Exploring the truth about high capacity lithium batteries

1. What is a high capacity lithium battery

We have stepped into a world of electricity. Running out of power seems like the worst nightmare. With a high capacity lithium battery, you will almost never encounter such problems. You may wonder why high capacity lithium battery is high in demand nowadays. Let’s step into the world of high capacity lithium battery and unlock the secret behind their revolutionary technology:

Click on the picture for product details of Tycorun 12V 100Ah lithium high capacity batter

① Key features

 A high capacity lithium battery has multiple cutting-edge features that make it stand out among its counterparts and make it suitable for an array of electronic devices.

• Energy Storage: High capacity lithium batteries are known as one of the most energy-dense batteries as they can store high amounts of energy.

• Long-Lasting: High capacity lithium-ion batteries are long-lasting, all thanks to their ability to sustain multiple charge/discharge cycles while keeping the capacity intact. The batteries cycles are between 2000 and 4000 cycle. When maintained properly, they can last even longer.

• Lower self-discharge rate: One of the most helpful features of a high capacity lithium battery is its ability to retain charge for longer when unused. In other words, they have a lower self-discharge rate, about 3.5% per month, so they are suitable for the devices used at subsequent intervals.

• Light in Weight: High capacity lithium batteries are light in weight, which is due to the energy density that is much higher than other types of batteries. Therefore, they are often found in portable devices.

• Quick Charging: Because of the presence of intelligent BMS, some high capacity lithium-ion batteries have very fast charging speeds and can withstand large charging currents.

• Safe to Use: These batteries come equipped with in-built safety features that prevent overcharging, overheating, damage and short circuits.

• High-Voltage: Due to the higher cell voltage of lithium-ion batteries, high-capacity lithium batteries generally have higher voltage output compared to other types of batteries.

• Compatible: Lithium-ion batteries are compatible with a wide range of devices. Therefore, they are readily available and widely used in several applications and devices.

• Environment Friendly: Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most environment-friendly batteries as they are devoid of harmful minerals like lead, cadmium, etc. Moreover, they can be recycled, which makes them a sustainable choice.

② Design purpose

High capacity lithium batteries are high capacity, smart, compatible and light in weight, high density. All of which makes them suitable to be a part of various devices. Below are the five common design purposes of high capacity lithium batteries:

• Electronic Vehicles or E-bikes and Electric Boats.
• Portable Electric Devices include laptops, smartphones, cameras, tablets and many more.
• Medical Equipment includes defibrillators, insulin pumps, portable oxygen tanks, etc.
• Energy storage equipment and systems, etc.
• Aerospace tools such as satellites, spacecraft, etc.

③ Role of high capacity lithium battery in energy storage

Lithium batteries have low self-discharge rates, so they hold the charge for longer, even when the connected devices aren’t in use.

A high capacity lithium battery helps with frequency and voltage fluctuations when integrated into an energy source. When connected with a renewable energy source, e.g. solar panels, they store excess energy that is used in times of need. This, in turn, saves electricity costs for the users, making high capacity lithium batteries a top choice among them for all the right reasons.

2. What cylindrical lithium batteries have the highest capacity

Refer to the table below to find out different cylindrical lithium batteries arranged in a descending order of capacities, their names and their uses:

3. What are the factors that affect the capacity of the battery

The capacity of a battery is actually the quantity of electrical energy that can be stored in it. Have a look at them here:

① Size: It’s simple math. The larger the battery, the higher the capacity, as with a larger size, more electricity are accommodated and hence the ability of the battery to store electrical energy increases.

② Chemistry: Battery chemistry has a direct effect on the capacity because different types of batteries have different energy densities. For instance, under the same volume conditions a lithium-ion battery offers more capacity than a lead-acid battery.

③ Depth of Discharge (DOD): Depth of discharge (DOD) refers to the maximum power that is from the battery while ensuring normal power supply. Usually expressed as a percentage of the total battery capacity.

Generally speaking, the DOD of a brand new battery is 100%, and the capacity continues to decrease during use. When the DOD drops to 80%, the battery can be considered scrapped. Therefore, the number of cycles of a battery is based on DOD. A new lithium-ion battery has a cycle life of up to 4,000 times, which means it can cycle 4,000 times before the DOD drops to 80%. If during actual use, the battery cannot be cycled 4,000 times before the DOD drops to 80%, it may be that the number of cycles of the ladder battery or the battery itself is low.

④ Age: The age of the battery is directly linked with its capacity as the latter fades with age.

⑤ Charging Patterns: Batteries, when charged beyond or less than the cut off voltage, lead to a loss in capacity over time.

⑥ Environment: The environment in which a battery is kept also plays a crucial role in the capacity. Corrosive environments, humid weather or extreme temperatures affect the battery capacity in a great way.

⑦ Electrodes: Electrodes are a  crucial part of any battery. The material which an electrode is made up of directly affects the battery's capacity. For instance, electrodes made up of silicon will add to the battery's capacity as silicon itself is a high-capacity anode mineral.

⑧ Temperature: All batteries come with a recommended temperature range by the manufacturer. So, keeping them at their desired temperature will pave the way for a higher capacity.

4. Is the higher lithium battery capacity, the better

No, this isn’t correct. You cannot simply categorize a lithium battery with a higher capacity as a better appliance choice because every appliance is different and has individual battery demands. So, a better lithium battery is the one that’s best suited to the needs of the appliance it’s connected to. 

5. What are the benefits of using a high-capacity lithium battery

High capacity lithium battery comes with several benefits. Hence, they are widely used in an array of appliances in homes as well as businesses. Here are the three key benefits of using a high-capacity lithium battery:

① High Run Time: As the name suggests, a high capacity lithium battery provides a longer run time in one go reducing the need to recharge frequently.

② Energy Storing Capacity: A high capacity lithium battery has the ability to store excess energy generated from renewable sources, which is used in times of blackout and power outage.

③ Reduce the difficulty of thermal management: For the battery pack, the use of large-capacity lithium-ion cells can reduce the number of parallel connections, increase the consistency and energy density of the battery pack, and reduce the difficulty of thermal management.

6. Application scenarios of high capacity lithium battery

Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to function without high capacity lithium batteries as they’re a part of a number of devices such as:

• Electric vehicles, boats and bicycles
• UPS
• Energy Storage Systems
• Medical equipment
• Drones, aircraft and satellites

7. What is the difference between a high-capacity lithium battery and a low-capacity lithium battery

As the names suggest, the differences between high and low capacity lithium batteries are quite clear. Have a look:

8. How to choose high capacity lithium batteries

Choosing the right high-capacity lithium battery requires careful assessment and calculations. Here is how you can pick the best one for your home or business:

• Calculate the energy demand of all the devices you’re going to power and then find the right capacity demand.
• Pick the battery chemistry that best suits your demands.
• Check the battery’s voltage beforehand and ensure it matches your device’s requirements.
• You must have enough physical space for placing the battery.
• Always prioritize quality over price, as the right battery decides the user experience of the devices.

9. FAQs about high capacity lithium batteries

① Is 80% maximum battery capacity bad

Ans: Apparently, 80% maximum battery capacity is not ideal. If a battery is equivalent to 80% DoD and is generally considered scrapped.

② How do i get my high-capacity lithium battery 100% back

Ans: Getting the 100% capacity back for a high capacity lithium battery is impossible. However, it’s better to take appropriate steps beforehand to increase the lifespan of the battery.

③ What is the highest capacity of lithium 18650 battery

Ans: The highest capacity lithium 18650 battery is 3600 mAh (NCR18650G).

④ Which lithium battery has a higher capacity

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