Can a lithium-ion battery pack go bad?

Yes. A lithium-ion battery pack that has one or more bad cells can be extremely dangerous, especially if it's put under a heavy load. Battery packs are made from many lithium-ion cells. So if one goes bad, it's more than likely going to negatively impact the surrounding cells.

Should a battery pack be replaced?

If a relatively new pack has only one defective cell and a replacement is located, exchanging the affected cell makes sense. With an aged battery, however, it’s best to replace all cells. Mixing new with old causes a cell mismatch that has a short life. In a well-matched battery pack all cells have similar capacities.

Why do lithium ion batteries lose charge?

Over time, lithium-ion battery packs may lose their ability to hold a charge. Thus, it often results in reduced runtime for your devices. In multi-cell battery packs, individual cells may become unbalanced. Credit goes to differences in capacity or age. Cell imbalance often results in uneven discharge.

What happens if you leave a lithium ion battery in a bad condition?

Leaving a lithium-ion battery in that condition is very bad for the battery and can cause a totally unexpected fire in the right (wrong) conditions. Keep your cell groups in balance. Keeping a battery's cell groups in balance ensures that your battery not only works optimally but lasts as long as possible.

How do you know if a battery pack is bad?

If you measure the voltage across 12 cells and notice one is reading 3.1V while the others are all around 3.6V, you’ve likely pinpointed the bad cell. If your battery pack has a Battery Management System (BMS), it can make identifying bad cells even easier. The BMS continuously monitors the voltage, temperature, and overall health of each cell.

Can a lithium ion battery be repaired?

You can repair your lithium-ion batteries. It extends the lifespan of your electronic devices and saves money on replacements. Always handle Li-ion battery packs with care. Further, you can seek professional help if you’re unsure. Take care of every critical aspect of the repair process.