How many times a month do you go searching through drawers and cabinets for new batteries, frustrated because your digital camera or remote control has stopped working? Batteries are essential to our lives because they are used for most electronic equipment. This is why lithium batteries have made such a splash since their inception.
Lithium batteries aren’t much different from your traditional alkaline cells except that they use lithium metal in place of other compounds. Since lithium is more volatile than other types of metals used in batteries, these are usually constructed better than alkaline cells and are less likely to leak or explode.
Sizes
Lithium batteries come in most of the traditional sizes you are used to with other types of batteries. Since they are used in many consumer electronics, from remote controls to digital cameras to toys for children, you can find them in AA, AAA, C, D and other normal sizes. In some cases, products can use lithium batteries and alkaline cells interchangeably.
The difference, however, is that lithium batteries produce a much higher voltage and have a longer shelf life than other types of batteries. They are more expensive, but you won’t have to replace them nearly as often and you can store them for months (sometimes even years) before needing to use them.
Advantages
The primary advantages of lithium batteries are their high voltage capacity and their shelf life. However, they are also capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, which isn’t true of most alkaline cells, and they are typically more reliable.
According to Steatite, lithium batteries are also capable of withstanding extreme environmental stimuli, such as shocks and vibrations, that would disrupt the current produced by traditional batteries. In other words, these products are useful in commercial situations as well as in the home.
Disadvantages
Standard lithium batteries are not rechargeable, though lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are. Although they can hold a charge much longer than alkaline cells, they are disposable and will eventually need to be replaced. This is why they are most useful in situations where charging is either impossible or inconvenient.
Lithium batteries also pose a hazard when it comes to rapid discharge, which means that they can be dangerous in the event of a short-circuit. Also, lithium is useful in creating and running methamphetamine labs, so the sale of these products is limited in some areas.
Making the Choice
Before you purchase lithium batteries, make sure that the products for which you want to use them will tolerate these batteries. Some consumer electronics are made to take either type, and that information can usually be found in the user’s manual.
It is also a good idea to choose lithium batteries if you are concerned about the environment. Many eco-friendly organizations choose lithium because they last longer and therefore produce less waste. Again, they are slightly more expensive, but they will last longer.
You might also want to look into lithium-ion batteries, which are similar but are rechargeable and they possess an even higher energy density than lithium batteries.
Source:
Steatite, Why Lithium Batteries?
