Handling Precautions and Prohibitions
  

Preface
This document of gBattery Operating Instructionsh & gHandling Precautions and Prohibitionsh shall be applied to cells of all models which are to be manufactured and supplied by Fully Battery Works Limited.
Note 1.
The customer is required to contact Fully in advance, if and when the customer needs other applications or operating conditions than those described in this document and gBattery Operating Instructionsh. As additional tests and experiments maybe necessary to verify the performance and safety of the cells under such conditions.
Note 2.
Fully will take no responsibility for any accident when the cell is used in other conditions that those were described in this document & gBattery Operating Instructionsh.
Note 3.
Fully will inform the customer(s) of improvement(s) from a view up proper using and handling of the cell, if it is deemed necessary, in written form.

Charging

  1. Charging Current:
    Charging current should be less than the maximum charging current specified in specification. Charging with a higher current than the recommended may cause damages to cell performance and safety features deeply and can lead to heat generation or leakage.
  2. Charging Voltage:
    Charging shall be done by voltage less than that specified in specification(4.20V/cell). Charging at above 4.25V, which is the absolute maximum voltage, must be strictly prohibited. The charger shall be designed to be applicable to this condition. As it is very dangerous that charging with a higher voltage than specified may cause damages to the cell performance and safety features deeply and can lead to heat generation or leakage.
  3. Charging Temperature:
    The cell shall be charged within a range of specified temperatures in specification. Always let the battery cool down to ambient temperature before charging.
  4. Prohibition of Reverse Charging:
    Do not reverse the positive(+) and negative(-) terminals. Otherwise, during recharging, the battery pack will be reversely-charged, abnormal chemical reactions may then occur, and excessively high current may flow during recharging which possibly lead to damage, overheating, smoke emission, bursting and/or ignition.
  5. Use specific Polymer charger only. Do not use a Ni-MH or Ni-Cd charger. It is your responsibility solely to ensure that the charger you purchased works properly.
  6. Never charge batteries unattended. Always monitor charging process to assure batteries are being charged properly. Always charge the batteries in an isolated and safe area away from any flammable or/and combustible materials.

Discharging

  1. Discharging Current:
    The cell shall be discharged at less than the maximum discharging current specified in the specification. High discharging current may reduce the discharging capacity remarkably or cause overheating.
  2. Over-discharging:
    It should be noted that the cell will be overdischarged because of its self discharging characteristics in case the cell is not used for a long time. In order to prevent over-discharging, the cell shall be charged periodically to maintain around 3.0V to 3.8V. Over-discharging may lead to loss of cells' performance, characteristics or functions. The charger and the product which the battery used in shall equip with a device to prevent further discharging exceeding a cut-off voltage specified in specification.

Storage / Inventory

  1. The cell shall be stored in an environment with low humidity , free from any corrosive gases and combustible materials within a temperature range of -10 to 40 Ž .
  2. It is recommended to observe the first-in first-out(FIFO) principle through manufacturing and distributing of the product strictly .
  3. A high cell voltage during storage will accelerate the deterioration of capacity of cell , it is recommended to keep the cell at a low voltage (about 3.8V/cell) throughout the period of storage. Storage of cells for a long period may result in over-discharging, due to self-discharging of the cell. When cell is in storage for a period longer than one year, charge the cell at least once a year to about 3.8V/cell so as to prevent over-discharge.


Protection Circuit Module(PCM)
To maintain safety and prevent significant deterioration of cell performance, the cell shall be with a PCM which can protect cell properly. The PCM shall have the below functions:

  1. Overcharge prevention
  2. Over-discharge prevention
  3. Over-current prevention

Handling of cells

  1. Aluminum Laminated Film:
    Easily damaged by sharp edge parts such as Ni-tabs, pins and needles, compared with metal which can case Lithium-ion cells.
  2. Cell may be damaged by heat above approximately 80 Ž .
    Breaking of seal may cause electrolyte leakage which may lead to short circuit, smoke emission, bursting and/or ignition.
  3. Never make the cells short circuited. It makes generation of a very high current especially for our high power series cells which subsidiary cause heating of the cells, and may cause the leakage of electrolyte, smoke emission, ignition and/or explosion which are very dangerous. The polymer tabs may be easily short-circuited by putting them on conductive material. An appropriate circuitry with PCM shall be employed to protect the tabs from accidental short of the battery pack.
  4. Mechanical Shock:
    Polymer has less mechanical endurance than Lithium-ion cells which can be cased by metal . Falling, hitting and bending may cause degradation on Polymer characteristics.
  5. Handling of Tabs:
    the Polymer tabs are not so stubborn especially for Aluminum tabs of positive terminal. Don't put much force on polymer tabs. Don't bend tabs for many times. Al tab may easily be torn off by shear force.

