Splitting an SD battery charge cycle - Y/N ?

[Fad]

I`ve noticed that now I`m using the SD batteries they take a long time to charge (compared to the rapid charger of the Tank) and find myself starting a charge then having to go to bed...

do I let the SD batteries charge overnight without issue....or stop the charge and start it again in the morning to complete ?

I should be more organised and just do them in the daytime when I have the chance - but for argument`s sake, is there a preferred method ?

[trog100]

make sure the charger is plugged into the mains before inserting the battery.. you should see a bright red led light when you insert the battery.. .. if its done the other way around the charge dosnt go into the battery properly.. i think this is what is happening..

trog

[Fad]

Thanks trog, just to clarify - I`m not having a problem with the charge/charger itself and I do use the tip you have just mentioned...

but just wanted to ask whether there was any problem on a technical level if I manually interrupt the SD battery charge, rather than leave them charging overnight for a single charge cycle.

I was under the impression that an SD battery does not have the electronic circuitry inside that a Tank battery has - so might have been more sensitive to charging irregularities.

I realise they naturally take longer to charge than the rapid cycle of the Tank mega charger, and that`s what`s been catching me out.

[ceekay27]

I would like to know the answer to this as well. Also is it ok to leave them charging overnight?

[WHITEE1987]

I leave mine charging overnight and haven't had any problems yet!! (finds some wood to touch)

[CraigHB]

That's kind of a "your call" situation.  When Li-Ion batteries vent, it's more common during charging than when using them.

To do it with complete safety, the batteries should be charged in a "burn box" so that if something happens while you're dead to the world, you won't wake up to something ugly. 

That said, the SD batteries are protected which keeps an issue from arising as long as the protection circuitry is working properly.  However, there's no guarantee the protection circuitry will never fail.

Personally, I disconnect batts from the charger when I'm not going to be around in the event of a problem.  The Tornado batts I make an exception with because I charge them on a 5 slot which uses a low rate and the Tornados have smarter, processor driven protection.  The protection built into the cell batts is pretty basic.  Though, I've personally heard of a Tornado batt venting on charge before so there's never zero risk.

There's always some amount of risk involved in using any device powered by a Li-Ion battery.  Most people have no idea that's it's possible for the same thing to happen with a cell phone.  The risk is minimal and it's unlikely you'd ever see a problem.  Though doing something stupid could make a problem happen real fast.

[DeeDee]

I always charge mine overnight, I thought that the SD charger just stopped charging when the battery is full, they are always cold in the morning and the green light is on and they work fine, could they explode after the charger has stopped charging ?

[Astrecks]

I have two nano chargers for the the SD, never had a problem in two years of using them, I also leave them charging overnight. Just don't charge them in places that might be subject to condensation.

[CraigHB]

could they explode after the charger has stopped charging ?

If the charger failed to stop charging and the protection circuitry in the battery failed to protect the cell, then yes, it could vent.  Venting is not exploding.  The battery goes into thermal runaway where it super heats and builds up pressure quickly.  The cell is designed to release the pressure without exploding, but it still results in hot noxious gasses and flames leaving the battery at a high rate.  Again, an unlikely event since it requires two unlikely failures, but at the least, something to be aware of.

[trog100]

in theory if you leave your cell phone laptop or ipad on charge over night you could leave you SD batteries

i have test charged thousands of these cells.. i have never seen one vent  or show charging problems.. there are around three chargers permanently plugged in with batteries left in them in my house..  should i behave this way.. dunno but i do... he he he

i dont think an SD battery should take longer than three or four hours to charge.. mine never do..  the little chargers are quite fast..

the chargers only run at about five volts so i dont think that is enough to cause a battery to vent even if the green light control circuitry did fail.. i have never seen one do this and i have seen lots of them..

but this really is a "your call" thing.. if you are the worrying type doing it all (including you cell phone) in a large box may help..

i dont have a "charging cycle" my batteries just get placed in the charger when i feel like it and removed when i want them..  they (mostly) stay in until i want them..

trog

ps.. i would say an SD battery is less likely to have problems than the electronics loaded all in one e cig batteries.. or a laptop top come to that.. sometimes simply is good..

[Fad]

So it is adviseable to do the charge in one go...or is it OK to stop it halfway (or after an hour, whatever) then resume the charge later ?

without causing any problem to the battery life expectancy ?

[StevieD]

Should make no difference to the life of the battery Fad.... either X full charges or 2X Half Charges, same end result.

[Fad]

Thanks, that`s useful to know. 

[prof beard]

That's right - shouldn't matter - SD type Li-ion batteries don't have "memories" so partial charging is fine...

[CraigHB]

That's one of the big advantages of Li-Ion battery technology and why they're used in things like cell phones, laptops, even electric cars.  You can charge them whenever you want to any level you want with no ill effects.

[K8]

That's useful to know - I was always worried about this 'memory thing' that some types of batteries have.  Good to know I don't need to worry with the SD batteries.

I also read another interesting thing on the forum yesterday concerning SD batteries - you can put them in the SD any way - ie the minus or the plus at the bottom or the top.  But be careful, they need to go in the charger the correct way.

[RichJr]

I love the "no memory effect" in new li-ion batts. I charge my iPhone 4 partially many time throughout the day. Simply wondrous not having to worry about ruining batteries anymore.

[ToadCloud]

http://batteryuniversity.com/ seems like a good place to get information on batteries... though I have yet to fully give it a read, those that have questions about batteries might find it informative.


Keep it wet! (the atomizer... not the battery)