Batteries Shop

Generally called Lithium ion, ion batteries are one of the finest forms of batteries on the market today. This is especially true with electronic applications such as iPod's, iBooks, and laptop computers.

While a long lasting battery, ion batteries are especially helpful as they work well as rechargeable batteries. They not only hold a charge for a long time, but recharge with little "memory loss" -that is, they do not experience a great lessening of electrical charge capacity. This is not, however, to say that these batteries last forever, as they must be replaced within 5 years.

A negative aspect to ion batteries is that they begin to expire immediately upon creation, and at a rapid rate. While many batteries last upwards of ten years, this is not the case for ion lithium. As well, there is a safety risk should they overheat -or worse, if they are damaged. This merely means that greater attention to the care of these batteries must be given. A good aspect is that every 6 months the technology is improved, making these tools ever-safer.

With regard to charging, there is more convenience as the charging schedule is much more flexible than that of other rechargeable batteries. Ion batteries do not need to be charged to full, for instance, before they can be removed for use. So to illustrate, let's say that you have your batteries on charge for just 2 hours (normally these require 4 hours of charging at minimum), but absolutely must use them to take photos with your digital camera. Many batteries must be completely charged before removal, but not so with ion batteries.

Further, many batteries must be completely discharged before being recharged. This generally necessitates having to purchase more rechargeable batteries to always have some batteries available. Also, unlike nickel-based rechargeables, lithium ion does not build up crystals over time, a problem that results in a lessening of capacity over time, and so resulting in an incomplete charge.

With regard to temperature there is heat and cold to consider. Cooler temperatures are optimal for ion batteries. In fact, storage in a refrigerator is not a bad idea, though a freezer is too cold and should not be used. After removal from the refrigerator the batteries must warm up to work at peak efficiency. With heat, the efficiency is also reduced, and excessive heat will actually damage the battery. This can be an irreversible condition should the heat be too great and for too long a period of time. As well, this type of battery becomes dangerous when heated and so this condition should be avoided at all costs. This includes not only when in use, but also when the battery is in storage.