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Safety Instructions for 18650 batteries

Safety Instructions for 18650 batteries:

 

Warning: Lithium-ion batteries can explode or cause a fire if they are used incorrectly or if they are defective. Therefore, you are recommended to read the following instructions very carefully: - Each time before using the battery, carefully check the battery and in particular the protective seal/casing to make sure that it is undamaged and intact. If in doubt, take the battery to a chemical waste disposal facility. See the instructions on the web page below. - Always handle the battery with care. Never drop the battery! - Store the battery in a safe and dry place and keep the battery away from all metal objects. - Never expose the battery to temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. - Only use chargers that have specially been designed for use with lithium-ion batteries. - When charging batteries, keep the charger away from highly flammable materials or products and never leave the charger unattended when in use. - If you are not planning on using the battery for about 6 months or longer, first charge it fully and then recharge it once a year. This is because a lithium-ion battery that has been left empty for too long can no longer be charged.

 

Background information

Lithium-Ion batteries are powerful and durable batteries currently used in many devices such as laptops and telephones. Their chemical composition makes them potentially explosive. That in itself is not a major problem. However, you should always be aware of their potential danger and you should follow the safety instructions carefully.

We use top-quality Panasonic cells that are produced in Japan.

To prevent the cell from short circuit, over charge and over discharge, all the 18650 batteries we sell come equipped with a so-called Protective Circuit Board (PCB). This is a printed circuit assembly with electronic components that protects the battery from over charge, over discharge and short circuit/ overcharge, over current and short circuit.

It is packed in a protective seal/casing.

For safety purposes and for optimum performance of the PCB, it is of paramount importance that the battery is intact and not damaged. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the batteries are handled with care. Never drop the batteries or allow them to get wet.

Furthermore, a 18650 cell can explode when there is severe mechanical failure, such as when the cell is punctured or when it is heated above 100 degrees Celsius. Therefore, to avoid these hazardous situations, once lithium-ion batteries are no longer used, make sure you follow the instructions described below, and never throw these batteries away or put them into a battery collection box.

What to do with a (possibly) defective lithium-ion battery

If in doubt as to the state of a lithium-ion battery because you have dropped it, for instance, or when you know it is damaged, you should take the following steps:

- Treat the battery as a potentially explosive object. Make sure that you use at least safety goggles and protective gloves to protect yourself.

- Store the battery in a safe, dry place, away from highly flammable materials or products. Leave it there for at least one hour in case there is a short circuit and the battery starts heating up.

- Check to see if the battery has become hot. If so, leave the battery until it has cooled off.

- For further protection, wrap the battery in a piece of kitchen paper and seal it with sellotape.

- Put the battery into a box and label it, Lithium-Ion battery. Hand it in to a chemical waste disposal facility.