How to Read Sources and References Correctly
Sources and References is most useful when you read beyond a headline number. A battery may be described as 100Ah, 3.2V nominal, 5,000 cycles, 100A continuous, or 1C charge capable, but every figure belongs to a product definition and a set of conditions. A useful reference tells you what was measured, how it was measured, and which limits surrounded the test.
That distinction matters because a general chemistry description is not a substitute for a product sheet. LiFePO4 cells from two manufacturers can share the same nominal chemistry while differing in dimensions, maximum charge voltage, recommended current, low-temperature charging limits, cycle-life test conditions, and warranty requirements.
Sources and References for Product Specifications
For a named cell, battery, charger, inverter, or device, first look for the current manufacturer datasheet or manual. Product documents can define nominal voltage, charge voltage, discharge current, temperature range, mechanical dimensions, terminal arrangement, protection features, and test conditions. Those values should not be copied from a different model merely because the chemistry or physical size appears similar.
Capacity is a good example. In Sources and References, a reported amp-hour value is treated as conditional because it may depend on discharge current, cutoff voltage, temperature, and the manufacturer's test procedure. Cycle-life figures can depend on depth of discharge, charge rate, discharge rate, rest periods, temperature, and the capacity-retention threshold used to define end of life.
If a calculation depends on a cell specification, record the manufacturer, model, document revision, unit, and test condition. If the exact sheet is unavailable, label the value as an assumption rather than presenting it as a verified product rating.
For basic battery education before reading a datasheet, the published What Is a Lithium Battery guide and Lithium Battery Types guide explain the vocabulary used throughout the site.
Sources and References for Standards, Transport, and Safety
Standards and regulations answer different questions from product datasheets. The IEC publishes standards for defined product categories and test methods. The UN Manual of Tests and Criteria provides internationally used dangerous-goods test criteria, including lithium battery testing in subsection 38.3. National authorities then implement and enforce requirements through their own legal systems and transport rules.
In the United States, Sources and References points to PHMSA as a key source for hazardous-material transport requirements and shipper guidance. FAA PackSafe guidance is aimed at airline passengers and baggage. OSHA addresses workplace hazards and controls. EPA provides federal end-of-life and recycling guidance. Those pages are valuable within their scope, but they are not interchangeable and they do not automatically govern users in other countries.
International users should check the competent authority, transport agency, standards adoption, airline, waste regulator, and local rules that apply where the battery is used, shipped, or discarded. A web page can explain a framework, but legal obligations may live in statutes, regulations, adopted standards, permits, or carrier rules.
Read the Test Conditions, Not Just the Number
Sources and References should make it easier to trace a number back to its conditions. A discharge curve measured at a low current may not predict performance in a high-power tool. A cycle-life statement measured at room temperature may not describe operation in freezing conditions. A laboratory energy value does not automatically include inverter loss, wiring loss, BMS cutoff behavior, or real appliance duty cycle.
| Claim | What to verify | Preferred starting source |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal voltage | Chemistry, cell model, series count, manufacturer definition | Product datasheet or manual |
| Usable capacity | Discharge rate, cutoff voltage, temperature, state of health | Manufacturer discharge data |
| Cycle life | Depth of discharge, charge/discharge current, temperature, retention threshold | Manufacturer test conditions |
| Shipping eligibility | Battery type, watt-hours or lithium content, packaging, mode, jurisdiction | Applicable transport regulation and official guidance |
| Passenger baggage | Installed versus spare battery, watt-hours, carry-on versus checked baggage, airline rules | FAA/airline or local aviation authority |
| Recycling | Chemistry, condition, local collection rules, damaged battery procedures | Local authority plus EPA where applicable |
The table is a source-selection guide. It does not replace the underlying rule, standard, manual, or technical document.
When Sources and References leads you to values in different units, use the published mAh to Wh Calculator or browse all battery calculators. The mathematics can normalize units, but it cannot make two products equivalent when their limits or intended uses differ.
What to Do When Sources Disagree
Sources and References treats disagreement as a prompt to inspect scope. Two references can disagree without either being careless because they may cover different products, editions, jurisdictions, temperatures, test currents, or definitions. Before deciding which number to use, compare the document date, part number, revision, test method, and scope. A current manufacturer manual usually outweighs a third-party summary for that exact product, while a binding regulation controls a legal requirement within its jurisdiction.
If an old datasheet and a new product manual conflict, use the current document for the exact model and contact the manufacturer if the difference affects safety or compatibility. If a blog conflicts with an official transport authority, check the current rule and official guidance. If different national agencies publish different disposal instructions, follow the rules where the battery is actually being discarded.
When one source says a charger, current, temperature, or battery type is permitted and another says it is not, do not split the difference. Resolve the scope and use the controlling requirement or obtain clarification from the manufacturer or responsible authority.
How Sources and References Links Are Used on This Site
Where practical, technical pages should link directly to the manufacturer, standards body, regulator, or government resource that supports a specific statement. Those outbound links are intended to let readers inspect the source, not to imply endorsement of LithiumBattery.info by the linked organization.
Internal links connect related calculations and explanatory guides. For example, a safety question may lead to the Lithium Battery Safety Guide, while an end-of-life question may lead to the Lithium Battery Recycling Guide. A calculator may cite a formula and still tell you to verify product-specific limits before acting.
Sources and References also separates factual evidence from planning assumptions. A formula such as watt-hours equals volts multiplied by amp-hours is a mathematical relationship. An assumed inverter efficiency, depth of discharge, average load, or reserve margin is a modeling choice. The page should say which is which.