Sources for, and performance of LIR2032 batteries

[derGoldstein]

I bought a few LIR2032 batteries from E-bay at $1.50 each.
They're rated at 40mAh, and I've done some basic discharge tests:
Constant-current 10mA from 4.11V to 3.3V: 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Constant-power (through very low-power boost converter) 0.05W for the same voltage range: 2 hours and 23 minutes. (I realize that constant-power isn't the best measure, but it's what I'm most likely to use them for so I added this test)

I started them at 4.11V because that's what the voltage settles at after charging them all the way to ~4.18V and leaving them untouched for a couple of days. They got here at around 4.05V, so I assume that this is what they'd settle at after a few weeks untouched. After the test they bounce back to 3.5V in about 5 to 7 minutes.

This is a very neat and fairly cost-effective little battery for small gadgets (like sensor loggers). Their rated 40mAh is "close enough" to their actual capacity.
My question is (finally): why can't I find these batteries from brand-named companies? I can only seem to find them off-brand on E-bay (or aliexpress), and I wouldn't be surprised if they die off after about 100 cycles. Is this a type of battery that chinese companies often use but which didn't get traction in the west? Do they have an alternative name in the west?

I found panasonic cells with a similar capacity, but they all have tabs/leads:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-bsg/VL-2320-HFN/P083-ND/119937
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-bsg/ML-2020-G1AN/P046-ND/431505
(that last one would be perfect if it *didn't* have tabs)

The closest I managed to find was this:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/illinois-capacitor/RJD2032C1/1572-1617-ND/6159135
It's 85mAh, but it's also *$10*...

[Tom45]

Also search for MR2032 and LR2032. Pretty much the same thing from different manufacturers.

[derGoldstein]

I did and I found an interesting note about a Maxwell-made cell:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Logitech+K750+Keyboard+ML2032+to+CR2032+battery+replacement/49181

"Maxell - battery manufacturer answered me this: Unfortunately ML type batteries are industrial batteries which we sell to OEMs only. Due to strict health and safety purposes we are not allowed to sell this type of batteries to endusers."

Of course I can't tell if this is true, but there is partial confirmation here:
http://maxell-usa.com/product_966.html
(only an OEM page, no retail)

It also brings up a question I hadn't considered -- are there *any* lithium-ion batteries sold in retail? I mean in the same way that I can get a nickel-metal AA battery from duracell or energizer?
I can find lithium-ion batteries for specific products like these:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/energizer-energizer-lithium-ion-replacement-battery-for-sony-digital-cameras-enb-sbn-enb-sbn/10573731.aspx
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/energizer-energizer-lithium-ion-battery-for-canon-cameras-enb-c6l-enb-c6l/10275381.aspx
https://www.batteriesplus.com/replacement/battery/canon/nb11lh/cam10634
https://www.batteriesplus.com/replacement/battery/canon/lpe5/cam10012

But nothing in standard cylinder or coin size (not just AAs and AAAs, I mean any size whatsoever). I can get an 18650 cell from LG, but only from a reseller, and usually at a very high price unless I'm buying in volume.

Are they avoiding putting batteries like that on the shelf in case someone accidentally puts them into a device that expects 1.5V? Or is it that the chemistry is still considered too hazardous to be handled by "peasants"?

[Tom45]

A search for LR2032 shows you can get them from Amazon and Battery Space. Interestingly, in both cases, the cell in their photo shows LIR2032 but the description is LR2032. It looks like it is more productive to search for LR2032 than to search for LIR2032.

Battery Space has the option of tabs or no tabs, and fairly good quantity prices.


Edit:

Found good information at: https://www.powerstream.com/p/Lir2032.pdf

[amyk]

Someone else asked about LIR cells earlier this year and I directed them at one manufacturer: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/lir-series-rechargeable-lithium-coin-cells/

Are they avoiding putting batteries like that on the shelf in case someone accidentally puts them into a device that expects 1.5V? Or is it that the chemistry is still considered too hazardous to be handled by "peasants"?

It's probably the latter in the west, but I know you can already find them for retail in China. An 18650 just won't fit in an AAA or AA holder.