Are Li-ion Batteries the Best Choice?

by | May 5, 2017 | Contract Manufacturing

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If your products need portable DC power, you can use one of several rechargeable batteries like NiCad, NiMh, or Li-ion. For many applications, you’ll get the most benefits from custom lithium ion battery pack applications and here are some reasons why.

What is Li-ion?

Lithium ion batteries work by moving ions of lithium from negative to positive as they discharge. When charging, the opposite occurs. They work with a special lithium compound. These batteries are easily recharged many times, and this makes them popular for many electronic devices today. In fact, devices like cell phones and cameras come with a custom lithium ion battery pack.

What about NiCad Batteries?

Nickel cadmium batteries use nickel and cadmium compounds. They were widely used for many years. However, many companies choose Li-ion today because of their high energy capacity.

MiMH

Nickel metal hydride batteries are similar to NiCad batteries. However, they have greater capacities. Instead of using cadmium they use a hydrogen alloy. Compared to Li-ion batteries they cannot hold as much charge, and they take longer to recharge.

Benefits of Li-ion

If you use custom lithium ion battery pack applications for your electronics, you’ll enjoy the benefits of high-density energy. In other words, they hold a charge for a long time, and this is important for devices like cell phones which are constantly in use. They also work well in power tools and electric-powered vehicles.

Power Loss Issues

Some batteries can lose significant amounts of power just by sitting. This is a major concern for some companies. Li-ion batteries keep their charges longer than other rechargeable types like NiMH and NiCad.

No Memory Effect

Some batteries can lose their recharging capacities if frequently partly recharged. However, this is not a problem when you choose custom lithium ion battery pack applications. Yet, NiCad and NiMH still have many uses today also.