Notice for designed Battery Pack

  1. Pack Toughness:
    Battery Pack should have sufficient strength and the polymer battery inside should be protected from mechanical shocks.
  2. Cell Fixing:
    The polymer cell should be fixed to the battery pack by its large surface area. No cell movements in the battery pack should be allowed.
  3. Inside Design:
    No sharp edge components should be inside the pack containing the polymer battery. Enough insulation layers between wiring and the cell shall be used to maintain multiple safety protection.
  4. Tab Connection:
    Ultrasonic welding is recommended for polymer tab connection. Polymer pack should be designed that shear force aren't applied.
  5. For Mishaps:
    Pack should be designed not to generate heat even when leakage occurred for mishaps.
    a. Isolate PCM from electrolyte leakage as perfectly as possible.
    b. Avoid narrow distance between bare circuit patterns.


Notice for assembling Battery Pack
Shocks, high temperature or contacts of sharp edge components should not be allowed in battery pack assembling process.

  1. Solder directly to polymer tabs is not recommended. When you solder directly to the polymer tabs, it is necessary to consider not to apply too high welding temperature and welding time to guarantee the temperature transmitted to the cell is lower than 80 Ž . Temperature above 80 Ž may cause damage to the polymer cell and degrade its performances.
  2. In case that the battery pack is fixed by ultrasonic welding, it's necessary to consider not to applying too much ultrasonic welding power to the polymer cell and electronic circuits such as PCM.
    Otherwise, it may cause serious damage to the cells and electronic circuit.

Battery Life
Batteries that lose 20% of their capacity must be removed from service. Discharge the battery to 3.0V/cell, making sure output wires are insulated, then wrap battery in a bag for disposal properly.

Danger and Warning
Please comply with the following items, otherwise abnormal chemical reactions may occur which will lead to the damage of battery, overheating, smoke emission, bursting and/or ignition :

  1. Do not disassemble or modify the battery.
  2. Do not connect the positive(+) and negative(-) terminals with a metal object such as wire, rings on your hand. Do not transport or store the battery together with metal objects such as necklaces, hair pins, etc.
  3. Do not incinerate nor dispose the battery in fire or heat.
  4. Do not use or leave the battery near a heat source such as fire or heater ( at a temperature of 80 Ž or higher). Do not recharge the battery near fire or in extremely hot weather.
  5. Do not immerse the battery with liquid such as water, seawater, drinks, etc. and do not allow it to get wet.
  6. Do not pierce the battery with a nail or other sharp objects, strike it with a hammer, or step on it. Do not strike or/ and throw the battery pack.
  7. Do not use an apparently damaged or deformed battery.
  8. If the battery damages, gives off an odor, generates heat, becomes discolored or deformed, starts to balloon or swell up, or in any way appears abnormal during use, recharging or storage, immediately remove it from the equipment or battery charger, disconnect the battery, stop using it and observe it in a safe place for approximately 15 minutes. The battery can still ignite even after 10 minutes due to the delayed chemical reaction can occur.
  9. Never let the temperature transmitted to the cell higher than 80 Ž when directly solder the cell tabs to wire leads or devices. It is recommended to spot welding to the cell tab with lead tabs which with pre-soldered wiring. Otherwise, heat can melt down its insulation and damage its safety features.
  10. Do not force the connection if you cannot easily connect the battery terminals to the charger or other equipments. The positive(+) and negative(-) terminals are arranged in a particular orientation, confirm that the terminals are correctly oriented.
  11. Electrolyte is harmful. If the battery pack damages, and electrolyte gets into your eyes, contacts your skin or clothing, do not rub them, instead, rinse your eyes and/or skin, wash it away with clean running water and immediately seek medical attention. Otherwise, eye injury may result and skin inflammation can occur.
  12. Do not use the battery pack for a purpose other than those specified.
  13. Do not mix used batteries with different types, models, capacities, size, brands, charge and discharge, or new and old in the same assembly.
  14. If charging operation fails to complete even when a specified recharging time has elapsed, immediately stop further recharging.
  15. Do not put the battery into a microwave oven or pressurized container.


Caution

  1. Do not use or subject the battery to intense sunlight or hot temperatures such as in a car or in hot weather. Never recharge battery outside the specified temperature range of 0 to 45 Ž .
  2. The battery pack incorporates built-in safety devices. Do not use it in a location where static electricity may be present. Otherwise, the safety device can be damaged.
  3. Store the battery in a location where children cannot reach it. Also, make sure that a child does not take out the battery pack from the charger or equipment.
  4. Before use, carefully study the gBattery Operating Instructionsh & gHandling Precautions and Prohibitionsh. For further information, contact the nearest Fully distributor or representative. Keep the manual safe for future reference.
  5. For recharging procedures, refer to the Operation Manual of your battery charger.
  6. If you find rust, a bad odor, overheating, battery ballooning or swelling up , discolor ation , deformation, and/or other irregularities when using the battery for the first time, return it to your supplier or vendor.
Copyright (c) 2005All rights reserved.