With the development of electronics, information and communications products in the direction of wireless and portable, the high-performance components of the products are also moving towards the goal of “light, thin, short and small”. Batteries have been widely used as the best power supply, but in recent years, global battery recalls have caused the international market to worry about the safety of battery products. At the same time, market supervisory agencies in various countries have increased their supervision of battery products, making domestic battery manufacturers face the challenge of improving product quality. In recent years, Unai Testing has gradually strengthened its investment in battery testing, improved various battery testing instruments, and provided customers with comprehensive battery testing and certification services to ensure that the quality of the battery can meet the requirements of international standards.
According to the resolution of IECEE AAG (AAG/563/DSH), starting from April 15, 2008, monomers or portable rechargeable batteries composed of alkaline or non-acidic electrolytes, such as lithium batteries, alkaline batteries, etc., must meet the requirements of related products in addition to the finished product standards, but also meet the requirements defined by the battery standard IEC 62133. The requirements defined in IEC 62133.That is, the CB verification of rechargeable batteries must comply with both IEC 60950 and IEC 62133 standards.
What is IEC62133?
Main Contents
IEC 62133 is an international safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in a wide range of consumer electronics and other applications. The standard lays out requirements and tests for the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries used in portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets. It covers various aspects of battery safety, including electrical, mechanical, and chemical safety.
IEC 62133 is widely accepted and used by manufacturers, regulators, and other stakeholders in the lithium-ion battery industry as a benchmark for battery safety. Complying with the standard helps ensure that lithium-ion batteries are safe and dependable for use in a wide range of applications. In particular, the standard addresses issues such as overcharging, over-discharging, short-circuiting, and thermal runaway, which can all pose safety hazards if not properly managed. The standard also includes requirements for labeling and documentation, as well as testing procedures for verifying compliance with the standard.
Standard Tests of IEC62133:
The IEC 62133 standard mainly includes testing and verification of the following items:
Cell: continuous low-rate charging, vibration, temperature cycling, external short circuit, free fall, impact (collision), thermal misuse (thermal shock), extrusion, low pressure, overcharging, forced discharge, high magnification charging protection function (lithium system), labeling and packaging, incorrect installation (nickel system).
Battery: vibration, shell stress at high temperature, temperature cycling, external short circuit, free fall, impact (collision), marking and packaging, overcharging (nickel system).
Among these testing and verification projects, most of them are common routine testing projects, but there are still some projects that deserve attention and attention.:
1. 13KN squeeze.The test object of this project is a battery cell. Although it is a common conventional project, it is necessary to squeeze the long and short axial directions for a square battery due to its clear requirements, that is, the length and width of the battery are two planes.According to test experience, when the polymer flexible packaging battery is squeezed on the width axis (side), substandard phenomena such as combustion or explosion occur from time to time.Therefore, for polymer flexible packaging batteries, it is recommended to focus on this project.
2.Continuous low-rate charging.The test object of this project is a battery cell.The standard stipulates that fully charged batteries will continue to be charged for 28 days in accordance with the charging method specified by the manufacturer.This item is not common in other safety standards. In view of the fact that the charging method specified by the battery manufacturer is basically constant current and constant voltage charging, this requires the manufacturer to specify and limit the charging current and even the cut-off voltage at full charge to be fully considered, and if necessary, the battery must be designed to consider the ability to withstand continuous charging.
After carrying out a number of battery standard testing services (such as UN38.3, IEEE1725, GB/T 18287-2000 commissioned testing, etc.), Jintong Testing Battery Laboratory has also recently carried out IEC 62133 standard testing services for battery products.In view of the complexity of the manufacturing of batteries and batteries and the testing of finished products, it is recommended that battery manufacturing companies understand the details of the standard before testing and verification and control it in production, so as not to delay the final time to market of battery products because they do not meet the requirements of IEC 62133 standard in the final testing.
