Chargers

Charging controllers and lithium cell charging process

Did you know you can build a lithium-ion cell charger yourself? This is possible thanks to special charging process controllers that have been developed to allow users to create their own charger to suit their individual needs. For optimal working conditions, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries need to be charged in the right way, according to specific rules. It is worth following the general guidelines to protect the battery from possible damage and failure. It is important to know that the charging process must not take too long, as this causes the risk of a cell explosion.

Lithium-ion cells have high requirements for their use. Despite this, they are often chosen for electronic designs and used in many everyday and professional applications. The voltage in the cell must not be lower than the manufacturer's predefined threshold, which usually ranges from 2.8 V to 3.0 V. If the battery is discharged below this predefined limit, damage or even loss of some capacity is possible. It is also harmful to exceed the maximum voltage of the cell, resulting in irreversible failure and, in extreme cases, explosion and fire.

How to charge lithium-ion cells?

Charging consists of two stages. In the beginning, the cell is charged with a DC current of 0.5 to 1 C. If the voltage in the cell is about 4.2 V, the second phase of charging begins. During this phase, the voltage is maintained at 4.2 V, but the current that is drawn by the cell gradually decreases. If it drops to less than 0.1 C, the signal that the battery has already been charged.

Systems are powered in different ways, sometimes only a single lithium-ion battery will work well, and sometimes a more advanced system is required. Simple linear stabilisers and step-down converters are often used for power supply. This is due to the operation of modern electronics with a voltage below the nominal operating voltage of the lithium-ion cell. If you want to create a complete integrated power system, you can supplement it with an integrated charger. Why is this such a great convenience? First of all because it is not necessary to remove the battery from the device in order to recharge it. We charge the device by connecting an external power supply.

The Botland store offers lithium-ion cell chargers with different levels of sophistication. We also offer integrated charging process controllers that allow you to build chargers yourself. With such solutions you will ensure the mobility of your electronic equipment and greater freedom and safety of using them without having to connect to a power source.