Overview On Lithium Ion Batteries
 

What is a Lithium-ion battery?

Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest energy content. The lithium ion battery makes use of lithium cobalt oxide (which has superior cycling properties at high voltages) as the positive electrode and a highly-crystallized specialty carbon as the negative electrode. It uses an organic solvent, optimized for the specialty carbon, as the electrolytic fluid. Rechargeable batteries using lithium metal as the negative electrodes (anode) are capable of providing both high voltage and excellent capacity, resulting in an extraordinary high-energy density.

What is the difference between Lithium-Ion and Lithium-ion polymer?

Lithium-ion uses a liquid or gel type electrolyte that requires substantial secondary packaging to safely contain flammable active ingredients. This additional packaging not only increases the weight and cost, but it also limits the size flexibility. There is no free liquid electrolyte in Lithium-ion polymer technology. As a result, batteries are packaged in a foil. This provides added weight benefits and design flexibility. To make short, polymer is a flatpack while lithium ion is more battery(d, c, AA, AAA, ect.)

Structure

The lithium ion battery has a three-layer, coiled structure within its case. These three layers are comprised of a positive electrode plate (made with lithium cobalt oxide as its chief active ingredient), a negative electrode plate (a specialty carbon), and a separator layer. The battery is equipped with a variety of measures to insure safety, along with an anti-explosion valve that releases gas if the internal pressure exceeds a specific value, thereby preventing the battery from exploding. Do not disassemble or modify the battery. Damaging this circuit may cause overheating, ignition, bursting, and/or breaking of the battery(these points also apply to Ni-Cd/Ni-MH).

Lithium-ion batteries fail due to excessive low discharge. If discharged below 2.8 volts per cell, overcharged, or short circuit the internal safety circuit opens and the battery appears dead. A charge with the original charger is no longer possible. Some battery analyzers (Cadex) feature a boost function that reactivates the protection circuit of a failed battery and enables a recharge.

Pros

:D High Energy Density : Because the lithium ion batteries are high voltage/light weight batteries, they boast a higher energy density than rechargeable nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batterise.
:D High Voltage: Lithium ion batteries produce 3.7 volts, approximately three times the voltage of recargeable Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries. This makes it possible to make smaller, lighter equipment.
:D No Memory Effect : The battery "forgets" what full charge is like and even after hours of charging will not hold the same level of power that it used to. Having said that all rechargeable batteries degrade over time, even lithium ion. However lithium ion batteries tend to "go" all at once, where one day they are working fine and the next they simply won't hold any charge. This will usually occur only after at least a couple of years or damage, but can occur sooner if you allow the battery to completely discharge.

Cons

:mad:More expensive
:mad:Greater care is needed
:mad:More precise equipment and monitoring required
:mad:large size (I have not seen a "AAA" size lithium or smaller)

Safety precautions for Lithium Ion batteries

1. Never charge Lithium Ion cells/packs at any rate unattended.
2. Only charge LIthium Ion cells/packs with a charger designed specifically for Lithium Ion chemistry.
3. Lithium Ion cells can ignite because of unmatched cell capacity or voltage, cell damage, charger failure, incorrect charger settings and other factors.
4. Always use the correct charging voltage. Lithium Ion cells/packs may ignite if connected to a charger supplying more than 6 volts per cell.
5. Always assure the charger is working properly.
6. Always charge Lithium Ion cells/packs where no harm can result, no matter what happens.
7. Never charge a cell/pack on a wooden workbench, or on any flammable material.
8. If a cell/pack is involved in a crash:
a. Remove the cell/pack from the model.
b. Carefully inspect the cell/pack for shorts in the wiring or connections. If in doubt, cut all wires from the cell/pack.
c. Disassemble the pack.
d. Inspect cells for dents, cracks and splits. Dispose of damaged cells
9. Handle all cells/packs with care, as they can deliver high currents if shorted.
10. Always store cells/packs in a secure location where they cannot be shorted or handled by children.
11. When constructing a pack, use only cells of the same capacity (mAh).

Thank you so much, this helps a lot.

I know all of this because I destroyed about 20 set already. 2 caught on fire, the others I over drained drag racing.

Re: Overview On Lithium Ion Batteries
 

doesn't the zip zaps use li-ion batteries?

Re: Re: Overview On Lithium Ion Batteries
 

I believe they do, not for sure. It they come preinstalled then they have a safety switch for them.

ok thanks

No, Zip Zaps use ni-mh batteries (1/3 AAA), and I can get my hands on a bunch of AAA lithiums, and kokam 145 li-pos will fit in my ZZMT.

Oh really?
I learn something everyday!:D

I have found this, and I want to buy it:

Li-Ion Cell 3.6V 750mAh (AA size )

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=1336

One Protection IC (PCB) for 7.2v Li-Ion Battery Pack

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=1343

Multi-Level Universal Smart Charger for Any 3.6v - 14.4 V Li-Ion battery Pack

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=1230

With this in mind, I want to know:

Can I use the with the protection PCB until my car hasn't power to run?

And without the PCB can I run It to that point or can I damage my Li-ion's?

If I want to put the protection PCb with a V2 FET board from atomicmods that controls the voltage to 5V (also the protection PCB), will it work well?

Thanks for the answers and hope this things may interest you.

Quick note so folks don't get burned: lithium and lithium-ion are not the same battery. To the best of my knowledge, there are no AAA lith-ions (did a ton of searching) but Energizer, I believe, makes AAA lithium. The problem you'll have with the lithium batteries is that they are not rechargeable. so buyer beware on that point.

They do indeed make AAA Lithium Ions.

Their exact size/model number is 10430.

Here is one source.

Lithium Ions

Goldpeak makes a ~1/2 AAA Lithium Ion rechargable also, the 10290

GP Li Ions

Ahh, cool! One more battery configuration for my rig now. Good find. I'm building a 130 motor that I doubt can handle 4 AAs, but 4 AAAs, maybe.

That AAA site is out of stock last time I checked, they just don't update much.

Dark Wing, the protection circuit you speak of cuts off in the 2.X range, which would be great except you'd need a trickle charger to get them back up to 3 volts, then they could be charged at a normal rate.

I have noticed that, however we still know they are made just finding a good source to buy them is the problem now. The GP 10510 might also fit a AAA holder.

This is more immediately pertinent with regards to laptops, but hopefully, this will trickle down to single cells relatively quickly, but basically some company found a way to use nanoparticles to greatly improve the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries. They're talking 300% more power and charging times of *minutes*
http://www.b2i.us/profiles/investor/...=1&Category=24

My li-po setup charges in 20-25 minutes, but the power increase rocks!

Yes, poly's do have a higher discharge rate over the ions.
But, they don't have the safety feature.

can you solder lithium batts without solder tabs?
with a radioshack coldheat?
normal soldering iron?
can i some how glue on solder tabs?

Please don't flame me i just bought four cells and I don't want to put them in a aa battery holders!

ColdHeats have been proven to be bad for electronics, so don't use them on any of your R/Cs. With li-pos, they all have tabs, so that question's answered. With li-ions, as long as you're very careful, you can solder straight to the batt, but you must be careful. My advice is to stick with tabs.

woah that was weird you replied in like 5 minutes,hehe

thats what i figured with the coldheat...thanks for the reply

anywayz when you say be careful do you mean? that i shouldn't heat it up too much?

I'm of course going to tin both the wire and the battery...and when i tin the battery before i put the wire on i am going to let it cool down for a minute or so. Is there any onther precautions i should take?