To power a lithium battery, you need to charge it using a specific charging method. Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries require a specialized charging process known as Constant Current, Constant Voltage (CC/CV).
Here's a breakdown of how it works:
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Constant Current (CC) Phase:
- The charger delivers a constant current to the Li-Ion cell.
- This current is typically between 0.5C and 1C. (C represents the battery's capacity. 1C means charging at a rate that would fully charge the battery in one hour).
- The current flows into the cell at this constant rate until the cell voltage reaches 4.20 volts.
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Constant Voltage (CV) Phase:
- Once the cell voltage reaches 4.20 volts, the charger switches to constant voltage mode. This is the "CC to CV point".
- In this mode, the charger maintains a constant voltage of 4.20 volts while the charging current gradually decreases as the battery becomes fully charged.
In summary, Li-Ion batteries are powered by a controlled charging process with two distinct phases to ensure optimal and safe charging.
