Danie van der Merwe

I did not realise you get rechargeable coin cell batteries such as for the CR2032

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:29:53 +0100

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

I've long been using various types of rechargeable AA and AAA batteries, including the 1.5 volt versions, but I've just never seen any mention at all about these button/coin cell 3.6V Li-Ion batteries being rechargeable.

It's said that there are rechargeable versions of the LIR2032, LIR2025, LIR2032H, LIR1632 and the LIR2016. I use various of these in AirTag trackers and some other devices.

Looking at a local electronic supplier, I see they do indeed stock rechargeable CR2032 batteries. They cost a bit over double the price of the single use battery, but if you can get a few charges out of them, it may be worth it.

A downside though that I see is the rechargeable battery has a stated capacity of 30mAH, whilst the single use version is 230mAH. A different site shows a capacity of 40mAH (plus or minus 5mAH) and the life cycle of over 500 recharges. Some batteries state as high as 70mAH.

So, certainly the capacity is a good 4x less. It means what used to last 12 months on a charge, would need recharging at least every 3 months with a rechargeable battery. Cost wise though, it is still going to be 100x cheaper (500 recharges divided by 4 as the same life as a single use battery), and that also means 100 batteries not being disposed of.

I'd certainly like to give these a try.

#technology #batteries #rechargeable #environment

technology batteries rechargeable environment

Lithium-Ion 1.5V Rechargeable Cells in AA and AAA Are Probably Best Now For Most Use Cases Over Ni-Mh 1.2V Cells, Or Alkaline Cells

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 14:10:36 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

I just started using some of these Lithium-Ion 1.5V AA cells, and must say I can see many benefits with them. It's a pity most articles about them date back two or more years with comments such as they only come in odd sizes, produce 3.7V, lower capacity than Ni-Mh, etc. As of 2022 the Lithium-Ion cells should be seriously considered as a first option, as they come in AAA and AA sizes now at 1.5V.

Outright Pros for Li-Ion:
* Charge way quicker than Ni-Mh
* More energy density than Ni-Mh
* Similar voltage to Alkaline cells
* About double or more lifecycle charges (lasts longer)
* Very low self-discharge rate (on the shelf) at about 1% per month vs 1% per day for Ni-Mh
* As environmentally friendly as Ni-Mh with regard to not being single-use only
* Better performance at varying temperature ranges than Ni-Mh
* Safer to charge than Ni-Mh as they have built-in protection circuits and plates
* Often no separate charger required as many come with a USB-C socket built-in

Cons for Li-Ion:
* Not as safe for delivery / couriers
* More expensive up front (but not when considering cost per lifetime use)

One thing I'm not sure about is the heavy discharge use. Alkalines for example are not so good in camera flashes as they cannot produce that quick heavy discharge for prolonged periods like Ni-Mh can. I'm thinking though that Li-Ion cells can also handle this if I consider how quickly they charge. This was a particular strength of Ni-Mh over Alkalines.

One thing to note about voltages though, and this was especially true for Ni-Mh. Ni-Mh cells are often reported to be "flat" in consumer devices, but it is because they produce a constant 1.2V, unlike Alkalines which start at 1.5V and constantly show a measurable discharge. I have been using Ni-Mh cells for ages in devices which say the cells are flat, and I've done a post about this before. Li-Ion cells act similarly with a flat discharge curve, so will likely report as being "full" for ages, until they suddenly stop working. Most consumer devices measure for Alkaline discharge curves. A plus is with Li-Ion cells though that you can keep a spare set fully charged, and they'll stay that way with very little self-discharge.

See Which rechargeable aa batteries should I choose?

#technology #environment #battery #rechargeable