There are a range of different mobile phone, video camera/camcorder
and digital camera batteries out there with varying capacities
and battery chemistry. We will explain what the differences are
for each battery chemistry and try to clear up the jargon used
on the labels of mobile phone batteries. There have been several
developments in battery technology and below, we will outline
each battery chemistry's features, pros and cons and their applications
to mobile phones today.
"Memory Effect" in Batteries
Memory affect refers to the need for certain batteries to
be "serviced" by regularly discharging the battery
completely before recharging. Ni-Cad batteries are the main type
of battery chemistry that requires this cycling and newer types
of batteries such as Li-Ion and NiMH do not suffer from memory
affect.
Battery Capacity Ratings
A battery capacity rating refers to the load or current that
can be placed on a specific battery type. The battery capacity
rating is usually measured in milliampres (mAH)
Ni-Cad (Nickel Cadmium) Batteries
In the past, majority of rechargable batteries used in portable
devices such as mobile phones, camcorders and cordless phones
used Nickel Cadmium as the main battery chemistry. Although this
type of battery has drawbacks such as the "memory effect",
it is still one of the most commonly used battery in cordless
phones, CD players, Radios and other portable devices due to
their low cost per battery cycle. The use of these batteries
in mobile phones today is rare due to their memory effect problems
and inconveniences. Despite these obvious drawbacks, it also
has environmental implications due to the metal used to manufacture
these batteries and are fast becoming replaced by Nickel Metal
Hydride Batteries.
NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) Batteries
NiMH batteries are one of the growing battery chemistries
today mainly due to the fact that it does not suffer from memory
effects like a NiCad battery does. Because of this advantage,
they are mainly used in Laptops and mobile phones and sometimes
also as a battery source for video cameras and digital cameras.
This is an important and main feature that makes NiMH batteries
attractive as consumers are not burdened by having to "service"
their batteries by discharging it fully before recharging. They
also have a higher capacity rating compared to Ni-Cad (approx
30% higher) and Alkaline batteries, however their main drawback
is that these batteries self-discharge over a short period of
time which makes them not suitable for storage.
Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) Batteries
These batteries are quite new to the market and have the lowest
discharge rating compared to Ni-Cad and NiMH batteries. They
do not suffer from memory effect and is one of the most commonly
used type of batteries in mobile phones today. They have an excellent
power to weight ratio which makes them highly attractive to portable
devices such as mobile phones, video cameras and digital cameras.
All our mobile phone batteries we offer are Li-Ion as they are
superior compared to other battery alternatives.
Li-Polymer
This is relatively new and we are beginning to see more of
these batteries appear in mobile phones today. They are considered
as the best battery chemistry today for mobile devices due to
their high capacity and low weight. Li-Polymer batteries do not
suffer from “memory loss”.
This article was posted on November 26, 2005