Lithium batteries are very popular with all sorts of projects, especially the ones that are custom. There are different options available in the market, but sometimes you may feel the need for a custom lithium-Ion battery. Building a battery from scratch can be a bit hectic, especially because of the many tools that are required to build them. However, there are some kits that can be very helpful if at all you are willing to give it a try.
There are manufacturers who make the custom lithium-ion batteries according to the specifications that you may have set.
Making a Choice
Choosing the chemistry of the battery is a very important thing to do. There are different types of batteries that you may use for your projects. These include:
- Li-ion (lithium -ion)
- LiFePO4 (lithium-ion phosphate)
- Li-po (lithium polymer)
The most common batteries are Li-ions. This means that you may find them in different varieties even though the properties are all similar. Usually, they are reasonably priced, safe if you do not abuse them, and have a high density of energy. Most of the makers of electric vehicles use these ion batteries. It is one of the best choices when you have a project unless there is an advantage you want to tap with one of the other options.
The LiFePO4 option is not as dense in terms of energy as the li-ions. This means that they are heavier and bigger. Most of the batteries in this category come with discharge ratings that are much lower. This option happens to be a bit more expensive and they tend to be built safer. Their life cycle is quite long as well.
The Li-po batteries are common with R/C drones. Their power level is quite high. They can also be dangerous, especially when they are not handled carefully. You should only use this option if you have to power projects that need high power.
Why Custom Lithium-Ion Battery
When compared to all the other battery types the li-ion batteries are the best in terms of safety, cost, and performance. This is why most people handle their DIY projects using these kinds of batteries.
It is important to choose the right Kind of batteries for any project that you intend to do. There are some specifications that you have to be conversant with if you are to pick the correct type of battery. These include energy capacity, current, and voltage. This changes with specific projects. When you add a battery series, you are essentially increasing voltage to meet your needs.
You may opt to increase the capacity of the battery by adding some parallel cells. If a battery has 10A, it means that three cells can provide 30A when they are parallel. When you add cells, you also increase the energy capacity. When you need a specific amp hour kind of battery, you should calculate how many cells are needed. With the capacity, it becomes easier to calculate just how long the batteries can last.