Complete Tests List of IEC62133:
Number |
Testing Project |
Testing Conditions |
1 |
Continuous low-speed charging test |
1.Fully charged batteries 2.Slow charge for 28 days according to the manufacturer’s regulations |
2 |
Vibration test |
1.Fully charged battery or battery 2.First test whether the charging voltage reaches the charging limit voltage 3.The amplitude is 0,76mm, and the total maximum offset value is 1,52mm 4.Vibrate at a rate of 1Hz/min between 10-55Hz 5.Vibrate for 90 minutes in each of the three vertical directions 6.After leaving for an hour, do a visual inspection |
3 |
High temperature simulation test |
1.Fully charged battery 2.After 7 hours in a high temperature oven of 70 degrees, remove from the oven and return to room temperature |
4 |
Temperature cycle test |
1.Fully charged battery or battery 2.Put in 70℃±2℃ oven for 4 hours 3.Change the oven temperature to 20℃±5℃ within 30 minutes and keep it at this temperature for 2 hours 4.Change the oven temperature to -20℃±2℃ within 30 minutes and keep it at this temperature for 4 hours 5.Change the oven temperature to 20℃±5℃ within 30 minutes and keep it at this temperature for 2 hours 6.Repeat steps 1-4 for four cycles 7.After the fifth cycle is over, leave it for 7 days before checking for an external short circuit |
5 |
External short circuit test |
1.Fully charged battery or battery 2.Five samples are placed in a 20-degree environment 3.Five samples are placed in a 55-degree oven 4.The positive and negative electrodes of each battery are shorted, and the external running resistance of the short circuit is less than 100 mAh 5.Keep it for 24 hours or until the shell temperature drops to 20% of the maximum temperature, which is shorter |
6 |
Free drop test |
1.Fully charged battery or battery 2.Fall from a height of one meter to the concrete floor three times per model, in a random direction |
7 |
Mechanical impact test |
1.Fully charged battery or battery 2.The total work is three equal shocks, applied in three vertical directions, at least one impact is perpendicular to the plane, the minimum average acceleration in the initial three milliseconds is 75gn, the peak acceleration should be 125-175gn |
8 |
Thermal shock test |
1.Fully charged battery 2.In an oven heated to 130 degrees at 5℃/min 3.The test is kept at this temperature for 10 minutes and ends |
9 |
Squeeze test |
1.Fully charged battery 2.The impact is between the two planes, exerting a force of 13KN.The longitudinal axis of the cylindrical or prismatic battery is placed parallel to the plane of the impact head of the test equipment, and the width and width of the prismatic battery must be hit on both sides. 3.The second test sample was rotated 90 degrees along the longitudinal axis and impacted.And so on |
10 |
Low voltage test |
1.Fully charged battery 2.Put it in a vacuum box, after sealing the vacuum box, gradually reduce the internal pressure to 11,6kPa and keep it for 6 hours. |
11 |
Overcharge test |
1.Discharged battery 2.Discharge according to IEC61960, and then charge with a voltage greater than or equal to 10 volts. The charging current is 2,5 C5/irec h according to the manufacturer’s claim. |
12 |
Forced discharge test |
1.Cells in multi-cell batteries 2.Reverse charging at 1a current for 90 minutes |
13 |
Protection test for high charging rates |
1.Cells in parallel batteries 2.Telecom is more equipped with IEC61960 discharge, and then charges according to three times the charging current generated by the manufacturer 3.Interrupt the charging current until it is fully charged or the internal safety equipment is fully charged |
Revised Edition of IEC62133:
Compared with the 2012 version, the latest version of IEC 62133-2 has the following differences:
①The standard is divided into two parts: nickel-based batteries and lithium-based batteries;
②The button-type battery is included in this standard (the previous version did not include button-type batteries);
Updated the assembly of 5.6 battery packs;
New mechanical testing (vibration, shock);
IEC New Add IEC TR 62914 as a reference.
In addition, IEC 62133-2:2017 also adopted the following technical revision proposals:
AA: For external short circuits, the battery cell is only tested at high temperature, and the battery pack is only tested at room temperature (the 2012 version is the opposite);
BB: The thermal abuse test time is changed to 30min (consistent with GB 31241);
CC: Delete “10% deformation” from the termination condition of the extrusion test;
DD: The overcharge test voltage is changed to 1.4 times the charging voltage of a single section (≤6V) and 1.2 times the charging voltage of multiple sections.;
EE: Revised the forced discharge test method and gave a reference test curve
Benefits of IEC 62133 Safety Testing
The IEC 62133 safety testing standard is crucial for exporting lithium-ion batteries worldwide, used in various industries such as IT, tools, consumer electronics, laboratories, and medical equipment. This standard outlines the requirements and testing procedures for the safe use of portable, sealed secondary cells and batteries.
Performing IEC 62133 safety testing on lithium-ion batteries has multiple advantages, including ensuring product safety for consumers. By adhering to this standard, manufacturers can reduce accidents and potential hazards associated with these batteries, as well as comply with regulatory requirements in various countries. Additionally, conducting this testing can build consumer trust and differentiate products from competitors while also improving product quality by identifying potential issues during the testing process.