But, can buying excessive batteries and having them sitting unused be the best option? 

Do CR2032 batteries expire?

Yes, CR2032 batteries do expire. But, unlike food which should be thrown out when it expires, CR2032 batteries can still be used (however it is not advisable).  CR2032 batteries have a shelf life (rather than an expiry date) of around 10 years when stored on the ‘shelf’ and not used. This shelf life normally indicates how much of the capacity the CR2032 will lose over these 10 years, which is on average about 10%. So, a C2032 battery which has not been used for more than 10 years isn’t going to be as effective or useful as a new CR2032 battery. 

Why do CR2032 batteries expire?  

All batteries (including the CR2032) have what is known as a self-discharge rate. Batteries produce voltage due to chemical reactions that occur within them. Even when the battery is not connected there are a small amount of chemical reactions. These small reactions are unwanted and reduce the battery’s capacity over time. This phenomenon is known as a battery’s self-discharge rate. 

The rate at which a battery self-discharges when not used comes down to a number of factors which include chemical composition, state of charge, and ambient temperature. 

The table below highlights the commonly used chemicals for batteries and their corresponding self-discharge rates. 

How long does it take for CR2032 batteries to expire?

Knowing how long it takes before a CR2032 expires, or comes to the end of shelf life depends on its self-discharge rate we just learnt about. This self-discharge rate is dependent on a couple of factors, but the biggest one being the battery’s chemical composition. 

The CR2032’s chemical composition consists of Lithium – Manganese Dioxide. From the table above we can see it has a very low self-discharge rate of 1% per year. This value of 1% per year is achieved when stored at a temperature of 20℃.

If stored in ideal conditions, the CR2032 can last up to 10 years when not being used. After 10 years, the CR2032’s capacity will have reduced due to self-discharge. 

As we know temperature plays a big part too. The hotter temperatures are going to increase the CR2032’s self-discharge rate and reduce its shelf-life. So, ideally you want to store the CR2032 in cooler temperatures to increase its lifespan. 

How long does it take for CR2032 to expire when left in a device?

The scenario we just covered above is when the CR2032 is left unused on the shelf (in its packaging for example). However, what if the battery is left unused in a device? Will it still last 10 years?

In the case of a battery being left in a device unused, its shelf life is reduced compared to if it was left unused in its packaging (or not in device). This is due to what is known as Parasitic Load, which is a phenomenon where an electronic device will still draw power from the battery even after the device is turned off. Due to this, the battery will have reduced lifespan. 

So, the CR2032’s will expire much quicker if it is left unused in electronic devices due to this parasitic load. 

Can you use CR2032 batteries after they expire?

To get the best performance out of the CR23032 (and other batteries), it is best to use it before its expiry date. As mentioned earlier, the CR2032’s capacity reduces over time (due to self-discharge), and using it past its expiry date may result in you not getting the most effective power output from it. 

How to prolong the life of CR2032 batteries

The CR2032 is going to expire sooner or later. However, there are things you can do to ensure that it doesn’t expire faster than it should. 

Firstly, we know that hotter temperatures will increase the CR2032’s self-discharge rate. So, avoid storing it in areas where the ambient temperatures are hotter on average. Also, avoid placing the CR2032 in direct sunlight.

Secondly, if you know you are not going to use a device for a long period of time, remove the CR2032 from the device to avoid the parasitic load shortening its shelf-life.

The post Do CR2032 batteries expire? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

Since these devices are portable they require a portable means of power, which come in the form of batteries.

There are many different types of battery each suited for a particular application. 

The CR2032 is a type of coin cell battery predominantly used for smaller electronics like car key fobs, calculators, mini flashlights, etc.

But, can you recharge a CR2032 battery? Yes, CR2032 batteries are available in rechargeable versions which are named LIR2032. This means you can recharge them after they have lost their charge. However, beware that not all CR2032 batteries are rechargeable. There are two types; non-rechargeable, and rechargeable. 

You will first have to check if the CR2032 battery you have is the rechargeable version before trying to recharge it. 

Different types of batteries  

There isn’t one specific type of battery that is used for all portable devices. 

Batteries come in a variety of shapes, sizes, voltages, current capacity and chemical compositions, each having its own unique advantages for a particular application. 

Some batteries last longer and make them perfect for devices like smartphones where you need the battery to last for long periods of time.

While some batteries can deliver high amounts of current but do not last very long, which make them ideal for devices such as power tools. 

Batteries can be classed into two categories; Primary and Secondary.

Primary batteries are your one use type of battery. This means once they have fully discharged (and go flat), you need to dispose of them. 

They cannot be used again. 

