The Application of 18650 Battery in LED Lights
The application of 18650 batteries in electronic products has become very common. They are widely used in LED lights and portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Their high energy density and rechargeable nature make them an ideal choice for many devices. Next, let’s take a look at how 18650 batteries light up LED lights.
When driving 20 LED lights with an 18650 lithium battery, it is recommended to use a parallel connection.
Reason: The nominal voltage of a single 18650 lithium battery is 3.7V, and the voltage when fully charged is 4.2V. Even for red LEDs, the voltage drop is about 2V when operating. Series connection may not be sufficient, so parallel connection is recommended.
Benefits: This ensures that each LED receives the same voltage while sharing the current load, preventing any single LED from being overloaded. By connecting in parallel, you can effectively utilize the battery’s energy and ensure stable power supply to the LEDs.
A high-quality lithium battery is the foundation for effectively and consistently driving LED lights. Donglai New Energy is a leading 18650 lithium battery manufacturer in China, with reliable and trustworthy battery products.
Method for Parallel Driving 20 LEDs with 18650 Lithium Battery
The connecting method is as follows:
1. Connect the positive terminals of all LEDs to the positive terminal of the battery (+ terminal) and connect the negative terminals of all LEDs to the negative terminal of the battery (- terminal).
2. If the working voltage of the LEDs is 3.2V (common for white LEDs), and the battery voltage is 3.7V (standard voltage of a single 18650 lithium battery), you can divide the 20 LEDs into 5 groups, each with 4 LEDs connected in parallel.
3. By doing this, each group of LEDs will be driven in parallel with a working voltage of 3.7V (matching the battery voltage), and the current will be distributed across each LED group, ensuring stable operation of the LEDs.
Please pay attention to the polarity when connecting the LEDs to avoid short circuits or damage to the LEDs.
Other Elements
Connecting Current Limiting Resistors
Each LED connected to the 18650 lithium battery needs a current limiting resistor. The resistance value of the current limiting resistor needs to be calculated based on the color and brightness requirements of the LED. For example, if you are using a white LED with a working voltage drop of 3V and a working current of 10mA, you can calculate the resistance value as follows:
Given that the 18650 lithium battery voltage is 3.7V, the resistance value = (3.7V – 3.0V) / 0.01A = 70 ohms.
Of course, when the 18650 lithium battery is fully charged, the LED brightness will be higher, and when the battery is low, the brightness will be lower. When selecting the current limiting resistor, you can adjust it based on the LED’s color and brightness.
Protection Board
Lithium batteries are most vulnerable to over-discharge and overcharge. It is recommended to install a protection board for the 18650 lithium battery before powering the LED. With the addition of a protection board, when the lithium battery voltage drops to 2.54V, it will stop discharging, protecting the battery from damage, and also preventing overcharging during charging. Simply connect the LEDs to the output terminal of the protection board. Isn’t the connection method simple? Feel free to leave a comment for discussion.
