CEI EN 61960-3

This part of IEC 61960 specifies performance tests, designations, markings, dimensions and other requirements for secondary lithium single cells and batteries for portable applications.

The objective of this document is to provide the purchasers and users of secondary lithium cells and batteries with a set of criteria with which they can judge the performance of secondary lithium cells and batteries offered by various manufacturers.

Portable applications comprise hand-held equipment, transportable equipment and movable equipment. Examples of the main uses are shown below:

a) hand-held equipment: smartphone, tablet PCs, audio/video players, and similar equipment;

b) transportable equipment: notebook computers, CD players, and similar equipment;

c) movable equipment

• 18 kg or less in mass and not fixed in place, or

• provided with wheels, castors, or other means to facilitate movement by an ordinary person as required to perform its intended use,

• power tools, power assisted cycles, business-use video cameras, and similar equipment.

NOTE 1 All applications using batteries whose nominal voltages are equal to or over the hazardous voltage of 60 V DC are excluded

NOTE 2 EESS (Electrical Energy Storage Systems) and UPS, which use batteries over 500 Wh of electric energy are excluded.

NOTE 3 Self-propelled vehicles are excluded.

This document defines a minimum required level of performance and a standardized methodology by which testing is performed and the results of this testing reported to the user. Hence, users will be able to establish the viability of commercially available cells and batteries via the declared specification and thus be able to select the cell or battery best suited for their intended application. The end user can handle only batteries which have completely fulfilled all the requirements of this document and others concerning safety such as IEC 62133-2.

This document covers secondary lithium cells and batteries with a range of chemistries. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it releases its electrical capacity, a characteristic nominal voltage and a characteristic final voltage during discharge. Users of secondary lithium cells and batteries are requested to consult the manufacturer for advice.