The 26650 battery is a type of cylindrical lithium battery that I’ve found very practical for applications like electric tools, lighting fixtures, and even electric toy robots. Its size is 26mm in diameter and 65mm in length, giving it a sturdy cylindrical shape. Common types include those made with nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) materials, such as the INR26650-3.7V-4500mAh and IFR26650-3.2V-3200mAh.
Advantages of the 26650 Battery
From my experience, the 26650 rechargeable battery performs really well when it comes to overcharging and over-discharging protection, and it is resistant to short circuits.
Here’s a typical performance check I follow:
- After standard charging, I check the battery’s initial state.
- If everything looks normal, I charge it at a 3C current until it reaches 10.0V, then switch to constant voltage charging until the current drops to 0.01C.
- I then discharge it at 0.5C to 0V, and the battery’s appearance remains unchanged.
I also conducted a safety test by placing the fully charged battery in an explosion-proof cover and short-circuiting it with a total circuit resistance of no more than 50mΩ. After the test ended and the temperature cooled to about 10℃ below the peak, the battery showed no abnormalities. This reassured me about its robust safety features.
Usage Tips
From my own use, I’ve learned that temperature control is key for 26650 batteries:
- Avoid charging at excessively high temperatures.
- Operating above 35°C will gradually reduce capacity and runtime.
- High-temperature charging can cause irreversible damage.
- Storing the battery in hot conditions also harms its quality.
Maintaining a moderate operating temperature is one of the best ways to extend battery lifespan.
Application Areas
Compared to the versatile 18650 battery, the 26650 has a more specific use case. I typically use 26650 batteries in:
- Integrated solar street light lithium battery packs
- Energy storage base stations
- Solar energy storage systems
In contrast, the 18650 is more common in lighting fixtures, industrial battery packs, electric tools, and electric bicycles.
Maximizing Efficiency
To get the most out of your 26650 batteries, I follow these practices:
- Use the battery regularly to keep the electrons flowing.
- If not in frequent use, perform a full charging cycle every month.
- Calibrate the power by doing a deep discharge and full recharge.
By keeping up with these practices, the 26650 battery stays reliable and performs optimally over time.
The 26650 may not be as widely used as 18650 batteries, but for high-capacity, high-stability applications, it’s my go-to choice for outdoor energy storage and solar projects.
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