Secondary batteries on the other hand are rechargeable. When a secondary battery has fully discharged, you can ‘recharge’ them (with the aid of a battery charger). 

They can be used multiple times. The number of times they can be used is dependent on the make up of their chemical composition. 

A deeper look at CR2032 batteries

So, what exactly is a CR2032 battery?

Let’s take a deeper look to fully understand whether this type of battery can be recharged or not. 

As mentioned earlier, batteries have many different characteristics that make them unique. One of the biggest is their shape. 

Below are the different shapes available;

• AA
• AAA
• C
• D
• 9V
• Coin cell
• Flat/ Pouch

The CR2032 is a type of coin cell battery and is aptly named that due to its resemblance of a coin.

This type of battery is commonly used in smaller electronics such as;

• Calculators
• Wrist watches
• Car key fobs
• Digital vernier callipers
• Keychain LED flashlights 
• Toys
• Handheld medical devices (digital thermometers) 
• PDAs
• Garage door openers
• Pet collars
• Pedometers 

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many other devices but you get the jist.

CR2032 battery specifications

The letters and numbers of the CR2032 aren’t just picked randomly, but rather are specifically chosen, representing its chemical composition and physical dimension. 

These letters, and numbers are crucial in selecting the right coin cell battery for the job (more so the numbers). 

Let’s take a look at what they mean.

The first letter, ‘C’, represents the chemical composition of the battery. In this case it is made up of Chromium (however, while that was the earlier composition, CR batteries can be made with various different compositions, with Lithium being the most common). 

Next, the letter ‘R’, tells us the shape of the battery, which is round.

The next two numbers in the sequence (in this instance ‘2’ and ‘0’), provide us information about the diameter of the coin in millimetres. So, this particular battery has a diameter of 20mm.

Finally, the last two digits ‘3’ and ‘2’, indicate the height of the batter in millimetres. But to acquire the height, first take the number and divide it by 10. 

So, 32 divided by 10 will give us a height of 3.2mm. 

CR2032 battery voltage and current capacity ratings  

There are two other important characteristics when it comes to selecting the right battery for a particular electronic device;

• Voltage
• Current capacity 

All electrical and electronic devices require a voltage to operate. Without voltage the device might as well be a paper weight. 

The CR2032 has a voltage range of 3 – 3.7 volts.

The next characteristic is current capacity, which is defined by the total amount of charge that a battery is capable of storing (much like how much water a bottle is capable of storing, if water represents the current).

Larger batteries have their current capacities shown in Amp-Hours (Ah), while smaller batteries (like CR2032 coin cell batteries), have their capacities given in Milli-Amp-Hours (mAh).

The CR2032 has a current capacity ranging from 230mAh – 1400mAh.

Are CR2032 primary or secondary batteries?

CR2032 batteries are traditionally primary. 

If you were to go to your local grocery or hardware store, the CR2032 batteries that are available there would be the primary variety. 

This means that you would only be able to use the battery once and then dispose of it. 

However, CR2032 batteries are available as secondary batteries which means you can use them multiple times.

They are readily available online, or at specialised electronic stores. 

Can you recharge CR2032 batteries?

So now we know that CR2032 batteries are available as non-rechargeable (primary) and rechargeable (secondary).

So, can you recharge them?

When it comes to recharging a CR2032 battery, you will only be able to recharge the rechargeable version as they are designed to be charged and used multiple times. 

Note, as we saw earlier the first letter ‘C’ represents the chemical composition of the battery. The rechargeable version of the CR2032 is known as LIR2032. 

The ‘LI’ represents the chemical composition of Lithium-Ion, which is the most used chemical for rechargeable batteries.

At no means should you try to charge the non-rechargeable variety as doing so is hazardous which could result in an explosion. 

How to check if a CR2032 can be charged or not  

You might have some CR2032 batteries lying around at home, or you might be buying one (online or physically).

So, how do you check if a CR2032 can be recharged or not? 

The easiest way to tell is by reading what is written on the battery. A CR2032 that can be charged, will have the words ‘rechargeable battery’ displayed on one of its faces. 

It will also have LIR2032 displayed. 

If you are looking for a rechargeable CR2032 battery, the best way to do so online is by searching; “Rechargeable CR2032 battery” or “LIR2032”.

Do rechargeable CR2032 batteries require special chargers?

Yes, you will need special chargers that can accept coin cell batteries, and particularly the CR2032 battery size. 

As rechargeable CR2032 batteries are made of Lithium-Ion, these types of batteries require even more care when it comes to charging.

Most battery chargers offer trickle charging when a battery has reached full charge. However, Lithium-Ion batteries cannot take more charge when they have reached full capacity.

