What to Consider When Buying a Lithium Battery

Battery Type

When looking for which type of batteries to buy, there are a couple of alternatives currently on the market. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages, so look for ones that suit your priorities and needs.

Lead

Lead batteries have been in the market for a long time, so we have a reliable knowledge of its strength and weakness. These batteries are good as an ‘entry-level’ option because they have low up-front costs, and widely available in the market – as long as the buyer is aware of its capabilities.

There are 3 types of lead batteries you should look out for: flooded/wet, absorbent glass mat (AGM) and gel. Flooded batteries run within a solution that will generally require maintenance, while the other two are more or less maintenance-free. Flooded is also cheapest up-front.

Lead batteries, although wide in variety, share a common downfall. They are intolerant to deep cycles and fast discharges – meaning you can’t drain the battery like you can with a phone then recharge it to full capacity again nor can you draw out a large amount of electricity in a short amount of time. Consequently, you must treat lead batteries relatively gently as doing either of these things will significantly compromise the lifetime and efficiency of the battery.

The production of lead batteries causes environmental damage, but due to their widespread application, there are many recycling options when the battery reaches the end of its lifetime of 5 to 15 years

Pros:

● Cheap

● Reliable

Cons:

● Need maintenance

● Not good for deep cycling – dual-purpose or as backup power

● 5-15 years lifetime

● Bulky (low energy density)

Lithium

Lithium based batteries have emerged more recently in the market and are the main competitor towards traditional lead batteries –with good reason. These batteries have a higher up-front cost (in the current market), but have key advantages and are good for those who want to seriously invest in a battery system for their solar and reduce their reliance on the grid.

Lithium batteries are compact, and can be placed in more discrete locations, and is also maintenance-free. They are also robust and tolerant to deep and fast discharges – so you can utilize most of the storage capacity of the battery, as well as drawing electricity quickly.

One main concern with lithium batteries relates to its innate combustibility. Internal components must be kept separate because they can react violently with the air to generate heat and produce fire. Manufacturers overcome this with stringent production methods and safer designs.

Pros:

● Reliable

● Maintenance free

● Tolerant to fast charge/discharge

● Compact

Cons:

● Combustible

● Expensive

● Other types of batteries

There are other battery chemistry alternatives. Rarely seen is nickel chloride batteries, whose main advantage is its robustness and its recyclability, but at a higher upfront cost. Other new battery technologies have emerged in recent years, including ‘flow’ batteries and salt water-based batteries, each with its owns advantages.

A very important factor to consider is the lithium batteries’ lifespan. Assessment of the durability of the battery is of utmost importance. Susceptibility of the battery to external factors such as needs to be examined. If the battery is not able to withstand the harsh conditions, there is no need of purchasing it. A longer lifespan implies more cost. One needs not to be worried about the higher cost since it saves one from future replacements which are even more costly. Purchase the best lithium batteries from BSLBATT Lithium for the best results.

When shopping for your lithium battery, a major consideration should be on its performance. According to where the battery is going to be applied, there is a need to check for the capacity of the battery. When comparing the amount of capacity required by let us say an electric car, a Golf Cart, and a watch then the electric car requires the most capacity. In addition, the battery loses charge should be of great concern to the buyer until the battery is almost close to zero. If the battery is able to reserve energy efficiently, then it will be the best choice.

Another major consideration should be on the charging of the battery. If the battery is able to retain a charge or a longer time, then the battery is of high quality. If it can retain a charge for a long period of time then it is the battery you will need. When considering charging, one should also keep in mind the source of power supply. Is the power supply readily available such that when the battery empties it can be easily recharged? A battery that discharges easily will be more costly in the long run. Power is very expensive and more charging leads to more usage of power which increases the expense. Therefore, the power source should be considered when purchasing a lithium battery. View more from us at www.lithium-battery-factory.com

After purchasing of the lithium battery, one should consider its maintenance and disposal. A cheap battery to maintain is the best. Minimal maintenance of the lithium battery implies a reduced cost. One should find the best way of disposing of the lithium battery after use in an environmentally friendly way. One should have the knowledge of disposing of the battery supposing it contains some toxic environment. In conclusion, in the long term, the battery should be advantageous.

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