What is the danger of exceeding a batt’s max discharge rate? Say a battery has a 3.5 amp max discharge rate and you put it in a single cell light that draws 5 amps, is there any other danger besides just drawing the battery down to low?
The battery will age faster and therefore have less capacity.. and die earlier.^^
Overheating and venting? Maybe poof?
EDIT
Although, maybe for that kind of horror, you would need to do 10x or more? I’m not really sure.
Could cause excessive heat build up which could lead to harmful non-intended reactions to take place which may cause venting of toxic fumes or even explosion.
Basically what happens to a short-circuited unprotected battery, because that's what happens when you short a battery, current overload.
A 3.5A to 5A is a insignificant overload, when looking at dangers, but it will probably wear down the cell faster
With larger overloads it depends very much on the battery, most quality batteries has a PTC and/or HR that will reduce the current, before anything drastic happens, but the battery might take serious damage from this kind of overload.
Oh yeah, heat is also an issue. I've seen shrink wraps melt during discharge.
Thanks for the replies. I managed to scavenge 6 Sanyo cells and 6 LG cells in excellent shape from a couple of computer packs. This is my first time using unprotected cells and just want to be safe. I will keep up with checking voltages I was just worried about using them in a direct drive light. I found some info on the Sanyos and think I am safe with them but I cant find anything on the LG cells. Doing the math they come up as 2387 mah cells? The only test I can find show LG cells in general can handle pretty heavy discharges.