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Charging 18650 Lithium Ion Cell With 12.66V Solar Panel & BMS Board—Charge Time?

12 9
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  • #1 21681674
    david lopez
    Anonymous  
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  • #2 21681675
    David Ashton
    Anonymous  
  • #3 21681676
    david lopez
    Anonymous  
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  • #4 21681677
    Elina Gomez
    Anonymous  
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  • #5 21681678
    David Ashton
    Anonymous  
  • #6 21681679
    david lopez
    Anonymous  
  • #7 21681680
    David Ashton
    Anonymous  
  • #8 21681681
    david lopez
    Anonymous  
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  • #9 21681682
    David Ashton
    Anonymous  
  • #10 21681683
    Roy F Alvord
    Anonymous  

Topic summary

The discussion addresses charging a single 18650 lithium-ion cell using a 12.66V solar panel connected through a Battery Management System (BMS) board. The BMS board in question, identified as the HX-3S-25A, is designed for managing and charging three 18650 cells in series, not a single cell, which may affect charging efficiency and safety. The correct full charge voltage for a single 18650 cell is approximately 4.2V, not 12.66V, as the latter corresponds to the combined voltage of multiple cells in series. Charging follows a CC-CV (Constant Current - Constant Voltage) method, with a typical charge current around 1.25A, allowing a full charge in about 3 hours at standard rates. Using a solar panel voltage higher than the battery voltage requires a suitable regulator or a BMS designed for single-cell charging to prevent overvoltage and overheating. For single-cell charging, specialized boards such as those from Adafruit, which accept 5V USB or up to 6V input, are recommended. Voltage readings below 3.7V indicate partial discharge, and a fully discharged cell should still show some voltage above zero. Proper charging and discharging limits are critical to avoid battery damage or fire hazards. Solar charging setups require appropriate voltage regulation and BMS selection tailored to the battery configuration.
Summary generated by the language model.
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