The batteries of the type 18650 can be found in various devices. Among other things, in LED flashlights or e-cigarettes. The charger is often built into the device, so that you can only plug in the device with a USB plug or an external power supplier and then use it to charge the internal 18650 battery. However, since the built-in electronics are often quite cheap, I would recommend getting a good 18650 battery charger to use to charge the batteries.
From the technical side, the batteries are Li-Ion batteries, which are usually equipped with protective electronics. This prevents uncontrolled discharging in the event of a short circuit or a strong consumer and avoids overcharging the battery cells. In an emergency, both could lead to the batteries bloating, outgassing or even catching fire.
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Current battery bestseller with 18650 design
Safe storage of 18650 Li-ion batteries
If you are interested in the storage of Li-ion batteries (especially the unsecured models recommended), you should look out for Lipo bags in stores. The material used for these bags is such that a battery can burn down or scorch in them, but no flames can escape. However, smoke and heat development are still present. Here are three variants of it:
Protected and unprotected 18650 batteries
There are two types of 18650 batteries on the market. "18650" is only the designation of the design. A distinction is then made according to the mAh, which provides information about the capacity, as well as protected and unprotected models. The protected models have a small electronic fuse built in, which, for example, limits the current in the event of a short circuit and switches it off in the event of overheating. This prevents the batteries from exploding or burning up. This can happen in exceptional circumstances, since these are lithium-ion batteries. And lithium is a metal that can catch fire even in air.
I would strongly advise beginners to use the protected models, while people with a little knowledge of Li-ion batteries and their charging behavior can certainly also use the unprotected models.
For the sake of completeness, I have listed a few battery models from the 18650 series WITHOUT protection electronics here:
Please note that you should only use these batteries in conjunction with protective electronics.
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