#1 Charge Your Electronics
Never has it been easier to use the sun to feed your smart phone habit. iPads, iPhones, smart phones are not exactly green devices as they use a lot of power so lose the guilt and try out a solar charger. Never has it been easier check out that solar backpack. Example of a solar cell phone charger.

#2 Solar Lights
Both indoors and outdoors solar lights are a great way to keep your home lighted and welcoming without racking up a big energy bill. Remember you can put solar lights in places where there is no electricity so instead of tackling a wiring project you can put in a solar light and save money in the process.

#3 Solar Water Heater
Without starting a complete solar power system you install solar powered water heater to produce the hot water for your home. Because it doesn’t have the high cost of a complete solar system you can enjoy the financial benefits of your investment much quicker. Look into either single tank system or two tank system and start reducing your utility bills.

This will help you in many ways, first solar professionals will help you optimize your panel position relative to the sun so you maximize the energy your panels produce. Furthermore, you will avoid any pitfalls and likely complications that you will inevitably run into as an amateur installer. In addition, having a professional deal with the the then necessary permits and paperwork will pay for itself, professionals can even aid in getting financing and walk you through all the rebates and incentives and make sure your solar project qualifies.

#2 Consider Financing or Leasing

Solar projects are a major investment so it’s important to understand all the options you have available to you as most solar installations cost over $10,000 even considering incentives. This can help you reduce the initial start up cost and let you benefit from solar power earlier you may have thought. A solar professional would be a good source of information to get your options in regards to financing and leasing.

#3 Do The Math

Understanding what you can make with an investment in solar power is not a simple process and a simple calculation will not do the trick. How much sunlight your solar panels will get is something a solar professional will be able to calculate upon visiting your home. Having a good understanding of the costs and savings associated with solar power should give you the confidence to move forward when everything lines up!

These specific type of batteries have several qualities over different batteries of the same size. The first and foremost being that they do not require watering. This means a low maintenance design construction and a safer battery all together. The term however, is slightly wrong. The name should be more like recombinant batteries. This is because of the process that happens within the battery. The oxygen created at the positive plate will largely recombine with the hydrogen created at the negative plate.

The Advantages of Using AGM Batteries

This design is really helpful when it comes to solar panels for several reasons. The design offers a lot more power for the size than traditional batteries. The AGM batteries have a high rate power capacity and a relatively short duration. These types of batteries can also be found in uninterpretable power supply applications. The specific power, or power density, of these batteries is exceptional. They can be charged and discharged rapidly. They also hold their charge for a long period of time due to their construction.

The AGM battery is called an absorbent glass battery because the electrolyte is absorbed into a material made from glass. It is hard to come up with a better name for it. The plates in these batteries come in either flat cells or cylindrical cells. Each are good for different things. The cylindrical can support weight better, so can have a purer lead, translating to higher power density. The rectangular ones are easier to work with in a series, which is what you will use for your battery bank. Therefore, the rectangular celled batteries should be used.

Why They Work So Well With Solar

So what makes them good for solar application? First, the voltage is the same for any standard battery, that means no special equipment or electrical know-how required. The internal resistance is lower than most batteries, so the battery does not produce nearly as much heat. They also have extremely high charge and discharge current limits. Beyond this, the self-discharge is low. So low that it is 1 to 3 percent every month. This means that if you go for a long period of time without sunlight to boost the system back up to power, the batteries will still retain a charge.

The only drawback to these special batteries is the cost. They can sometimes cost almost two to three times the amount of regular batteries. However, with the easy maintenance, the no spill and the power rating it is well worth the initial cost. For a battery bank, there is few batteries that can really compare to the AGM. That is unless of course you have access to the up and coming technology of the super capacitor. That is however a story for a different time.

The race for technology in the palm of our hands is akin to the arms race amongst nations. Research in Motion, Blackberry’s parent company has reportedly taken an entrance in the race. The iPad set a bar that several companies are vying to match and overcome. Blackberry is slated to release their competition in November, no doubt to raise sales in the Christmas season. This has been cited from Bloomberg, which has two anonymous sources reporting the company’s plans.

Of course, Research In Motion is slow to confirm any suspicions. One compelling piece of evidence shows they have registered the domain blackpad.com. The rumors leaking out state this is the new code name for the competitive device going head to head with Apple. The question on the web now is not whether or not the “blackpad” exists, but what can it do. Or better yet, how is it better than the iPad? Several speculations have popped up on what improvements could be made, or how to beat Apple at their cutting edge game.

The truth remains to be seen. Several sources point out what the newest handheld device could boast. One potential overthrow to the Apple giant is a camera. In fact, this device may come with two cameras, one forward mounted for video conferences, the other back mounted. The device will more than likely be completely wired to handle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities. A rumored feature will be a tethering module for Blackberry phones to allow access to the internet. All of this available for the low price of $499.

