I have 40 AA Eneloops that I want to keep track of. The only way I can think of marking each AA with a permeant marker. I suspect that after handling these cells the marking will wear off. Is there a better way to mark these cells?
How Do You Identify Induvial Cells?
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knucklegary
Flashlight Enthusiast
I use self sticky 1/4" dots. They come red, blue yellow, green per sheet in package of 20. Intended as map markers, they work great on cells. You can further code with numbers.
They will loosen if you handle while cells are warm. Other than that, it's a clean way to mark cell age and number for rotation. Works great for me.
Red dot #1 on Petzl Core pack
They will loosen if you handle while cells are warm. Other than that, it's a clean way to mark cell age and number for rotation. Works great for me.
Red dot #1 on Petzl Core pack
thermal guy
Flashaholic
That's a tough one I have a few 16650's that identify as18650's😂😂
Curious as to why you are tracking these cells so closely. When I first got into li-ion, I kept a handwritten ledger and marked all my cells with identifiers. After 6 months or so, I realized my folly. At the rate of rotation I used my cells, it became evident I would have to live another 200 years to be concerned about significant chemistry degradation due to cycling and subsequent capacity loss.
The paper went in the trash, and unless the cells were "married" for a specific multi-cell light or application, the marks are ignored. But to reply to your question, Black sharpie with dates, alphanumeric designation, or series of "dots" to I.D. individual cells.
More trouble than it's worth for me anyway.
The paper went in the trash, and unless the cells were "married" for a specific multi-cell light or application, the marks are ignored. But to reply to your question, Black sharpie with dates, alphanumeric designation, or series of "dots" to I.D. individual cells.
More trouble than it's worth for me anyway.
MidnightDistortions
Flashlight Enthusiast
I just write a number onto the battery and put tape over it after the ink dries. Then I just keep a notepad of the capacity of the cells and the internal resistance when I test them.
I do like to at least mark a purchase date for my battery batches, even if they have it embossed in the label like Eneloops. I just use a Sharpie and renew it as needed. Some people may have fit problems with stickers and tape in some tight light tubes. I don't seem to have any fit problems, but am too lazy to make Dymo tape labels with a few exceptions, plus label tape is expensive. For black cells, I use a silver Sharpie.
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I think that is what I'll do. Mark a number onto the cell with a sharpie and cover the mark with a small piece of scotch tape to protect the mark. Hopefully a partial wrap of scotch tape will not cause any fitting issues in tight battery compartments.
I want to match my sets of batteries better. Also I just got a couple new chargers and want to track the best charging rate results on these chargers.
MidnightDistortions
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'm working on a plan for tight battery compartments but I only have that issue with this older AA Minimaglite and single AA Nite Ize light. I would test fit a few batteries in each device before putting the tape on. Then potentially keep the batteries with any device that won't fit with the tape on it.
With the AA Minimag I just tossed 2 AAA in AAAs to AA adapter and use it that way for now.
MidnightDistortions
Flashlight Enthusiast
I recently got an Opus BT-C2000 and BT-C2400 (one of them comes with C/D cell adapters. For older cells if they get high internal resistance, charging and discharging them may be slower. Found out some batteries were not fully charging despite putting 3 amps into them. They've been charging at 20-50mA so they got high internal resistance like no tomorrow.
So I'd get at least one of those chargers. It also helps me set a better charging standard in my Sky RC 3000 charger as it will reject any cell that won't charge at the specified rate. Won't charge any battery that won't accept a charge under 50mA (as that's the lowest). Most of these cells are the older high self discharge cells that no longer is a major issue due to the Eneloop engineering.
I liked messing around with older cells that are no longer good, but they work fine in low powered flashlights or clocks. Messing around with them yielded some useful information.
I think I'll try this to somewhat avoid fading of my Sharpie marks too. As long as the adhesive doesn't 'migrate' out along the edges of the tape when warm and introduce stickiness, it would help avoid re-marking cells w/ faded markings. I'll do a fit test w/ a few lights before I go wild with it, but Scotch Magic tape is pretty thin...
MidnightDistortions
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've been using these CD-R markers which surprisingly still work and haven't had any issues if I let the ink dry. Haven't tried a sharpie yet.
I had one of those CD-R markers. If they hold up better than a sharpie I'll get another. Thanks for the info.