For that reason, their chargers stop the charging process when the battery has reached full capacity. 

So, the battery charger will have to be able to accommodate the rechargeable battery and have the right charging circuitry for lithium-ion batteries.

The post Can you recharge CR2032 batteries?
appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

They come in all shapes, sizes, voltages, etc, each designed for a specific application. 

There are certain electronic devices like car key fobs, calculators, wrist watches, etc, which will require much smaller sized batteries.

Coin cell batteries are a type of battery that is used for these smaller devices. One of the most popular coin cell batteries is the CR battery.

The CR battery has many different versions and it can get confusing when trying to choose the right one for a particular device. 

So, is a CR2450 and CR2032 interchangeable? No, the CR2450 and CR2032 are not interchangeable because the batteries have different dimensions and the battery holder of an electronic device might not be able to accommodate both.  

However, there are some instances where the manufacturer of the device will include a special battery holder that can accommodate both the CR2450 and CR2032 batteries (in this case they are interchangeable as both batteries share the same voltage).

So, it really comes down to whether the battery holder of the device can accommodate both kinds of battery. 

This article shall take a deeper look at the CR2450 and CR2032 batteries to better understand the question at hand. 

Deeper look at CR2450 and CR2032 batteries

To understand if a CR2450 and CR2032 are interchangeable we will first need to learn about CR type batteries.

So let’s take a look!

Deeper look at CR type batteries

Our world is filled with electronic devices that make our lives easier, and nowadays a lot of them are portable. This means they will require some form of portable power.

This is where the battery plays a vital role! It provides these devices with a voltage and current to ensure that they operate as they should.

These portable devices come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and voltage and current ratings. Unfortunately there isn’t a universal battery that is used across all types of devices. 

Types of battery

As just stated, batteries come in a variety of shapes, sizes,  chemical compositions, voltage and current ratings, to be able to accommodate different types of devices.

Below are some of the most common types of battery available which can fall into two categories; Primary (non-rechargeable) and Secondary (rechargeable).

• 9V 
• AA 
• AAA 
• C & D 
• Coin/Button
• Cell 
• Flat/Pouch

Each type of battery above can come in a variety of different chemical compositions.

The CR battery

A CR battery is a primary (non-rechargeable) coin/button cell battery. They are termed coin or button cell batteries due to the fact that they resemble, well, a coin or button.  

This type of battery is commonly used in smaller electronics such as;

• Calculators
• Wrist watches
• Car key fobs
• Digital vernier callipers
• Keychain LED flashlights 
• Toys
• Handheld medical devices (digital thermometers) 
• PDAs
• Garage door openers
• Pet collars
• Pedometers 

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are many other devices but you get the jist. 

What do the letters and numbers on the CR battery represent?

So, we have CR2450, and CR2032. But, what do the letters and numbers represent? 

These letters, and numbers are crucial in selecting the right coin cell battery for the job (more so the numbers). 

Let’s take a look at what they mean.

The first letter, ‘C’, represents the chemical composition of the battery. In this case it is made up of Chromium (however, while that was the earlier composition, CR batteries can be made with various different compositions, with Lithium being the most common). 

Next, the letter ‘R’, tells us the shape of the battery, which is round.

The next two numbers in the sequence (in this instance ‘2’ and ‘0’), provide us information about the diameter of the coin in millimetres. So, this particular battery has a diameter of 20mm.

Finally, the last two digits ‘3’ and ‘2’, indicate the height of the batter in millimetres. But, to acquire the height first take the number and divide it by 10. 

So, 32 divided by 10 will give us a height of 3.2mm. 

CR2450 and CR2032 battery voltage and current capacity ratings  

There are two other important characteristics when it comes to selecting the right battery for a particular electronic device;

• Voltage
• Current capacity 

All electrical and electronic devices require a voltage to operate. Without voltage the device might as well be a paper weight. 

The CR2450 and CR2032 both share the same voltage of 3 volts.

The next characteristic is current capacity which is defined by the total amount of charge that a battery is capable of storing (much like how much water a bottle is capable of storing, if water represents the current).

Larger batteries have their current capacities shown in Amp-Hours (Ah), while smaller batteries (like CR coin cell batteries), have their capacities given in Milli-Amp-Hours (mAh).

The current capacity of the CR2450 is 620mAh, while the CR2032 has a current capacity of 230mAh.

Are CR2450 and CR2032 interchangeable?

So, are the CR2450 and CR2032 interchangeable? No, the CR2450 and CR2032 are not interchangeable.

But, don’t both the batteries share the same voltage? Isn’t that the most important characteristic when choosing the right battery for the job?