Will the Blackpad Stand Against It’s Competition?

This new gadget may stand toe to toe with Apple. It will speculatively boast the same size screen and have a lot of the same features. Aside from the camera aspect, how does RIM have a hope to really launch a campaign against Apple? Statistically speaking, Apple has over 200,000 apps in the stores, not to mention all of the non advertised ones. RIM has six thousand. That is dramatically less than half of a percent. The “Blackpad” has a small hill to climb to launch a successful campaign.

Competition may be a good thing for Apple. Currently though, RIM only has one strong tool against the giant. That is the image the Blackberry carries. The iPad is quietly regarded as a toy. It has the games, it has the goofy, it has a lot of fun, quirky apps that can be entertaining. What it lacks is a solid base of customers in the business world. Apple appeals to the younger generation with a sleek, glowing look. They unfortunately cannot touch the Blackberries functionality in the business world. The “blackpad” may have a niche with the business tablet. Only time will tell.

A Few Good Tips To Prolonging the Inevitable

Another smart tip to know is that lithium ion batteries age, even when not in use. The on board computer uses a part of the charge, so do not be shy about using the battery. Always make sure to check the manufacturing date. A lithium ion battery sitting on a shelf for a year will not last as long as a battery being frequently used. To make the batteries last longer make sure to avoid excessive heat. Heat degrades these batteries almost more than any other thing. Make sure you do not leave your laptop in a hot car for several hours, or place it on carpet or other fabrics.

Lithium Batteries Can be a Hot Head

In some rare cases, lithium ion batteries have been known to explode. This is detrimental to you and your electronics. So what causes a battery to explode? The answer actually lies within the electrolyte. If the internal temperature in the battery reaches a high enough temperature, the electrolyte will ignite. This will cause a fire. This is why it is extremely important to make sure as little heat as possible gets to the battery. Most fires are caused by a short within the battery. If something internal occurs to cause a short in the battery, such as the separator failing or getting punctured, the two electrodes will touch. The electrodes touching will cause the batteries to heat up very quickly. This is similar to a standard 9-volt battery if a coin connects the two posts. The lithium is very volatile and highly energetic. A 9-volt battery can get very hot, a lithium ion battery can cause fires. If the battery heats up past a point, a fail safe vent, built into the battery will vent the organic solvent. The heat or a spark added to this solvent can cause a violent fire. If this occurs in one cell the entire battery pack will go up in flames. Of course this is quite rare, but is still a good point to keep in mind.

Lithium-ion batteries have made a world of difference to the world of portable electronics. Most people use these batteries every day in their laptops, their iPods, and their cell phones. Now you know how these small batteries operate. With this knowledge you can add longevity to your battery, make sure you do not explode it, and know what is going on inside it. Just make sure to keep your battery away from the heat and do not attempt to take it apart.

Read Previous Articles

How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 1
How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 2

Various Sources used to compile the blog..

So What Makes up a Lithium Battery

These components include temperature sensors to make sure the batteries do not over heat. Another component is the voltage converter and regulator circuit that monitor the draw on the battery . A voltage tap monitors each cell in relationship to the battery. A battery charge monitor is a small computer that monitors the charging as the name implies. Lastly, the battery has a shielded connector that connects to the laptop. The regulatory equipment is designed to protect the battery in the event of overheating, or completed draining. The on board computer is the reason the batteries have a five percent draw per month.

The battery cells are constructed of a metal casing and several internal layers. The casing holds a tightly wound spiral consisting of three layers. These three thin sheets of material are a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. The sheets are submerged in an organic solvent to act as an electrolyte, such as ether. The separator does as the name implies to separate the two electrodes but still allow ions to flow through from each electrode. The positive electrode is made of Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LiCoO2). The negative electrode is simply made from carbon.

Its Got What Batteries Crave.. It’s got Electrolytes

Essentially, the electrolyte allows the ions to move from one electrode to the other during charge and discharge. During charge, the electrons move from the lithium to the carbon. During discharge the opposite happens, the electrons move back to the lithium. All of this process is contained within the metal casing and insulation of the battery cell. A Positive Temperature Coefficient is added into the battery cell to make sure the chemical reaction does not over heat. The chemical reaction occurs at a higher voltage which produces more heat.

Normal alkaline AA cell batteries produce 1.5 volts. The voltage is required to push the electrons and cause the reaction to occur. A lithium-ion reaction occurs at a much higher voltage. In order to make the lithium ions move each cell produces 3.7 volts. The higher voltage produced is the reason that lithium-ion batters are more compact than normal alkaline batteries. The small size allows them to be used in devices such as iPods and cell phones. This is essentially how a lithium ion battery operates. Knowing how they work allows people to understand how to prolong that life.

