. Therefore, when we talk about "how to use lithium batteries", limiting lithium batteries to small applications is in line with people's habits.

The working principle of a lithium cell battery is nothing more than charging to store energy, and discharging is converted into other energy and released. It is in a standby state when neither charging nor discharging. Therefore, the correct use of lithium batteries has three major aspects: correct charging, correct discharging, and correct maintenance.

Ⅰ. Correct Charging Method of Lithium Battery

Watch the time and prevent overcharging. Do the right thing at the right time, although the lithium battery itself has excellent electrochemical performance, any kind of thing will have safety hazards when it deviates from the equilibrium state. Here are three points you need to pay attention to when charging:

1.Charge The Lithium Battery When It Needs To Be Charged.

In the early days of the emergence of smart phones, out of the original intention of protecting their own interests, each mobile phone manufacturer often emphasized the use of original chargers (including charging cables) to charge electrical equipment. Some manufacturers designed special data cables and were in competition with others. Later, as the use of smart phones and laptops became more and more widespread, it became obvious that it would be a cocoon to continue this way, so now everyone has basically unified the standards. A charger/cable can charge electric appliances of different brands and properties so that charging becomes more convenient. One problem that users should pay attention to is trying to keep the battery with the power of normal use at all times. Under normal circumstances, when the battery is too low, both the mobile phone and the laptop will remind you. At this time, you need to recharge it in time. Although the low battery will not cause a direct safety accident, overuse will cause damage to the battery structure over time.

2. Stop Charging When The Li-Ion Lithium Battery Is Fully Charged. 

The interior of li-ion lithium battery is also composed of many components. The new battery is okay, but if it is used for a long time, the components begin to work slowly, then there will be a safety hazard of overcharging. Several typical accidents which Samsung and Apple were infamous for were caused by the owners of electrical appliances putting their mobile phones on the bedside to charge them while sleeping, which eventually caused burns and explosions.

3. Don't Do Two Things Together When Charging Lithium Batteries. 

We have experienced that using the phone while charging, especially when playing games, will make the working temperature of the phone rise up. The reason is very simple. When we do two things at the same time, more components will be involved and the body will naturally become hot.

Ⅱ. Correct discharge method of lithium battery

Charge in time to prevent over-discharge. Ordinary mobile phone users are not aware of the hazards of over-discharge, because there are usually no reports of safety incidents in over-discharge. Moreover, some people even think that regular deep discharge is good for the maintenance of battery performance. In fact, this is not the case, because the memory effect of lithium batteries is negligible, and there is no such thing as a deep discharge to eliminate the memory effect. Theoretically speaking, the total cycle life of a deep discharge of a chinese lithium ion battery will be longer, but the risk is that over-discharge of the battery will cause the battery voltage to be too low and cannot be charged normally, sometimes it will take a long time to turn on, or even fail to turn on. The power of the two evils is the lesser one. Shorter service life is better than no use. Therefore, users of mobile phones and laptops are advised not to use them until they run out of electricity.

Ⅲ. How to properly maintain a lithium battery?

The temperature is appropriate to prevent the battery from being heated and cold. When standing by, lithium batteries usually do not have safety accidents. The purpose of daily maintenance is to place the lithium batteries in a suitable environment, thereby delaying the aging of the batteries. In fact, one of the parameter designs of lithium batteries is the appropriate temperature. Relatively speaking, a lower temperature is not a big problem, but if it is placed at a higher temperature, it will be the opposite and cause safety problems. The standby state we are talking about is only in terms of a normal environment. If the lithium battery is placed in water or close to the fire source, it will be out of the topic of "maintenance". So, what is to be done in a normal environment? It is necessary to prevent moisture and exposure to sunlight. Therefore, the suitable environment for daily maintenance of lithium batteries is basically about two words: ventilation and coolness. These two words should be followed regardless of whether the lithium battery is left unused independently or in a standby state in electrical appliances.

In the correct use of lithium batteries, the charging method of lithium batteries is the most important. Because incorrect charging methods will cause safety problems, and discharge and daily maintenance only affect the life of the lithium battery. The lithium battery itself is also consumable. No matter what we take, we can't avoid its final loss, but we still use it. The correct way is to delay its aging.