When selecting the right battery, you will also need to consider the dimensions of the battery. While they share the same voltage, both batteries have different dimensions. 

The CR2450 battery has a diameter of 24mm and a height of 5mm, while the CR2032 has a diameter of 20mm and a height of 3.2mm.

Battery holders in electronic devices are designed to accommodate one specific size of battery. 

So, a CR2032 will not fit in a CR2450’s battery holder as it will be too small and the CR2450 will not fit into a CR2032’s battery holder as it will be too big. 

What scenario would the CR2450 and CR2032 be interchangeable?

As you just saw, the issue isn’t the voltage of the batteries that do not make them interchangeable, but rather their dimensions and the battery holders designed for them.

Is there a scenario however, where the batteries could be interchangeable?

If the battery holder was designed in a way to accept both batteries then yes, the CR2450 and CR2032 can be interchangeable. 

However, this won’t always be possible. 

Which is the better option if the CR2450 and CR2032 are interchangeable?

In the scenario that a battery holder could accept both types of battery, which is the better option?

As both batteries share the same voltage, and chemical composition, the only difference between the two is their current capacities. 

Due to this, the CR2450 would be a better option as it has a higher current capacity which means it would last much longer than the CR2032. 

To calculate how long a battery will last, you divide its current capacity by the amount of continuous current draw of the electronic device in question.

Let’s take a look at both batteries if we used them to power a LED that drew a continuous current of 10mA.

• The CR2032 would last for 230mAh / 10mA = 23 hours
• The CR2450 would last for 620mAh / 10mA = 62 hours 

The CR2450 would last a whopping 39 more hours than the CR2032, making it the better choice. 

What other batteries are interchangeable with the CR2450 and CR2032 batteries ?

The CR batteries are one specific type of coin cell battery. They are a generic brand which are produced by various different manufacturers. 

However, there is another famous brand that exists, that are pretty much identical when it comes to creating coin cell batteries. 

This brand is Duracell. 

Duracell has a set of coin cell batteries that is very similar to the set of CR batteries. 

If you are looking for a battery that is interchangeable with the CR2450, duracell has a battery of the exact same dimensions which is the DL2450. 

While the CR2032 is interchangeable with the DL2032. 

The naming convention is the same as the CR batteries, where the first two numbers represent the diameter of the battery, and the last two digits represent the height. 

The first two letters, ‘DL’ just represent an acronym of the company, Duracell. 

Also, a heads up, Duracell isn’t the only other type of coin cell battery available apart from CR batteries. There will be other companies that produce coin cell batteries of similar sizes. 

The naming convention of all batteries will be the same. The last four digits of the name are the important information that you will need if you want to  find replacements for the CR2450 and CR2032.

How to distinguish between a CR2450 and CR2032 battery

Distinguishing between the CR2450 and CR2032 is not a daunting task as the two batteries are noticeably different due to their physical dimensions. 

However, if you want to be certain that you are using the right battery, there are a couple of methods you can utilise.

The first method is labelling. Lucky for you and me, manufacturers inscribe important information on the battery which can include things like;

• The name of the manufacturer
• Type of battery (eg. CR2032)
• Voltage of the battery
• Where the battery is made

So, you will easily be able to tell if a battery is either a CR2450 or CR2032 by simply reading what is written on it. 

Or, if for some reason there is no label, or the label  has been worn out due to unforeseen circumstances, you can use a measuring tool like a ruler, or vernier calliper to measure the diameter and height of the battery which will give you an indication of what battery it is.

The post Are CR2450 and CR2032 interchangeable? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

However, using normal disposable batteries to power portable devices is not very efficient as you will have to constantly have to replace them. Also, disposing of them adds to the ever growing waste which is not good for the environment.

This is why Rechargeable batteries are a better option. 

Two commonly used rechargeable batteries used in portable electronic devices are Lithium Ion (LiOn) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad).

But, can you charge a Lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger? No, you cannot charge a Lithium Ion battery using a NiCad charger. However, you can use a Lithium Ion charger to charge a Nickel Cadmium battery.

This article shall take a deeper look at Lithium-Ion and Nickel-Cadmium batteries (as well as the process of how they are charged) and why you cannot charge a Lithium Ion battery using a NiCad charger. 

Deeper look at Lithium ion batteries and NiCad batteries

To understand the question at hand, it will first help to take a closer look at the batteries and the process of charging them (I will keep it brief). 

Rather than going through unwanted information about each battery, I will cover key characteristics that for each battery. 

Lithium ion batteries

Let’s start with Lithium-Ion batteries.

Most (if not all) batteries are given their name because of the type of chemical composition they are made of. In this case, the battery uses lithium ions.

