Reenergized Lithium?

[barkingmad]

I saw on eBay someone selling 'reenergized lithium' batteries - i.e. standard CR123A (non-rechargeable) batteries re-powered? Is this:

a) possible - if so how?
b) safe to do?
c) safe to use?

 

[jrmcferren]

Yes it is possible, but I would only use it in single cell lights as they would be mismatched. I would not do it myself as it is very dangerous if done improperly (think overcharged LiOn). Primary lithium cells can in fact be recharged, but doing it safely is the difficult part. What he is basically selling are recharged lithium primaries. Lithium primaries are VERY sensitive to overcharge and will explode when that happens.

Most primary cells can be recharged (except maybe carbon-zinc), but doing so safely requires skill. I apologize if I am baiting here but I feel the facts need to be presented.

• Carbon Zinc: No known recharge method
• Alkaline: Can be recharged a few times if not discharged below 0.9 Volts/cell but containment may fail causing leakage, may explode if overcharged.
• Lithium: Can be recharged, but it is too dangerous to do so for the average user.
• Zinc Air: Not really rechargeable, but can be replentished by replacing battery elements.

Yes, lithium primaries can in fact be recharged, but it is too dangerous to do so without special skill.

 

[matrixshaman]

I've done it with fairly limited success and considering the price of rechargeables now there just isn't much reason to do this and even primaries can be had for $1.00 each or less. I've recharged a couple Surefires that came up again in brightness but other times they looked recharged voltage wise but were miserably weak in current and had very low light output. And the danger of explosion and flame is considerable so it's not a very good thing to do. I've thought about trying a pulse charger but again it's hardly worth it. Most people here will just say they cannot be recharged at all - period but I found a couple worked but they are not as strong as a new battery and thus just not something I would pay money for. Do you have an ebay link to this item?

 

[barkingmad]

Here's the link - but as you say at the price there is no real point (i.e. 20 cells for about US$20) - was just interested.

RCR-123A seem the way forward in either 3.0v or 3.7v format - cheaper in the long run - just shame the capacity is quite a lot less than the primary cells.

How would they do the re-energizing - are there special chargers for it to be more 'careful'?

 

[matrixshaman]

Just for the heck of it I sent the guy a question on what he's using to recharge these and get 'full power' out of them. I let him know that I know a fair amount about these type of batteries. After seeing his ad I'd say he's full of baloney unless he has figured out a unique way to recharge them. I have not yet tried using a special pulse charger that I know about ( Tune charger ) for charging these but that is the only thing that comes to mind which might be able to charge these and that's a big 'maybe'. And to charge them you need very good voltage shutoff control and probably a very slow charge. Please don't try charging them unless you have a place/container where things can blow up and contain a fire.

 

[Calina]

From Jean-Michel experiments it seems that the Tune Charger is up to the task.

Did you build a Tune charger?

For those interested in the charger here's a link : http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TuneCharger/files/
This site is a mess but you can find a lot of useful informations if you dig in.

 

[nerdgineer]

I think it would be less risky to get the "didn't quite test to spec" CR123 batteries from batterystation, at 50 for $30 shipped.

 

[matrixshaman]

I got a reply from the ebay seller - this was it: "Sorry, my chemists (the suppliers) do all the magic on the cells. G'day.."
So - I suspect B.S. -- he's getting used cells from somewhere not quite to spec maybe??

 

[derfyled]

BTW,

I tried some "reenergized" cells from this guy on ebay and they work perfectely. The 10 I bought were fine. The downside: they don't last long as fresh new cells.

 

[barkingmad]

Was just interesting - but when you can buy new cells for barely any more that is going to be the better bet - plus rechargeable ones are even greener (and cheaper) in the long run.

 

[SKYWLKR]

Is he doing AA's? and what is the pricing?

 

[barkingmad]

The ebay link is in one of my posts below but to be honest the price was not really any cheaper than you could buy 'new' batteries for (as long as you shop around) and rechargeable batteries are cheaper still...