Powering IOT devices, or the internet of things is a hot topic, and it seems that every day more and more devices can “talk” or communicate information to more and more devices. So what are IOT devices? Essentially, “the internet of things” (IOT) is the extension of internet connectivity into physical and everyday objects, like your fridge that can call a repair agent if broken, or a doorbell that sends an alert to your phone when there’s someone at your door. Of course, all these things require power to operate or transmit information.
Everything from wireless sensors, accelerometers, to conservation devices, GPS units and smart meters; the list of new possible data collection devices is growing every day. So, what is the “best” battery chemistry for powering this ever-growing list? The best battery solutions can vary hugely depending on the power requirements, but also the physical environment that the battery is housed in. From Wearables, to Smart Building devices and transport, all have large differences in the temperatures and tolerances that can be expected.
Life estimation of batteries is a very tricky thing and in is often best done by the cell manufacturer. Indeed, major cell manufacturers all offer a free service through their agents such as SIMPOWER, called a Product Study Request (PSR) or application request, where you can detail all the power requirements of your device, pulse current draw, peak current, frequency of draw, standby current, the average temperature and the extremes and the ideal life of the product that you would like to achieve.
However, as with all things, the information out is only as good as the information put in. The more accurate the initial data, the more accurate the life estimation. One of the more popular battery chemistries for IOT devices is Lithium Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCL2). Li-SOCL2 has some great qualities.
If Li-SOCL2 seems like the ideal battery chemistry for your device, a possible solution to this problem can be to build a de-passivation function into your IOT device’s circuit, that can clear the passive layer on the cell prior to running the transmit or data collection function. Alternatively, another solution is to build a super capacitor into the battery pack which instantly delivers the required voltage and milliamps and helps to negate any passivation problems.
There are numerous ways around this feature of Li-SOCL2 which all depend on your device’s specific requirements. The best advice is to contact a battery specialist and go over your IOT devices portable power needs, so for more information on power tool batteries and lithium batteries NZ please go to https://www.simpower.co.nz .