During the discharge cycle, the lithium ions move from the negative terminal (cathode), through an electrolyte to the positive terminal (anode). 

Different types of Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium Ion batteries come in a variety of shapes for different applications. 

• Small cylindrical (single cell with, solid body, with no terminals) –
• Large cylindrical (single cell,solid body, with threaded terminals)
• Flat or pouch (soft, flat body)
• Rigid plastic case (large threaded terminals) 

Other key characteristics of Lithium Ion batteries are their Nominal voltage and Current Capacity.

Nominal Voltage: This is the normal voltage that the battery operates at. Some batteries might indicate a higher voltage at full charge, however, this value will soon drop down to its nominal voltage after a predetermined amount of time. 

All the packages above come with a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts. However, cells can be connected in series to generate larger voltages.

For example, three lithium-ion cells can be connected in series to give a voltage of 11.1 volts, or four cells can be connected to give a voltage of 14.8 and so on. 

Current capacity: Is the amount of current that the battery is capable of storing. It is usually given in Amp-hours (Ah) or Milliamp-Hours (mAh). 

Lithium-Ion batteries come in a range of current capacities ranging from as low as 40 mAh all the way to 2.6 Ah. 

In order to increase the current capacity further, batteries are connected in parallel. However, this is a bit more of a complicated process as the internal impedance of the batteries need to be the same. 

What is the process of charging  lithium ion batteries?

The Lithium-Ion is a special kind of battery compared to other batteries of different chemistries. This type of battery has strict requirements when it comes to charging.

The battery charger is a voltage limiting device with some differences to other chargers. 

The key differences include;

• Higher voltage per cell
• Tighter voltage tolerances
• Absence of trickle or float charging

Trickle charging is when a battery charger is able to charge a fully charged battery at a rate equal to its self-discharge rate, which allows the battery to maintain its full charge level. 

A lithium-ion battery charger does not offer trickle charging because the battery cannot accept overcharge. The battery can become unstable if charged above its nominal voltage which could result in permanent damage.

Damage can come in the form of an explosion.

The charger comes with strict settings that adhere to the restrictions that come with charging this type of battery which  will include features such as an end-of-charge detection circuit  to monitor when the battery is fully charged. 

Different battery chargers for different lithium ion batteries

Lithium-Ion batteries are used for many different applications which include consumer electronics like smartphones, cordless power tools etc.

There are couple of scenarios when it comes to charging batteries;

1. The battery is embedded in device with a inbuilt dedicated charging circuit 
2. The battery is detachable and comes with a dedicated charging unit

The first scenario includes things like smartphones, portable speakers, smart watches, etc. They have batteries embedded in them with a dedicated in-built charging circuit which takes care of charging to make sure the lithium-ion batteries are not overcharged.

You can use most wall adapter chargers as long as they are the right voltage. 

The second scenario involves charging individual lithium-ion battery cells, or where the battery is detachable from the electronic device (like power tools).

In this scenario, they come with a dedicated charging unit where the battery is placed to be charged. 

What is the process of charging NiCad batteries?

Ni-Cad batteries are aptly named due to their chemical composition which includes nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes. 

The abbreviation combines the two symbols of the chemical elements of Nickel (Ni) and Cadmium (Cd).

NiCad batteries have a nominal voltage of 1.2 volts/cell and have current capacities that range from 600mAh to 3300mAh.

Just like lithium ion batteries, batteries can be connected in series to increase its voltage, or connected in parallel to increase the current capacity. 

NiCad batteries can be trickle charged. 

Can you charge a lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger?

So, we come to the main question. 

Can you charge a lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger? No, you cannot charge a lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger. 

But, why not? 

The main reason that you cannot charge a lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger comes down to the process of charging each battery and how the charger works to charge them.

Lithium ion batteries are much more fragile when it comes to charging them. As we saw earlier, you cannot trickle charge this type of battery as it becomes unstable when pushed past the limits of its full charge voltage. 

Therefore, lithium ion chargers are built with a specific type of end-of-charge detection charging circuit which has the role of monitoring the battery’s voltage level and stopping charge when required. 

On the other hand, NiCad batteries can be trickle charged. This means their chargers will keep charging them at a steady uniform rate to maintain full charge. 

Most of the time, NiCad chargers do not include an end-of-detection charging circuit. They can just include a power resistor to limit the current at which the NiCad batteries are charged at. 

So, you can see where the problem lies if you try charging lithium ion batteries with a NiCad charger. The NiCad charger might not have an end-of-detection circuit to stop charging the lithium ion battery at the right voltage which can cause it to become unstable and possibly cause damage to it. 

