How to Choose High-Drain Lithium Rechargeable Batteries
High-drain batteries are used in devices that may need to pull more energy from a battery than is standard. Alkaline batteries are generally unsuited to this purpose, and lithium-ion batteries should be used instead.
Why Do I Need a High-Drain Lithium Battery?
While most batteries, particularly rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can handle the increased load, they can degrade over time to the point where they may heat up or fail to hold a charge after several months of use. High-drain batteries are specifically made to be able to handle higher outputs without damaging the battery. This allows for rechargeable use indefinitely. While more expensive than low-drain batteries of the same type, they are often more cost effective in the long run. Li-ion batteries also have an advantage over other high drain batteries, such as Nickel-metal Hydride or NiMH batteries, in that they can be recharged more easily and have a long shelf life.
What Sizes of High Drain Lithium Rechargeable Battery Are There?
There are many sizes and formats of high drain lithium battery to fit any device. See the manufacturer site for size details.
- AA and AAA: The most common battery sizes used in most devices, AA and AAA batteries suit flashlights, some digital cameras, most remotes, and most smaller remote-control devices. Many models of e-cigarette also use high-drain AA or AAA batteries.
- Lithium polymer: These batteries are often flatter and lighter than other battery types, as well as being slightly flexible. They use a gel polymer instead of a liquid electrolyte, which reduces their weight and removes the need for a hard metal casing. For this reason, these batteries are often used in devices that need a good weight to power ratio, such as tablets, smartphones, and remote-control aircraft.
- Battery packs: These batteries consist of bundles of AA or AAA batteries that are sealed within a container. The packs are wired so they function like a single battery for both use and recharging. They are a simple and inexpensive way to increase available power without buying much more expensive larger batteries. They can be scaled up and may range from packs of three to packs of several hundred.
- Bike batteries: These lithium batteries are larger than most others. They provide power for electric bikes. They are more expensive than most other battery types and are well-suited to devices that require large amounts of energy.
What Types of Accessories Are Available?
Several accessories can be bought for high-drain devices that use rechargeable lithium batteries.
- Chargers: Different batteries require chargers that match their size, and different charges can have different formats and features. Make sure you choose a charger that matches your battery.
- Battery mounts: These vary from simple plastic docks to wire and metal packs. These are designed to help mount batteries or convert loose batteries into battery packs.