Battery Safety
Li-ion cylindrical cells are similar to the batteries used in many everyday devices like mobile phones and are generally considered safe, however there are serious risks to personal safety arising from improper use.
Nu Battery sources batteries from reputable suppliers. We batch test, compliance mark and visually inspect them before sale to ensure you only receive a genuine product.
It is necessary to familiarise yourself with the following points. With careful treatment, the batteries will provide dependable, safe power for your application throughout the natural life cycle.
Wraps and insulators:
If you are using these cells individually (i.e., not to be assembled/sealed inside a battery pack) take time to inspect your cells each time you remove and refit them. Check there are no tears in the wraps, that the insulator ring is present and is not damaged/distorted (this is the white/black/coloured ring at the positive end). The insulator separates where the outer cell can (negative {-}) meets the positive [+] part of the cell.
A damaged, loose or missing insulator ring can cause a direct short circuit leading to venting, fire, explosion and damage to person(s) or property. Also be sure to make sure the contact areas (top and bottom) are clean and free of any dirt/debris. We offer a large range of replacement wraps from ODB.
The battery wrap has an extremely important role. It isolates the cell body from a short circuit. If you notice any damage, discontinue use until a replacement wrap can be fitted.
Equally the insulator is extremely important due to the proximity of positive and negative parts of the cell. If it is damaged or missing, replacement is vital.
Top Tips:
Make use of the On/Off feature when your device is not in use and remove batteries if your product/device is being stored for long periods.
Always carry and store batteries in non-conductive containers (we supply free cases with every order regardless of number) and never with metal/metallic objects such as loose change or keys.
Do not short batteries (purposefully or accidentally connecting the positive and negative end of the cell)
Always use the charger supplied with your product/device or a battery charger designed for the cells you are charging. You can find ours here
Never leave Lithium-Ion batteries unattended.
Never completely discharge batteries. (The cut off for most cells is 2.8v or 2.5v)
Never submerge batteries in water or expose to extremes of temperature or temperature fluctuation.
Always dispose of end of life cells at your local WEEE recycling centre or return them to us for free disposal.
Cell Maintenance:
If your cell has a button top - Our button tops on OEM (Samsung, Sony, LG etc) are welded on but this doesn’t make them infallible to daily use. Check that they are securely attached. A button top that becomes detached through mishandling/drops etc can easily slip under the insulator ring and short the cell. There should be no movement in the button top and it shouldn’t “lift” on any side. If you notice your button top appears to be lose, cease use immediately. Welded button tops are designed to turn what is an industrial cell into a consumer usable product for some applications and it’s for this reason that welding is the industry recognised attachment method for anything on a Li-ion cylindrical cell.
Other maintenance:
Li-ion cells have a “cycle-life”. For example – For the Samsung 30Q, Samsung specify that it should retain 60% (>1800mAh) of its rated capacity (3000mAh) after 250 cycles (a complete “standard” at 1.5A and discharge at its maximum discharge rate of 15amps). Bear this in mind, particularly if the application/product/device “pulse” discharges at higher rates. The full manufacturer stated cycle life or duty cycle will not be achievable under these conditions and cell health/capacity will deteriorate at a higher rate.
MSDS, UN38.3 and Factory Data Sheets:
We hold the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and UN38.3 (UN Transport Testing) and factory data sheet files for all cells we stock. Please ask if you would like them emailed or included with your order. Please bear in mind that the Data Sheet information is presented in factory format and aimed at accumulator/battery pack builders. The specifications provided are often not attainable in other applications.
Finally:
Lithium-ion (Li-ion/Liion) batteries/cells can be dangerous when mistreated. When purchasing from Nu Battery, the purchaser/user assumes all risks associated with their use, charging and discharging and their safe storage and/or transport. Nu Battery, its suppliers or original manufacturers cannot be held liable for injury to person(s) or property or any other form of loss or damage caused by improper use of these products.
If you have any questions, please just ask :)