Noob questions about rechargeable Li-ion

[gilly]

Just received three AW 18650 cells from Lighthound. Going to use them in an Edge Tac SPEAR that I purchased from a fellow CPFer.

I have noticed that they already have a charge on them. (not sure how much of one - don't have any way to check that)
No instructions came with the cells - should I run them down before charging or pop them into the charger straight away??

I understand Li-Ion are unlike Nimh or Nicad in that they do not have a memory effect.

Thanks for your advice in advance!!

 

[Stereodude]

No instructions came with the cells - should I run them down before charging or pop them into the charger straight away??

I understand Li-Ion are unlike Nimh or Nicad in that they do not have a memory effect.

Thanks for your advice in advance!!

Do not run them down first. Just charge 'em. Li-Ion do not like to be run all the way down before charging, unlike NiMH or NiCads.

 

[gilly]

Sounds good - any other particularities, or advice on using Li-ion cells?

I got a pila ibc charger after reading a bunch of threads on CPF. (DM51 recommended it)

 

[Fird]

Allow me to quote the 11th CPF commandment:

"Thou shalt blowest not thine bodily self up."

observe safety precautions like don't over charge or discharge the cells, and don't short them out.

enjoy blinding light

 

[mdocod]

I understand Li-Ion are unlike Nimh or Nicad in that they do not have a memory effect.

for the sake of FYI: I figured I'd point out that the "memory effect" commonly touted as being a problem with rechargeable cells is a total myth and can only be re-created using very controlled circumstances. A "memory effect" would be nearly impossible to re-create in any normal consumer use of a cell. For some reason, when NIMH came out, they have been using the "no memory" as a selling point or buzz word type thing, even though the NICD cells never had memory effects either.

 

[gilly]

for the sake of FYI: I figured I'd point out that the "memory effect" commonly touted as being a problem with rechargeable cells is a total myth and can only be re-created using very controlled circumstances. A "memory effect" would be nearly impossible to re-create in any normal consumer use of a cell. For some reason, when NIMH came out, they have been using the "no memory" as a selling point or buzz word type thing, even though the NICD cells never had memory effects either.

OK - but what was happening when I took care in fully discharging the battery in my Magcharger every couple of weeks.......and some of my buddies never let it run down (always kept it in the charger). Their batteries died after about a year of doing that - mine went on for a long, long time...If that isn't the 'memory effect' what is it?:thinking:

 

[mdocod]

that called cooking the cells on a dummy charger.

 

[gilly]

that called cooking the cells on a dummy charger.

By "cooking" do you mean drying up the electrolytes inside?

 

[matrixshaman]

Probably relates to overheating them - heat is the big enemy of all rechargeables.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Gilly,

You may find this discussion informative...

Tom

 

[gilly]

Thanks Silverfox - much appreciated!

After reading this thread, I do believe that some of my Law Enforcement buddies killed their batteries by leaving them on the trickle charge CONSTANTLY- we're talking months...(so it wasn't the 'memory effect').

 

[Anders]

Hello Gilly.

You may find this thread helpful when using Li-Ion, just to make sure you don't set your house on fire.

Anders

 

[gilly]

Thanks Anders - good info. Much appreciated.