What will happen if you try to charge a lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger?

As we just learnt, lithium ion batteries become unstable when they are charged past their nominal voltage. This is the main reason lithium chargers do not use trickle charging.

If you charge a lithium ion battery using a NiCad charger, the charger will not know when to stop charging the battery and therefore its nominal voltage will be exceeded.

Exceeding the battery’s voltage causes the cathode terminal to become an oxidizing agent which results in the production of carbon dioxide (CO2). 

The higher the voltage the greater the production of CO2 which then causes the pressure to rise leading to the membrane of the battery bursting and causing permanent damage.

The post Can you charge a Lithium ion battery with a NiCad charger? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

Your chances of calling for help are very limited.

A Power Bank would be able to solve your problems.

It is a portable battery charger capable of charging many devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, portable speakers, bluetooth headphones and much more.

A power bank contains a rechargeable battery capable of storing charge which can then be later used to charge the electronic devices mentioned above.

But, is a power bank a lithium ion battery? Lithium Ion batteries are the most commonly used rechargeable batteries used in power banks due to them having a high energy density and low discharge rate as well as being cost effective. 

There are other types of rechargeable battery available which can include Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po) and Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) that are used for power banks. 

The power bank

The power bank helps solve many problems, the main one being that you can charge your devices when you are not at home or office where a power outlet is located.

It gives you peace of mind when travelling far places where these power outlets become harder to find.

Let’s take a close look at the power bank. 

At the heart of the power bank is the Rechargeable battery. 

Without this main component the power bank would be useless. 

A rechargeable battery has the ability to be charged, discharged into a load and then recharged multiple times.

Normal batteries (disposable ones) can only be used once and then have to be disposed of not making them a viable option for power banks. 

Other parts of the power bank include; Charging circuit, Battery protection circuit, and Boost converter.

Charging circuit

The main purpose of the charging circuit is to provide a constant DC (direct current) or pulsed DC power to the rechargeable battery of the power bank.

Battery protection circuit

There are going to instances when you charge the power bank and forget to remove the charger, leaving it plugged in longer than required.

Lucky for us, the battery protection has the job of protecting the power bank’s battery from overcharging.

It also protects the battery from high temperatures.

Boost converter

The boost converter circuit in the power bank steps low voltages between 3.7 – 3.85 volts to the standard operating voltage of 5 volts (which is used by most electronic devices). 

Why do power banks use a lithium ion battery?

Lithium ion rechargeable batteries aren’t the only batteries available when designing a power bank, however, they are the most common.

Early on, Nickel-Cadmium was the go rechargeable battery for portable equipment and wireless communication.

Lithium ions are now the preferred battery of choice, being used in almost all portable electronics and they can even be found in Electric vehicles. 

The Lithium Ion battery contains electrolytes which lithium ions travel through from the negative to the positive electrode. 

Compared to Nickel-Cadmium batteries, Lithium Ion batteries have a higher energy density (typically double), but there is room to increase the energy density further. 

Also, the lithium ion battery has lower maintenance compared to other rechargeable batteries. There is no memory and schedule cycling is not required to prolong the life of the battery. 

Below are other characteristics of the Lithium Ion Battery;

Lithium- ion vs Lithium polymer power bank. Which is better for a power bank?

We saw that Nickel-Cadmium batteries were used earlier on in the infancy of portable technology, and nowadays Lithium Ion batteries are the popular choice. 

But, there is another rechargeable battery that is quite popular, and that is the Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery. 

Which battery is better for a power bank? 

Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both batteries which will give us a better indication of which is the better choice for a power bank.

Lithium-Ion Advantages

• High energy density
• Low self-discharge 
• Low maintenance
• Speciality cells can be used for high current applications

Lithium-Ion Disadvantages

• Requires protection circuit to protect against over voltage and currents 
• Can age relatively fast if not stored in cool environments
• Expensive to manufacture
• Still in evolutionary phase (lots of improvements are being made)

Lithium-Polymer Advantages

• Sleek, compact design 
• Flexible
• Lightweight
• Improved safety

Lithium-Polymer disadvantages

• Lower energy density and decreased cycle count
• No standard sizes
• Higher cost-to-energy ratio

So, there are the advantages and disadvantages of both the batteries. 

But, how do we know which is better to use in a power bank?

There are a couple requirements to consider of what will make an effective power bank which is ultimately determined by the battery. 

• Cost
• Life cycle
• Capacity 

Cost

First on the list is cost. 

With anything you buy, you do not want it to cost you an arm or leg. 

The same can be said when buying a power bank. 

While both batteries are relatively expensive to manufacture, the cost to energy ratio of the Lithium Polymer battery is higher. 

