getting the most out of my 18650
- Thread starter ELDRAW
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PhantomPhoton
Flashlight Enthusiast
With lithium ion cells it's better to recharge them before they're completely depleted. It's perfectly okay to just top off the charge on them. You'll likely extend the cell's service life that way.
Don't run a li-ion cell all the way down if you have a choice. I swap cells when they hit about 3.7 volts (which puts them somewhere between 40% and 60% spent, depending on whose numbers you believe).
If you do happen to run a cell down below 3.3 volts, charge it as soon as you can (don't have to charge it all the way, but try to get it out of the danger zone. 3.7 or 3.8 volts seems to be the consensus voltage for storage of li-ion cells).
--flatline
If you do happen to run a cell down below 3.3 volts, charge it as soon as you can (don't have to charge it all the way, but try to get it out of the danger zone. 3.7 or 3.8 volts seems to be the consensus voltage for storage of li-ion cells).
--flatline
Are they protected (red stripe) AW batteries? If so, they will shut off when they reach 2.8V if I recall correctly.
Black Rose
Flashlight Enthusiast
Here is what AW has this posted in his battery sales thread on CPFMP:
LiIon Battery Charge Status
4.2V – 100%
4.1V – 87%
4.0V – 75%
3.9V – 55%
3.8V – 30%
3.5V – 0%
thank you for all the advice guys, i will keep them charged and yes they do have a red stripe about 3/4 down the silver label.
When i charge them do i have to take them out as soon as they are fully charged or can i leave them charging overnight and take them out in the morning??
It would be best to remove them as soon as charging is complete, but a "few" minutes won't hurt them. I don't recommend leaving them in an unattended charger overnight though. You shouldn't leave them unattended longer than 15 minutes or so while charging, and you should put the charger in something non-flammable with sides -- an old roaster pan or a metal bucket works -- to minimize the possibility of damage if something happens.
I set my Pila charger in an ammo can which sits on a granite counter top and is three steps away from the back door. Probably more careful than I need to be, but it takes almost no effort to reach that extra level of paranoid safety.
--flatline
--flatline
