Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?


mark

In article , mark
writes
Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?

Unless something has changed very recently, I'd expect any AA size
lithium cell to be primary so not rechargeable at all.

Any link to the cell concerned?
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs

On 20 Jan, 15:54, "mark" wrote:
Can *Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?

No.

There are half-a-dozen rechargeable lithium technologies, a few of
which are available in AA sized cells, and each one needs a particular
charger. At present they're so different that you might as well get a
new charger, from the same supplier, with each batch of cells. The
cell voltage is also such that they're incompatible with AA cells.

There are also some lithium technologies that are resolutely primary.
Trying to recharge these is likely to start a fire. These are the more
common forms in AA format.

If you had lithiums that were safe to put near a charger, I think
you'd already know.

On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:54:58 -0000, "mark"
wrote:

Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?


mark

I do not know if you can charge them or not but I would think there is
probably some preventative in them to stop it.

And from a practical point of view using the crappy normal chargers
would appear foolish unless you put said batteries and charger outside
where they could burst into flames harmlessly.

It would be an interesting experiment though.

On 20 Jan, 15:54, "mark" wrote:
Can *Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?

The only rechargeable ones I can think of that are close to AA (the
14500 cell) are 3.6V and need a special charger.

dan.

On 20/01/2010 16:30, dent wrote:
On 20 Jan, 15:54, wrote:
Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?

The only rechargeable ones I can think of that are close to AA (the
14500 cell) are 3.6V and need a special charger.

dan.

And I have a torch that can use anything from 1.2 to 4.5 volts (or
something like that). Can run on rechargeable or primary cells,
alkaline, NiMH or Lithium - so long as they are AA size. But what I
don't seem able to find out is whether there is anything to be gained by
using 14500 lithium cells.

I really don't want to buy another charger unless there is a significant
gain. (Especially as many of the cheaper ones have US plugs.) Like last
much longer. Remain charged for ever. Provide higher current. Anyone
tell me?

14500 cells, chargers and 'flashlights' he

http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.14500#400

--
Rod

"mark" wrote in message
o.uk...
Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?


mark


I think that's lithium batteries knocked on the head.My Nickel m-h ones are
getting to be useless, hence the question

Thanks all.


mark (OP)

mark wrote:
Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?


primary or secondary?

If secondary, I doubt they will be AA since they are about 3.8 v per
cell.and need special cahrers

If primary, you shouldnt be charging them at all.



mark

On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:17:52 +0000, Rod wrote:

And I have a torch that can use anything from 1.2 to 4.5 volts (or
something like that). Can run on rechargeable or primary cells,
alkaline, NiMH or Lithium - so long as they are AA size.

I haven't looked at all the torches in your link but only one of
those I looked at will work over that range and the light output is
only quoted for 14500 battery...

Looking at the batteries themselves they all have less than 1000mAHr
capacity. The new hybrid Ni-MH batteries are around 2000mAhr and will
charge in a normal Ni-MH charger and have a long shelf life. The easy
way to tell the hybrid Ni-MH batteries is that they are rechargeble
batteries come ready to use, no need to charge before use.

I'd also be a bit cagey about having physically indentical batteries
with such a large difference in terminal voltages. Far too easy to
fit a set into something designed for a nominal 1.5v/cell and let the
magic smoke out.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
mark wrote:
Can Lithium AA batteries be charged in a normal charger?


primary or secondary?

If secondary, I doubt they will be AA since they are about 3.8 v per
cell.and need special cahrers

If primary, you shouldnt be charging them at all.




I was thinking of my Makita rechargeable screwdriver which has lithium.

mark

On 21/01/2010 08:46, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:17:52 +0000, Rod wrote:

And I have a torch that can use anything from 1.2 to 4.5 volts (or
something like that). Can run on rechargeable or primary cells,
alkaline, NiMH or Lithium - so long as they are AA size.

I haven't looked at all the torches in your link but only one of
those I looked at will work over that range and the light output is
only quoted for 14500 battery...

Looking at the batteries themselves they all have less than 1000mAHr
capacity. The new hybrid Ni-MH batteries are around 2000mAhr and will
charge in a normal Ni-MH charger and have a long shelf life. The easy
way to tell the hybrid Ni-MH batteries is that they are rechargeble
batteries come ready to use, no need to charge before use.

I'd also be a bit cagey about having physically indentical batteries
with such a large difference in terminal voltages. Far too easy to
fit a set into something designed for a nominal 1.5v/cell and let the
magic smoke out.

Obviously I don't know which ones you looked at. I actually bought this one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.28546

Have to agree it is stonkingly bright on alkaline.

There are at least three with the sort of range I mentioned - even 0.8
to 4.5V. Totally agreed about the capacity as claimed. Just wondered if
perhaps you could use the whole capacity where NiMH (or whatever else)
fades out more quickly.

And also about the magic smoke release. Another reason I decided not to
bother. But there are all sorts of mentions of using small magnets to
make some batteries the right size - never did measure to see if they
are exactly same size as AA.

--
Rod

On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:29:06 GMT, wrote:


I do not know if you can charge them or not but I would think there is
probably some preventative in them to stop it.

And from a practical point of view using the crappy normal chargers
would appear foolish unless you put said batteries and charger outside
where they could burst into flames harmlessly.

It would be an interesting experiment though.

In the 1990's there was an HSE report on an incident, possibly in the
USA with a non-rechargeable lithium cell that was accidentally
'charged' when if I recall correctly a forensic examination indicated
a blocking diode fitted the wrong way round. Despite it being the
size of around half a PP3 cell it destroyed a substantial sized room
with the resulting explosion. Internal cell protection devices have
improved significantly since then, but fiddling with something you
don't have intimate knowledge of can be very dangerous.

Even if you *think* you know what you are doing and have done
something similar many times before it can still go very wrong, I
'exploded' a Nicad pack a few years back when I had a very senior
moment last thing at the end of a very long day regarding charge rates
and ampere hours and a newish bench power supply. The big 'bang'
happened overnight when no one was around but I didn't destroy the lab
with an explosion...I instead contaminated the place with cadmium
residue.


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