Introduction:
People commonly use the 18650 lithium battery in different electronic appliances. Let’s read in detail about the life of a 18650 lithium-ion battery.
What is a 18650 lithium-ion battery?
If you have read about batteries, you might know their working principle. The working principle of a 18650 lithium-ion battery works on the electrochemical method. In the 18650 lithium-ion battery, lithium atoms detach from their electrons. When the battery discharges similarly, the anode of the 18650 lithium battery ionizes. What do the ions do after separating from electrons? The lithium ions in the 18650 lithium ion battery keep attracting the battery’s cathode. It travels along the electrolyte. At the cathode, the ions again form electrons. The current flows through the battery.
The dimensions are specific because the battery is named a 18650 lithium battery. It has a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 65 mm. The 18650 lithium batteries operate on 3.6 Volts voltage. The most common reason you find it so common in the market is its high specifications.
- The makers of the 18650 battery lithium design the battery to generate a high output voltage. Hence, for the appliance you want with high voltages, you can easily use them.
- Similarly, you could use them in appliances that demand high power.
- Next, the lithium 18650 batteries run for a long time. That means you need to do fewer replacements for the batteries. It eventually saves the cost of replacing the batteries.
- Well, the 18650 lithium-ion battery comes with the feature of DoD. It means that the 18650 battery lithium has a great depth of discharge. The battery stores discharge to zero percent. Also, it can fully recharge.
The working principle of a 18650 lithium-ion battery
Read next to learn the basics of working on the 18650 lithium battery. The main components required for the working of the battery are the followings.
- Cathode (negatively charged electrode)
- Anode (positively charged electrode)
- Electrolyte
- A separator
As soon you plug in some appliance with the lithium ion battery 18650, the battery starts working. The cathode is a negatively charged electrode. Hence the positive lithium ions from the anode start flowing toward the cathode. More positively charged ions accumulate at the cathode. Hence, the cathode becomes more positively charged than the anode. So the anode starts attracting the negatively charged electrons at the cathode. Usually, the anode and cathode are separated through a separator in the electrolyte. A catalyst is added to the electrolyte solution. It helps to move the ions and electrons at a fast rate. Hence, the electrolyte movement enables the electrons to move through the circuit and conduct the current flow.
The 18650 lithium ion rechargeable battery is rechargeable. Hence, when the battery recharges, the same process reverses. The lithium ions then move opposite to what they did in the charging process. So if we summarize the charging and discharging process, then it’s simple. If you discharge the lithium battery 18650, the lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode. Hence, it causes electrons to flow and currents to flow. You can charge or use the lithium battery 18650 for any appliance. When the 18650 lithium-ion battery charges, lithium ions flow from the cathode to the anode. That means you are charging the 18650 lithium battery.
The life of the 18650 lithium batteries
If you are interested in determining the life of the 18650 lithium battery, then it’s not a big deal. However, to estimate the battery’s life, you need to check a few factors. The 18650 rechargeable lithium battery life depends upon a few factors.
1. 18650 lithium battery age
The battery’s age is dependent on its recharging. Whenever the 18650 lithium-ion battery recharges, it loses its efficiency. Similarly, it works for a specific time before recharging. You all know if we compare old batteries with new ones, the new batteries are preferred by all. You would prefer the new batteries over the old ones. However, you will need to keep the 18650 lithium battery in a safe environment. If the environmental conditions do not meet the safety conditions of the battery, then its efficiency decreases.
2. The capacity of 18650 lithium-ion battery
The capacity of a lithium 18650 battery reflects the age of the battery. For this, you should consider the following units.
- Amp-hours
- Milliamp hours
- Watt hours
Through these units, one could determine the energy available in the battery. If you are comparing the capacities of 18650 lithium batteries, note down the load and discharge capacity. The battery’s capacity is inversely proportional to its age. The old a batter is, the less capacity it has. The battery initially provides you with high capacity. As soon you start recharging it, the capacity decreases.
3. Storage
A battery will certainly decrease its capacity if kept in storage and unused for a long time. You will have to recharge it frequently. Hence it decreases the life span of the 18650 lithium ion batteries.
4. Charge cycle of the battery
If you are new to the battery charge cycle, let us briefly explain it. The battery’s charge cycle is the total duration required for charging and discharging it fully. The cycle life reflects the battery’s life to deliver more than half its capacity. For the lithium 18650 batteries, you should charge them at low current than what’s recommended. It will help to increase the 18650 lithium-ion battery lifetime.
5. Quality of battery
The components used in the 18650 lithium battery often face wear and tear. Therefore, a lithium ion 18650 battery loses efficiency working. Choosing a high quality is the best decision to make your 18650 lithium-ion battery run for a long time. The high-quality components won’t easily get damaged.
After how long do you need to replace the batteries?
You cannot assume a specific time to replace the 18650 lithium rechargeable battery. It mainly depends on the charge cycles of the 18650 lithium battery. Also, if you follow a good charge pattern, they will stay longer without frequent replacements. When you feel the capacity and efficiency of the 18650 lithium batteries are decreasing. Then offer it a replacement. Normally, you can expect the lithium 18650 batteries to last two to three years.
Conclusion:
The lithium 18650 batteries are the most useful type of battery. That is because of their quick charging. Also, the 18650 lithium batteries take a long while to discharge. Thus, offering you the best capacity and efficiency in the batteries.