Keep Reading

How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 1
How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 3

Various Sources used to compile the blog..

The Advantages of Lithium Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are popular for several reasons. One good reason is the weight as compared to other batteries. The electrodes in these batteries are made from carbon and of course Lithium, both of these are fairly lightweight substances. Due to Lithium being so volatile, it can store vast amounts of energy in the atomic bonds it forms. This highly reactive element means it has a very high energy density when compared to other forms of batteries.

To get a good perspective, a lithium-ion can hold up to 150 watt hours of electricity per kilogram. A nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery can typically hold less than half of that per kilogram. Another battery, lead-acid batteries only hold about 25 watt hours per kilogram. This difference is a huge amount when it comes to weight and functionality. It would take twice as many NiMH battery material to meet the lithium-ion, and six times the lead-acid battery. Of course, those batteries have their uses as well.

Another advantage to lithium-ion is the battery charge. These batteries keep their charge better than almost any other material. Generally, a lithium-ion battery will lose only five percent of its charge per month without active use. A NiMH battery loses four times the amount at about twenty percent each month. Aside from holding the charge, lithium-ion batteries can also handle several hundred charge and discharge cycles.

The Disadvantages of Lithium Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries also have a unique structure that does require a memory effect. This means that they do not require a complete discharge and recharge for being used. Most other batteries have this requirement. These advantages are good points, but do not mean they are flawless. One disadvantage of the lithium-ion battery is degradation. As soon as they leave the factory these batteries degrade over time. High heat is also a problem to lithium ion batteries, it will cause them to degrade at a higher rate.

The memory effect for most batteries require a complete discharge before use. The opposite is true for lithium ion batteries. If you completely discharge a lithium ion battery it is worthless. It cannot be recharged from ground zero. To bypass this flaw, most of these batteries need an on board computer to control the battery. This adds cost to an already expensive chemical process. The last flaw, is that if they fail, there is a potential for them to erupt in flames. All of these are the pros and cons to lithium ion batteries. So how do these batteries work?

Read On

How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 2
How Exactly do Lithium-ion Batteries Work? Part 3

Various Sources used to compile the blog..

The first process of any DIY project is the tear down process. Breaking apart the battery casing can be a chore. The first step in the process is peeling away the stickers and exposing the seam of the battery. This is where you split the two halves that have been glued together. Good luck. Here is one tip, small snipers make the job take a long time. Try to keep the casing intact to be able to use for the reconstruction. This will make the finished device look less threatening to others.

After the cover is removed and all excess plastic is out of the way, you should see the individual cells. Make sure to carefully pop the cells off the glue base and do not short circuit any wires. It may be helpful to make a diagram of the wire leads before fully disconnecting the wires. A diagram can be useful when it comes time to reconnect to the charging circuit. The next phase of the rebuild is probably the most expensive and time consuming. Check out the video that shows the process. Remember each laptop battery is different and this article only show you the basic steps.

Video by Kipkay, Check out his Youtube Channel

Finding the appropriate sized battery can be a strenuous process. The process looks at battery size, cell capacity, and several other things. The internet searching may take almost as long as the shipping. Of course, this is the most time consuming because you have to wait for the shipping. Once you have the battery cells securely in your hand it is time for installation. The first step of the rebuild is prepping the batteries for install. Verify that the batteries are in the correct position and orientation compared to the diagram you made before.

Start by grouping the batteries with positive and negative sides. Hook the battery groups up to the power leads as the diagram you created states. Follow the diagram step by step, soldering as you go. Generally you will attach one group to the red power lead, followed by the groups of batteries in series and ending with the black power lead at the rear. After the soldering is complete and the wires are all done, congrats you have a battery. Add some protection by replacing the plastic parts you took off.

And last but not least… Don’t forget to buy your replacement cells from us at http://www.batteriesinaflash.com/assembly-cells/li-ion – The most common cell used is the 18650 Li-Ion Battery. Be sure to replace the cells with the same type of battery size.

As fun as a project as this seems, is it really worth the time and effort? It is worth the experience, but unless you replace all of the parts you probably are not going to get your money’s worth. It is hard to make a self built battery match refurbished or brand new batteries performance. On the plus side, it is a cool experiment that may earn you some respect. It is not something that should readily be pursued for a long term use.

WARNING: This blog and video are for informational purposes only and should not be attempted by anyone unless you have the proper equipment and understand the risk involved. The steps outlined are not exact steps and only general guidelines. Lithium Batteries are very volatile when not handled carefully and properly. We do not assume any responsibility for the attempt of this project.