I just want to clarify a few things about constant discharge and burst discharge in relation to a battery's capacity/amp limit. A basic walk through would be much appreciated.
Become a Patron!
Can someone give me the basics of burst in relation to batteries?
- Thread starter RolandOfGilead
- Start date
A battery is manufactured for specific purposes or for general use. OEM designers either hunt down a battery that exists or ask for a battery made to a specific spec for their power demands. Specifically, discharge curve, heat dissipation, size changes and charging rate. A battery is an electrochemical device. Charging and discharging produce heat. A battery will accumulate a charge between bursts if time is alotted to chemically re-equilibrate. Burst mode allows for higher current loads and subsequent heat dissipation while 'off'. Here is an example. LED's are typically run in burst mode to make them brighter. Your eye cannot detect this flashing, but it allows the LED to cool down between bursts, and survive. If you were to drive them constantly at these higher currents, they would break down. Much like a lion battery.
A Lithium battery's C rating tells the story. The c rating X aH = continuous amp drain, unless it is specified as burst. The aH of the battery divided by the current of the circuit = hours of use. Using the battery in burst mode may yield a better discharge curve in terms of peak voltage over time. But, the burst times must be defined in the spec. If the bursts are too frequent and insufficient time alotted to cool.... it would be hard to differentiate from continuous duty. The total capacity of the battery may not be exceeded - that is finite, cumulative.
For example - in an RC plane.... the battery for running the motor moving the plane should have a adeqate C rating for the motor being used and discharge curve/capacity for long flights. The battery for controlling the flight surfaces is only going to be used intermittently - in bursts. The motors move a little and stop. It just has to have enough capacity to endure the flight time of the main pack and control to glide it back home.
Hope that helps.
A Lithium battery's C rating tells the story. The c rating X aH = continuous amp drain, unless it is specified as burst. The aH of the battery divided by the current of the circuit = hours of use. Using the battery in burst mode may yield a better discharge curve in terms of peak voltage over time. But, the burst times must be defined in the spec. If the bursts are too frequent and insufficient time alotted to cool.... it would be hard to differentiate from continuous duty. The total capacity of the battery may not be exceeded - that is finite, cumulative.
For example - in an RC plane.... the battery for running the motor moving the plane should have a adeqate C rating for the motor being used and discharge curve/capacity for long flights. The battery for controlling the flight surfaces is only going to be used intermittently - in bursts. The motors move a little and stop. It just has to have enough capacity to endure the flight time of the main pack and control to glide it back home.
Hope that helps.