Protected VS Unprotected Lithium Ion Battery

Lithium-ion batteries were a great invention in the 1970s. They are rechargeable batteries that are primarily used in portable electronic devices and vehicles. These batteries revolutionized the world of electronics and devices because they enabled manufacturers to store energy in compact and secure cells. Today, most gadgets, heavy-duty wireless machinery, and vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries. The lithium ions in the battery move from the negative terminal to the positive terminal through the electrolyte and back to the negative terminal when discharged. These batteries are powerful and have a high density of energy, so they can be harmful if they are damaged or charged incorrectly because they contain flammable electrolytes. As a recent example, the

The energy capacity of a lithium-ion battery is defined by the number of charge cycles. The rechargeability of lithium-ion batteries can be affected by prolonged overcharging, exposure of the battery to high temperatures and voltage fluctuations.

Many companies and engineers are working to extend battery life and make these batteries more compact. In addition, there is a high emphasis on battery charge cycles and cost.

Definition of Protected and Unprotected Lithium-ion Batteries

Protected Li-ion Batteries

As mentioned earlier, Li-ion batteries are very powerful and should therefore be handled with care. Protected lithium-ion batteries come with a small circuit integrated into their battery package. This small circuit prevents dangerous and explosive fires. Basically, the circuitry inserted into the lithium-ion battery does not allow it to overcharge, short-circuit, or over-discharge itself, and it also controls the temperature of the battery. A protected lithium-ion battery is a safer choice for everyday use, especially around the house, because it will not cause explosions or fires.

A safe and well-designed protected lithium-ion battery has the following components.

1. Pressure vents - These batteries have small pressure vents. These vents relieve the pressure of exhaust gases and prevent the battery from shorting or inflating.

2. Short circuit prevention - It has a protective steel cap to prevent short circuits. The protective steel case prevents any collision between the cells or any other potentially dangerous impact.

3. Multiple Protection- The protected battery has three different types of protection against overheating. In addition, it protects against overcharging and overdischarging.

Unprotected lithium-ion batteries

As the name implies, unprotected batteries do not have this small circuit installed in them to prevent danger. The circuit is the main component that protects the battery. If it is lost, then the battery is not protected and can easily explode or catch fire. However, unprotected lithium-ion batteries do have enhanced capacity and higher current capacity compared to protected lithium-ion batteries.

Unprotected batteries can become hot, overcharged or overdischarged.

Difference between protected and unprotected lithium-ion batteries

The difference can be seen in the definition above. Unprotected batteries are pristine batteries with no monitoring circuitry to prevent hazards, while protected batteries have circuitry installed in the battery package to control the temperature of the battery and prevent inflation, overheating, etc.

If we compare costs, protected batteries are considered high quality and therefore they are used more compared to unprotected lithium ion batteries. Protected batteries have a longer life, while unprotected batteries do not last as long because they tend to overheat or overcharge and lose their functionality. Protected batteries are also safe when the voltage fluctuates. If the voltage is very high, the protected battery will disconnect itself and avoid any kind of damage. In addition, some protected batteries ensure that they provide the rated current, and that's it. If the current is very high, then the protected battery will just disconnect itself and will not suffer any damage.

Unprotected batteries do not have these features. Lithium-ion batteries are much more powerful and can be damaged if they are not protected. The use of unprotected batteries around the house is not recommended, especially around children, and protected batteries should be used with caution and under strict supervision. Unprotected batteries are more affordable and have greater capacity than protected batteries.

Applications of Protected and Unprotected Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries were introduced and have been very successful due to their light weight and use in a variety of devices. Some of the uses for these batteries are for portable devices, power tools and electric vehicles.

Some of the uses of protected lithium-ion batteries are because they limit overcharging and prevent explosions and corrosion.

- Lithium-ion batteries are used in almost all telecommunications equipment. Most modern cell phones and smartphones use lithium-ion protected batteries because they store energy in a compact size.

- Laptops, tablets, digital cameras because these devices need batteries with good life span, so most of these modern technology devices use lithium-ion batteries.

- Medical devices and flashlights are safe to use as protected lithium-ion batteries

- Some power tools that require high energy also use lithium-ion batteries because they are safe and durable, such as cordless drills, saws, hedge trimmers and a variety of forestry equipment

- E-cigarettes also use lithium-ion batteries because of their safety features

- Many electric vehicle manufacturers also use lithium-ion batteries. The most famous electric car manufacturer, Tesla Motors, uses Latium ion batteries in its ultra-efficient vehicles.

In more detailed technical environments such as "controlled environment libraries" and "electronic equipment enclosures," lithium-ion batteries are mostly fitted with EHS, also known as environmental, health and safety, to protect equipment and workers.

Unprotected lithium-ion batteries can have more energy storage capacity, but have dangerous consequences due to overheating, fragility, explosion and unreliable charging capability. As a result, unprotected lithium-ion batteries have been replaced by all manufacturers.

As technology advances and technical devices are updated, users prefer devices backed by quality batteries that are long-lasting, durable, economical and compact.