US wants to ban the sale of individual 18650 lithium battery cells

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has come up with a rather controversial proposal calling for the purchase of 18650 battery cells. This proposal deals with individual cells outside the dedicated battery packs. Let's figure it out.

Where individual 18650 cells are often used and why they want to be banned from sale

It is worth noting that individual 18650 cells are used very actively. So, for example, you can find them in flashlights, lamps, electronic cigarettes, Power Bank and other electronic devices.

Most likely, the tightening of the requirements for the sale of such items is due to the requirement of security. And the thing is that the assembled block of 18650 form factor cells necessarily has several degrees of protection, and individual elements are often not protected by anything.

And if the contacts of a separate cell are accidentally bridged, for example, with a bunch of keys or any other metal object that may be in bag next to a single element, that is, there is a high probability of warming up both the battery itself and the object that acts as a short circuit (jumpers). And there is a possibility of short circuit (short circuit) and even fire.

In all fairness, I want to say that there are several known cases where 18650 batteries really exploded, but this was not due to the very fact of a separately located cell, but to a banal marriage and poor quality goods.

There is the same risk of running into a defective cell if it is assembled into a block of several. And this block in the same way can become unusable and even catch fire.

So for what reason it was the individual cells of the 18650 form factor that fell into disfavor remains a mystery. What do you think is the reason? Write in the comments.

Also, if you liked the material, then put your thumbs up and subscribe to the channel. Thank you for your attention!