We have long advocated against the use of aftermarket chargers and batteries. Within this blog we have primarily focused on chargers, as there has been far less written about their use elsewhere. But given the number of issues our customers have experienced with low quality batteries this week alone (and given recent reports on aftermarket batteries), this seems like a good time to post on the subject.
For purpose of this discussion, it is important to note what may be obvious: There is a difference between batteries! Today, most cell phones use Lithium Ion batteries. While they are lighter, do not display the ‘memory’ issue of Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, and they have a slow discharge rate when not in use, the Lithium Ion batteries are not as durable and they are more susceptible to internal failure than either of the Nickel-type batteries mentioned. In addition to the material used, the manufacturing process and any potential lack of properly working internal safety circuits will affect the overall life, capacity and safety of the battery. Details among these characteristics contribute to differences among battery types and between high quality OEM batteries and those from most aftermarket manufacturers.
Materials:
Most aftermarket manufacturers, in an effort to keep retail pricing low, will generally use lower quality materials or materials that do not conduct current as well. They tend to have a lower ability to store and dissipate a charge, resulting in a shorter usable life and a greater failure rate.
Build process:
The basic components of a Lithium Ion battery are fairly straightforward – an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte (essentially, ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ sources in an electrically conductive solution). The overall construction of a Lithium Ion battery consists of a pressurized container that holds metal coils and the electrolyte (highly flammable in this case). The cells also contain separators designed to keep the anode and cathode from touching. The production process invariably results in metal fragments being released into the electrolyte. While elimination of these fragments is not completely possible in the best production situations, poor production processes will result in larger and more fragments. As a battery heats up during charging and use, these unwanted fragments will move within the electrolyte; should they come into contact with and damage the separators, a short circuit is possible. Then only bad things are likely to follow!
Short circuits in batteries have been known to cause explosions as a result of increases in pressure due to overheating; battery fires have occurred when short circuit ‘sparking’ has ignited the flammable electrolyte; and if they haven’t exploded or burned, batteries have melted from high temperatures caused by short circuits.
While any Lithium Ion battery is susceptible to these dangers, the more expensive, higher quality OEM batteries are generally manufactured to a higher standard and with better quality control, greatly reducing the risk of these occurrences..
Safety protection:
Given the potential hazards associated with Lithium Ion batteries, a number of safety devices designed to prevent damage to the cells during charge / discharge and overheating are built into the circuitry of all Li-Ion batteries. These could include a monitor of cell voltage to prevent over charging or discharging, control switches to cut off the charge or discharge, internal pressure monitors and vents, and thermal fuses/interrupts designed to guard against excess heat.
While these safety features are required the use of lower quality materials in most aftermarket batteries plus the difficultly in determining which aftermarket batteries are manufactured properly and, therefore, are safe, strongly suggests that any cost savings is not worth the risk. And that risk becomes even greater for the lower-cost end of the aftermarket and especially for any of the counterfeit batteries readily available.
Logically, therefore, it would be best to avoid aftermarket question marks and possible counterfeits when you need to replace your battery, so when a replacement is needed make sure you purchase a new battery from the same manufacturer as your phone and do so from a reputable supplier.
Additional resources: Battery University
Tags: aftermarket, Batteries