Monday, November 25, 2024

Can I use a LIR2032 battery instead of a CR2032 for my AirTag?

Just looking at the voltage & charge figures alone, the two are in no way cross-compatible.

Voltage must match. The LIR is perhaps only 0.7V over-spec, but as a percentage that’s quite a lot. With such a small actual over-voltage, there is the potential that it may just work, all else being equal.

The total charge held by each is considerably different. The CR holds five times the charge of the LIR, meaning it will last five times as long in use.
The CR2032 can last for years, Apple says 1 year for an Air Tag whereas the LIR2032 will need recharging every couple of months.
It’s not a ‘set & forget’ solution like the CR.

The LIRs are designed for entirely different purposes. They are capable of quite high short-term power drain, 8mA vs the CR’s 0.2mA, but their shut-off voltage is 3V, meaning the recharge frequency may be even shorter. The CR is designed to run smoothly right down to 2V before shut off.

The LIR, being a rechargeable, also needs support circuitry, as you would find in a phone or laptop, making sure the battery does not over-drain [or over-charge]. This is obviously not available in a device which isn’t expected to support it.

Here’s an additional warning, from a battery specialist:

For example, you can safely replace most CR2032 coin cell batteries with a BR2032 type lithium battery. You can not, however, always substitute an LiR2032 rechargeable battery for either a CR2032 or BR2032 type, without running safety risks, including overheating and fire.

So, TL:DR – use the battery type specified by the manufacturer.

Battery spec also from CR2032 vs DL2032 vs BR2032 vs ML2032 vs LiR2032 vs LR2032 Lithium Batteries Equivalents and Replacements

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