I have a 20k mAh power bank, and I've noticed that one of its batteries has a slight bulge of about 1mm. I'm wondering if I can just take out the bulging cell and use it as a 10k mAh power bank instead. Will it work properly and still be safe?
4 Answers
It's not a straightforward answer. Removing a cell can be risky, especially if you're not experienced with battery work. If you don't know what you're doing, it's probably best not to attempt it. Safety first, right?
I think it's also important to note that just because the other cell isn’t bulging yet doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe. They probably came from the same batch, so it could potentially fail too. It might be best to check in with your local fire department about how to safely dispose of lithium batteries.
Just a heads up, if you're thinking of doing this, consider how good your fire insurance is! It's usually worth replacing the battery altogether instead of risking an accident with a compromised one.
Are your batteries wired in parallel? If so, removing one might be feasible. But keep in mind that charging a single cell instead of two can stress it out, especially if it's not designed for that.