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Electronics => Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff => Topic started by: edavid on November 20, 2015, 05:16:12 pm

Title: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: edavid on November 20, 2015, 05:16:12 pm
Is it possible to judge CR2032 cell capacity based on open circuit voltage?

The datasheets I've looked at are extremely vague, listing open circuit voltage ranges like 3.0-3.5V.  However, this contradicts my experience, where new fresh cells always measure 3.30-3.35V, and old used cells are down around 3.0V.

Is it really possible to have a full capacity cell with an open circuit voltage of 3.0V?

What's a good acceptance test for CR2032s?
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: IanB on November 20, 2015, 05:20:27 pm
What's a good acceptance test for CR2032s?

I'm going to guess reputable brand and fresh package date?
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: ralphd on November 20, 2015, 10:07:02 pm
I test cheal CR2032s with a blue LED.  Below 2.8V under load is usually bad.
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: Artlav on November 20, 2015, 10:11:05 pm
I remember seeing a paper that described how to determine SoC of various cell types by open circuit voltage.
It involved giving the cell a few days of rest, measuring with a high impedance meter and doing some very chemistry-dependent math.

So i guess it's possible, but it's not anything straightforward.
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: nukie on November 22, 2015, 01:43:19 pm
When it's really cold.
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: edavid on November 22, 2015, 04:01:47 pm
What's a good acceptance test for CR2032s?

I'm going to guess reputable brand and fresh package date?

No, that's no substitute for a test.  Anyway, bulk cells from a distributor don't have a date.
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: edavid on November 22, 2015, 04:02:35 pm
I remember seeing a paper that described how to determine SoC of various cell types by open circuit voltage.
It involved giving the cell a few days of rest, measuring with a high impedance meter and doing some very chemistry-dependent math.

So i guess it's possible, but it's not anything straightforward.
I think that must of have been a paper about rechargeable cells.  None of those issues are relevant to a simple acceptance test on a primary cell.
Title: Re: CR2032 open circuit voltage
Post by: IanB on November 22, 2015, 08:40:08 pm
No, that's no substitute for a test.  Anyway, bulk cells from a distributor don't have a date.

Then I think you have to make your own definition of what is acceptable. For instance, specify the source and part number of the cells you will be buying, obtain some samples, test them, record the results of the tests. To test: measure the open circuit voltage on receipt, run a controlled discharge test to verify the capacity and freshness of each cell thus measured, eliminate bad cells from the data, determine mean and variance of good cells' voltage over a suitable sample size.

Having done this, use the expected voltage to test purchased cells. If the source of the cells ever changes, reestablish the metrics by repeating the sample analysis. Bear in mind that cells from different sources can have variations in cell chemistry that will change the measured voltage. They may all be "lithium/manganese dioxide", but there are many details that may be varied within that scheme.