Charge 18650 with BCAP0050 2.7V 50F is possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using a BCAP0050 2.7V 50F capacitor to charge a 18650 lithium-ion battery. Participants explore the technical aspects of this process, including voltage considerations and energy storage comparisons.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether a resistor can be used to control the discharge of the capacitor to charge the battery, suggesting that this may lead to current flowing backward from the battery to the capacitor.
  • Concerns are raised about the voltage difference between the fully charged capacitor (2.7V) and the typical voltage of a lithium-ion battery (around 3.3V), which could result in overloading the capacitor.
  • Participants note the significant difference in energy storage between the capacitor (approximately 180 Joules) and the 18650 battery (around 30 kJoules), indicating that even if energy transfer were possible, it would be minimal.
  • There is a suggestion that using a DC-DC switching voltage regulator would be more efficient than a voltage dropping resistor for charging the battery.
  • One participant expresses a desire to learn more about battery testing and control of charge-discharge processes, indicating a lack of knowledge in this area.
  • A later reply emphasizes the potential dangers of experimenting with lithium-ion batteries without proper knowledge or mentorship.
  • Another participant expresses confusion regarding the conversion between Farads and Amp-hours, indicating a misunderstanding of the terms involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility of using the capacitor to charge the battery, with multiple competing views and concerns remaining unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of understanding voltage ratings and energy capacities, as well as the potential hazards associated with lithium-ion battery charging. There is also mention of the need for proper mentorship in learning about battery technology.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in battery technology, particularly those exploring the interactions between capacitors and lithium-ion batteries, as well as those seeking guidance on safe practices in battery testing and charging.

fer344
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Can I put a resistor and control discharge of BCAP0050 2.7V 50F in order to charge 18650 battery?
 
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fer344 said:
Can I put a resistor and control discharge of BCAP0050 2.7V 50F in order to charge 18650 battery?
Welcome to the PF.

It helps others a lot if you define your terms better so we don't have to go searching for them to decode your post. It looks like you want to use a 2.7V capacitor to charge a single Lithium Ion battery cell. Is that right?

First, you did not say what voltage your capacitor will be charged to. If it is rated at 2.7V, you need to stay below that voltage by some margin, or you can damage the capacitor.

Second, you would not use a voltage dropping resistor in a battery charging circuit. That is just too wasteful of the energy. You would use a DC-DC switching voltage regulator to transform the source voltage to the battery charging voltage.

Finally, as we know from many recent battery fires, charging a Lithium Ion battery is not something to be done by amateurs.

What is the application?
 
The charged capacitor will be full at 2.7V, while the empty battery will be at 3.3V (in case it is a standard Li-Ion cell). So whatever you do, the current will flow backward, from the battery to the capacitor if connected with a resistor.It'll overload the cap in no time.

The energy stored in the capacitor is around 180Joule, the energy stored in one 18650 cell is ~ 30kJoule (I hope I did the math right). Less than 1%. Even if you can push all the juice in the capacitor into the battery (you can't, and even partial discharge will require complicated electronics due the voltage difference) it won't do much.
 
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Rive said:
The charged capacitor will be full at 2.7V, while the empty battery will be at 3.3V (in case it is a standard Li-Ion cell). So whatever you do, the current will flow backward, from the battery to the capacitor if connected with a resistor.It'll overload the cap in no time.

The energy stored in the capacitor is around 180Joule, the energy stored in one 18650 cell is ~ 30kJoule (I hope I did the math right). Less than 1%. Even if you can push all the juice in the capacitor into the battery (you can't, and even partial discharge will require complicated electronics due the voltage difference) it won't do much.

berkeman said:
Welcome to the PF.

It helps others a lot if you define your terms better so we don't have to go searching for them to decode your post. It looks like you want to use a 2.7V capacitor to charge a single Lithium Ion battery cell. Is that right?

First, you did not say what voltage your capacitor will be charged to. If it is rated at 2.7V, you need to stay below that voltage by some margin, or you can damage the capacitor.

Second, you would not use a voltage dropping resistor in a battery charging circuit. That is just too wasteful of the energy. You would use a DC-DC switching voltage regulator to transform the source voltage to the battery charging voltage.

Finally, as we know from many recent battery fires, charging a Lithium Ion battery is not something to be done by amateurs.

What is the application?

Thanks for response! :)

My interest is on testing batteries, want to control charge-discharge but have not enough knowledge.
 
fer344 said:
My interest is on testing batteries, want to control charge-discharge but have not enough knowledge.
Well, especially with Lithium Ion batteries, it would be best if you could find a local person to Mentor you in your learning about battery technology. It can be a bit dangerous to try to figure this out on your own, especially if you don't yet have an EE degree. :smile:
 

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