I propose a standardized li-ion cell/charger labeling system

[mdocod]

The confusion of li-ion is growing into a larger problem with more and more cell types and chargers on the market. I'm really scared that some consumer somewhere (probably a non-CPFer) will get hurt/killed by a chinese imported charger/cell system, and then some big investigation will lead to legislation that will really clamp down on the importation of li-ion cells. The problem is that there are SAFE li-ion solutions available to consumers, but the consumer is really left in the dark about how to properly use loose li-ion cells.

I propose the following system for any li-ion cells that are intended for sale as "loose" cells for consumer use in camera/flashlight/ etc.

A standardized labeling system that follows these basic rules:

For cells, a compatibility code that looks something like this:

[Charge V][Cell V Nominal][Output V][Chemistry]_[Protection]_[safety Rating]

So a standard unprotected Cobalt chemistry li-ion cell would look like:
423737CO_N_1

So if you make a charger that supports the charging of this type of cells, you put this on the back:
423737CO
Since it's a charger, you leave off the last 2 sections, as protection and safety rating are irrelevant in most cases to the charger. So any cell that has that as the beginning of it's label can be charged in that charger


Here's another example: A protected "3.0V" Lithium Iron Phosphate cell.
383230PH_Y_5

Look for chargers with the label 383230PH on them.

A protected Cobalt based li-ion cell with 3.0V output would look something like this:
443730CO_Y_3

Some chargers might have a "switch" on them for 2 different cell types.. On each side of that switch, the compatibility code should be listed.

I think a 1-5 scoring system should be implemented. Where the more levels of protection the cell has, the higher rating it gets for safety, like a 5 star system. A cell with standard cobalt chemistry, with a PTC might get a 3/5 rating, Pretty much all Phosphate and Manganese based cells would inherently receive a 5/5 rating as they very safe even when heavily abused, cut open, impacted, punctured, etc.

I'd like some feedback on this idea... and if we ca come up with an agreed upon system that would be beneficial, I might take an email a few dozen distributors and manufactures and try to get them all to adopt the standardized system before legislation forces them out of business.

 

[Burgess]

Sounds good. :thumbsup:


Need to do something to avoid the confusion.


Otherwise, how is Li-Ion ever gonna' become widely available at the Consumer level ?

_

 

[VidPro]

if your going to identify for consumers, then you might use Color coding.

Black battery go in black charger
pink battery go in pink charger
blue battery go in trash can
etc.

then when you change the switch on the charger, a led or a plastic thing slides in place to change the color.

anything else and the consumer will still be stuffing one thing in another. and or switching them wrong
the Fisher price charger

ya know a meter IN the devices would cost mabey $3, and full specs markings on the cells probably 3cents a unit.
i would say putting a computer chip in would be cheap too , but you know what happens when you give an electronic device an AI

if you had a battery with specific specs, and a charger that its METER showed the max or something, then you just match the specs to the specs.
that is what we do here basically, is know the specs themselves, and set up the power supply to them specs, its more simple than trying to figure out what the heck they did in what charger sometimes

some sort of ID on any of it right where the human can see, is a nessisity, or just stop buying 5 different types of cells , find the one that suits you best and stuff the others. and not on the back, on the FRONT where you stuff the batteries in at, its not like chargers are a work of artistic elegance, take off the LOGO crud and put in INFO instead.