So, it is more cost effective to use a Lithium-Ion battery for a power bank as it will cost you less to get the same amount of energy as a Lithium-Polymer battery. 

Life Cycle

It would be pointless if you could only use your power bank 10 times and then have to dispose of it. 

The aim is to have a power bank that will last you a long time. 

The life cycle of a power bank is the amount of times you can charge and discharge it before the battery wears out. 

There are many factors that determine the life cycle of a battery like capacity, storage, etc.

But, generally, Lithium-Ion batteries are known to have a higher cycle count compared to their Lithium-Polymer counterparts. 

Capacity

Finally on the list of requirements for an effective power bank is its capacity

The capacity of a power bank is the amount of charge it can store and thus charge other portable electronic devices.

It wouldn’t make sense if a power bank held less charge than your mobile phone. 

This would mean that you would have to charge the power bank a couple of times in order to fully charge your mobile phone rendering the power bank ineffective. 

The capacity of a power bank correlates directly with the energy density of the battery it uses. 

The higher energy density of the battery the more power it will be able to store and therefore charge your portable electronic device multiple times. 

Lithium-Ion batteries have higher energy density than Lithium-Polymer batteries.

So, you can see that the Lithium Ion meets all three requirements which determines the effectiveness of a power bank making it the better option.

Health and Safety concerns with lithium ion battery power banks?

While they have their many advantages and reasons to be used in a power bank, Lithium-Ion batteries are known for exploding and catching fire.

Due to this they have many restrictions when taking them on flights especially as carry-on luggage.

So, check with you the airline you might be flying with for what restrictions they have for power banks that use Lithium-Ion batteries. 

Always store the power bank in a cool place and out of direct sunlight.

The post Is a power bank a Lithium ion battery? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

At the heart of most electronic devices these days, from your toaster, to your mobile phone, lies a microcontroller.

So does a microcontroller need a battery?

The answer is yes. A microcontroller does not have an in-built battery, therefore you will need to provide an external battery source to make it work properly. Without providing a battery source, the microcontroller will be rendered useless.

There are many ways to power a microcontroller. Using a battery is one of the options. Other options include power supplies, DC adapters, USB etc. 

The main point is that a microcontroller needs an energy source that provides it a voltage and current that is specified in its datasheet. 

Like most other electronic devices, microcontrollers have maximum and minimum voltage and current ratings. Trying to provide voltages above the threshold levels, increase the chances of frying your device. 

Supplying a voltage below the recommended minimum means that your microcontroller will not function optimally. 

The voltage and specifications are listed on the devices datasheet, which can be found on the manufacturers website.

Why do electronics need electricity?

All electronics do work. 

This work can be a motor spinning, LED lighting up, heater producing heat etc.

All this work requires a certain amount of energy. This energy is provided in the form of electrons.

Without going into too much detail,we all know all matter is made up of atoms. Atoms contain electrons that have the ability to carry charge in the form of current.

 This current is the fundamental aspect of providing energy to many electronic components.

So, basically electricity provides electronics with current (flow of electrons) that has the ability to provide the energy needed to perform work.

Different form of electricity

The two forms of electricity that exist are Static and Current electricity.

Static electricity deals with the accumulation of opposite charges on objects that are separated by an insulator. 

When the charges find a path to reunite to balance the system out, a static discharge occurs. 

You might have experienced this in the form of a shock when walking across a carpet with socks on, and then touching a metal object or a person.

Static electricity is not a suitable form of electricity when it comes to powering electronics like a microcontroller.

As a matter of fact, due to the voltages generated by static electricity, measures are taken to protect sensitive devices (which include microcontrollers) against static discharges.

Current electricity, which is defined as the constant flow of electrons, is the form of electricity that we are concerned with when powering electronic devices. 

While static electricity deals with charges at rest, current electricity deals with charges that are dynamic.

Purpose of a battery

As we saw above, electronic components like microcontrollers need electrons to provide them energy to do work.

But, in order for the electrons to provide energy to electronic devices, they themselves require a little force. 

This force is provided by an electric field and is given a term we are all familiar with known as, Voltage (V).

The purpose of a battery is to provide an electric field that gives the electrons the force required to move through a circuit and provide energy to components.

The electric field that a battery provides is generated through a chemical reaction that occurs within the battery.

An example of this can be a simple circuit containing a battery, switch, and a lamp.

Initially the switch is open, and all the electrons in the circuit are at rest.

Once the switch is closed completing the circuit, a chemical reaction occurs inside the battery, resulting in an electric field providing the force to push the electrons through the circuit.

