Difference Between Protected and Unprotected Lithium-Ion 18650 Battery

Lithium-ion 18650 batteries are a fabulous invention of the 1970s. They are rechargeable cells, mainly used for compact electronic devices, machines, and vehicles. These batteries change the electronic gadget and device world, enabling the producer to store power in compact and safe units.

Now most gadgets, huge wireless devices, and vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries. The lithium-ion in batteries moves from the negative terminal to the positive terminal through an electrolyte while it discharges and back to the negative terminal when it charges.

Protected Lithium-Ion Battery.

Lithium-ion batteries are potent consequently, should be controlled with care and caution. Protected lithium-ion batteries come with a small circuit combined into the packaging of their cell.

This small circuit prevents serious and dangerous fires. The course included in lithium-ion batteries does not let it overcharge itself, short circuit, or over-discharge and also controls the temperature of the battery. Protected Li-ion batteries are a much more reliable option for daily usage, especially around the house, as it doesn’t cause explosions or fires.

A secure and well-designed protected lithium-ion battery has the following components

Pressure drains 

These batteries have small pressure drains. These drains relieve the pressure of excess gas and prevent batteries from short circuits or expansion.

Short circuit prevention 

It has a security steel hat to interrupt a short circuit. The protection steel shell prevents any discord among batteries or any other impression that may be dangerous.

Multiple protection

Protected batteries have three different kinds of protection that prevent overheating. Moreover, it protects against over-charging and over-discharging.

Unprotected Lithium-Ion Battery

Unprotected batteries, as the name itself implies, do not have this small circuit fitted in them, which protects against hazards. The circuit is the main part that makes a battery protected.

If it drops, the battery is unprotected and likely to burst or fire. However, unprotected lithium-ion batteries do have improved capacity and more current capability as compared to protected ones. Unprotected batteries can heat up, over-charge, or over-discharge.

Differences between Protected and Unprotected Lithium-Ion Battery

As the difference is obvious from the definitions above, the unprotected battery is raw and has no monitoring circuit that guards against dangers, while protected batteries have a circuit installed into the cell packaging, which tests the batteries’ temperature and stops expansions, overheating, etc.

If we analyze the cost, protected batteries are assumed to be high quality; therefore, they are high in price as compared to unprotected lithium-ion batteries.

Protected batteries have more outstanding durability, whereas unprotected batteries do not last long as they do to overheat or over-charge and lose their functionality. Secure batteries are also reliable when voltage varies.

If the voltage is high, the protected battery separates itself and saves from destruction. Moreover, some protected batteries also ensure that they give the rated current and nothing more or less than that. If the current is high, the protected battery will depart itself and not get any damage.