How do you think about the 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion battery?

Commercial Sellers' Spot
1

The new type 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion batteries are available in recent years. Compared to AA/AAA rechargeable NiMH battery and disposable alkaline battery, some people may not so familiar with this new Li-ion battery. So how about its performance? More info here.

Li-ion batteries normally operate 3.7V per cell. Through a built-in circuitry, the battery is stepped down to a 1.5V constant voltage output. There are some outstanding advantages of this Li-ion battery.

*1.5V constant output, stable performance
Because of the high density of Li-ion battery, the energy of 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion battery is higher than that of NiMH and disposable alkaline batteries. And the output of the 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion battery keeps a constant voltage of 1.5V, more stable and powerful. The devices such as racing cars, remote controls, electric toys, etc. that use this battery can maintain more stable performance.

*Longer battery lifetime
For rechargeable NiMH battery, due to the memory effect, it may need to charge and discharge the battery from time to time to release the capacity. This will inevitably shorten the battery life. Compared with NiMH batteries, lithium batteries have no memory effect. You can charge and discharge the 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion battery at any time. And good maintenance also helps to extend the battery lifespan.

*Having all advantages of Li-ion batteries
Since the 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion battery is reduced voltage from the 3.7V Li-ion battery, it has all the advantages of Li-ion batteries, such as fast charging speed, low self-discharge rate, high safety and performance, large discharge current, excellent high and low temperature discharge performance.

*Eco-friendly
Rechargeable Li-ion batteries almost always last longer, reduce waste compared with disposable batteries, truly economical and environmentally friendly…

How about your views on this new 1.5V rechargeable Li-ion batteries? Comment freely.

2

I like them but right now they are WAY TOO expensive and extremely limited selection.

3

NiMH have no memory effect and are more durable than li ion.
And you can store Eneloops fully charged for years and they don’t lose capacity.

Finally you can get more cycles from NiMH vs li ion.

4

What about capacity and current delivery comparisons?

5

current very much depends on buck converter and is thus limited… an eneloop can deliver 3A no problem

6

I am curious what the capacity is of this lithium battery being discussed in this thread.
And its 1.5V conversion efficiency.

7

I was a big believer in the 1.5 lithium’s when they first came out and bought several from two well known manufacturers. They worked great powering my lights although my eneloop pros seemed to last a little longer. Not surprising given the lower capacity rating of the Lithium’s. However, I wanted to charge them and have them ready to use when needed. My personal experience has been that if you fully charge them and let them sit for three to four months, they will be fully discharged when you go to use them. Thought maybe my originals were just old and purchased more in January. Charged them and used for a few cycles in my lights, then fully charged and let them sit (70 degrees Fahrenheit and low humidity environment) for four months. Pulled off the shelf and tried them in my lights. Wouldn’t even come on in moonlight. Put the batteries in my analyzer, and they were fully discharged. They did charge up just fine after that and powered my lights just fine, but I do not trust them to hold a charge for any significant period of time. Interested to hear if others have had similar experiences.

8

that makes them sound pretty useless! the advantage of ‘normal’ li ion not really there.

9

I have stayed away from them… I tend to use various LSD cells in lights that I do not want to store li-ion cells in. For example, in our cars I have E05’s and an E6 all with LSD cells, in our area the internal temperature can reach 130F+ during the summer and –10 to –15F in the winter. I would hate to have a li-ion cell go critical and start a car fire.

10

I bought a set of 4 Tenavolts cells and charger, probably more than a year ago, and they just haven’t worked out for me. They self-discharge too rapidly. I was thinking they’d be great for the smoke detector, the wall thermostat, the old Canon camera that runs on AAs, etc. But the cells didn’t hold up.

11

They work fine in low-stress lights if you don’t want an alkaleak but want/need 1.5V and not 1.2V. I got ’en in a wireless mouse, pulse oximeter (over 1yr on the same charge).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0824WB5ST/

If your goodies take 2 series cells, I prefer a LFP cell (3.2V) and dummy cell instead.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R9RNLZK/

12

I’ve been very tempted to get some of these, but it appears some have an issue with self-discharge so I’m glad I’ve stayed away.

The 1.2V NiMHs seem to be a better choice overall. I use them all around the house - in clocks, remotes, mouses, flashlights, etc. I put them in everything that I wouldn’t want an alkaleak to ruin.

13

/u/Lightbringer

Any recommendations on AA LFP cells? My wife complains about the NiMH's that I put into her portable oral irrigator device which has a motor/pump and this might be worth trying.

I need to check if my Vapcell S4+ charger can handle LFP chemistry or if I would have to buy a new one

14

Bought some 1.5v rechargeable li-ion batteries on Amazon recently.

Overall, I was not impressed.

  • In my Zebralight SC53w - They work fine. They save a little weight compared to Eneloop Pro and the light runs at full power. Note that the SC53w isn’t a very powerful light with a max output of only 300 lumens. I didn’t test runtime, but I expect Eneloop Pro would probably run longer.
  • In my Zebralight SC5w Mark II - Performance is awful. When running on the 1.5v li-ion, max output is substantially lower than on Eneloop Pro. I guess 1.5v li-ion cells just don’t produce much current… not enough to get this light anywhere close to its rated output of 500 lumens.
15

I got Baseline LFPs offa Amazon, which work fine. Even powers my GTmicro pretty well, at 3.2V, which looks like a last-gasp 14500.

I use a LK101 charger for LFPs. Just need to remember to bap the button so it doesn’t think it’s a Li-ion.

16

Due to the voltage converter + heat most 1.5v lithium cells are current limited, usually somewhere between 1-2A. Tenavolts which I’m familiar with make it up to about 1.5A, then crap out.

Charging is cell brand SPECIFIC often with proprietary chargers. DO NOT expect to put them in a general multi-chemistry charger and get good results unless you’ve VERIFIED that it will work that way. Some do, a lot will not. The internal circuitry gets in the way of the charger termination algorithm.

17

Huh?

LFP is LiFePO4, a flat 3.2V terminal voltage pretty much from out of the charger to about to crap out. There’s no converter anywhere, ’though you do need a LFP-compatible charger, like my LK 101B.

Those with converters are plain ol’ Li-ion cells, usually a 14430 with the converter as a “cap” on the end.

18

Sorry, my error, I think. :person_facepalming:
I was specifically referring to 1.5v lithium, not LiFePO4 cells. Those would be way too high a voltage for a ‘normal’ AA application. Maybe a single cell + dummy.

19

I used to run hotwire lights with 12 eneloops pulling over 5A. Those same eneloops are still going strong after more than 10 years.

Right now I don’t need 1.5V Lithium rechargeable cells.

20

Yeh, that’s what I do with my clock/thermometer/hygrometer that takes 2 alkaleaks. The Shoshine (?) kit has 4 cells and 2 dummy-cells.