These electrons then move through the circuit and arrive at the lamp, providing the filament inside the lamp with energy which in turn creates heat and light. 

This process carries on as long as the switch is closed, or the battery voltage runs out.

Different types of batteries

Batteries come in many different sizes, voltages, current capacities, and chemical compositions.

Some batteries have the added benefit of being able to be recharged so they can be used multiple times.

Batteries can be classed into two categories; Primary and Secondary.

Primary batteries cannot be recharged. 

This means once the battery’s chemical reactions are depleted, the battery must be disposed of (properly).

The most common chemical composition of primary batteries is Alkaline. 

The sizes of Alkaline batteries include coin cell, AA, AAA, D cell, C, D and 9V batteries.

Their voltages range from 1.2 volts to 9 volts.

Secondary batteries on the other hand, have the ability to be charged and used again.

This is why they are referred to as rechargeable batteries.

The most common chemical composition of secondary batteries are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), and Lead Acid.

The different chemical compositions of these rechargeable batteries all give them different characteristics like energy density, power, charge/discharge efficiency, discharge rate and cycle durability.

The sizes and voltages all vary from one rechargeable battery to the next.

From the flat 3.7V Li-Ion battery to the massive 12V Lead Acid cube found in your car.

So depending on your application, you will be able to find the right rechargeable battery.

Other forms to power your Microcontroller

While batteries are cheap, easy to find and use, there are other options at your disposal to provide a voltage source for your microcontroller.

These can include a power supply, DC wall adapter (like the ones used to charge your phones), USB cable via your computer or a power bank and many more.

As long as you can supply the right voltage and enough current you should be fine.

How to power a Microcontroller?

When it comes to microcontrollers you are spoilt for choice. 

There are many different families of microcontrollers available. The most common of them are the Atmel AVR, PIC, 8051. 

Even within each family exists multiple different types of microcontrollers.

For example, the Atmel AVR family has chips such as the ATMega 8, ATTiny 16, ATMega 16 and so on. 

Each subset of microcontroller has a different number of pins and features such as clock speed, number of timers etc.

Though there are many different manufacturers of microcontrollers, and different versions of them, the one thing that stays consistent is, the way they are powered.

The battery voltage that a microcontroller will operate effectively depends entirely on the type of microcontroller itself.

Depending on what microcontroller you have, you can either run it at a voltage of 3V or 5V. The voltage specification can be found on the microcontroller datasheet.

Lets look at the Atmel AVR microcontroller; ATMega8 as an example.

The ATMega8 comes in two versions; ATMega8 and ATMega8L.

The ATMega8 operates effectively at voltages ranging from 4.5V-5.5V.

Whereas, the ATMega8L operates effectively at voltages from 2.7V-5.5V.

So, you can see, the voltage depends entirely on the chip which is specified in its datasheet. 

But, the common voltage range for most microcontrollers ranges from 3V-5V.

How do you connect the Battery to the Microntroller?

We are all familiar with batteries and their terminals. 

But, to cover all bases, batteries come with two terminals; Positive (+) and Negative(-).

Every electronic device powered by a battery will have a battery holder embedded in it. 

To make sure the device operates correctly, you will have to match the battery according to the battery holder. 

The negative terminals of the battery must touch the negative terminals of the battery holder, and the same for positive.

The same concept applies for the microcontroller. 

However, microcontrollers do not have the luxury of an embedded battery holder or  pins labelled positive (+) and negative (-).

The  microcontroller’s positive and negative pins are VCC (positive) and GND (negative) respectively.

Note VCC is a common notation for the positive pin, but not always the case. The notation depends entirely on the manufacturer.

It is common for a microcontroller to have two sets of GND pins. Make sure these are both connected to the negative terminal of the battery. 

Which pins of the microcontroller are VCC and GND can be found on its datasheet.

Breadboards

Breadboards are a great way to test and prototype circuits seen in Figure 1

They are also a great way to power your microcontroller using a battery.  You can place the microcontroller in the breadboard as seen in the picture below

You will then need a battery holder with leads like the one below.

After that you will connect the battery’s positive and negative leads to the microcontroller’s VCC and GND respectively as seen in Figure 4.

Conclusion

So, like with any other electronic device, to make a microcontroller function properly we need to supply it with a voltage and current.

While there are many other ways to power a microcontroller, a common and easy way to do so is to use batteries.

They come in many different sizes, voltage levels, current capacities and chemical compositions.

There are also batteries that can be recharged and used multiple times.

When providing a voltage to the microcontroller using a battery, make sure the output voltage of the battery matches the voltage specified in the microcontrollers datasheet (which can be found on the manufacturer’s website).

The post Does a Microcontroller need a battery? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.