14500 LiFePO4 Battery 3.2V 600mAh | IFR14500 LFP Cylindrical Cell

14500 LiFePO4 Battery — IFR14500 600mAh 3.2V Cylindrical LFP Cell

The 14500 LiFePO4 battery (model IFR14500) is a 14 × 50 mm cylindrical cell built on lithium iron phosphate chemistry instead of ternary lithium: 3.2 V nominal, 600 mAh typical, and a cycle life measured in thousands rather than hundreds. Where an NCM 14500 trades cycle life for energy density, the IFR14500 is engineered for applications that charge and discharge every single day — solar garden lights, IoT sensors and standby packs — where a cell that survives five years of daily cycling outperforms one with 30% more capacity. CMX Battery supplies it with per-lot capacity, IR and OCV test data, OEM branding, and a downloadable datasheet.

Table of contents: Specifications · What Is a 14500 LiFePO4 Battery? · NCM vs LiFePO4 14500 · Charge & Discharge · Cycle Life & Safety · Applications · Certifications · OEM/ODM & Ordering · FAQ

14500 LiFePO4 Battery Specifications

Typical values below reflect the production standard for this format across established manufacturers; final parameters ship against the CMX controlled product specification.

What Is a 14500 LiFePO4 Battery?

A 14500 LiFePO4 battery is a rechargeable cylindrical cell whose designation encodes its geometry — 14 mm diameter, 50 mm height, cylindrical format — with lithium iron phosphate as the active chemistry. The IFR prefix is the IEC convention for cylindrical LFP cells (I = lithium-ion, F = iron phosphate, R = round), exactly parallel to the INR prefix used for cylindrical NCM cells. The two are not interchangeable in a circuit: the IFR14500 sits on a 3.2 V nominal platform (3.65 V charge, 2.0 V discharge cut-off), while the INR14500 sits on 3.7 V (4.20 V charge, 2.75 V cut-off).

The cell is a sealed steel can with a CID safety vent; welding is permitted only on the top cap and bottom end, never on the side wall. Its flat 3.2 V discharge curve holds voltage nearly constant across most of the capacity range, which simplifies state-of-charge estimation in simple solar and sensor circuits that have no fuel gauge.

IFR14500 vs INR14500: Chemistry Comparison

Both cells share the same 14 × 50 mm envelope and AA-compatible diameter, so the choice is purely electrical. Use this table to confirm fitment before sampling.

For the 3.7 V high-energy platform, see the INR14500 page. For the full 14 mm family lineup, see the small cylindrical lithium cells overview.

IFR14500 Charge and Discharge Profile

Charging follows CC-CV on the LFP profile: constant current at the standard 0.2C rate (120 mA) until terminal voltage reaches 3.65 V, then hold at 3.65 V until current tapers below the cut-off threshold. Maximum charge current is 1C (600 mA). Never charge an IFR14500 with a 4.2 V li-ion charger — the 3.65 V ceiling is a hard chemistry limit, and exceeding it damages the cell. Charge temperature is specified 0–45 °C; below 0 °C, limit current or skip charging.

Discharging is rated 1C (600 mA) continuous with 3C (1.8 A) available for short pulses, to a 2.0 V cut-off. Because the LFP voltage curve is flat, most usable capacity is delivered near 3.2 V — a 4S string (12.8 V nominal) therefore holds a nearly constant input for 12 V nominal devices through most of the discharge.

IFR14500 Cycle Life and Safety Performance

Cycle life is the reason to choose this chemistry: established production cells are specified at 1500–2000+ cycles to ≥80% capacity retention, roughly four to six times the cycle count of a standard NCM cell of the same size. In a solar light that cycles once per day, that is five or more years of service versus roughly one to one-and-a-half for NCM.

Safety testing covers over-discharge, overcharge, external short circuit, drop, heating and crush — all with no fire, no explosion, no leakage. The LFP chemistry’s higher thermal runaway onset temperature makes it the lower-risk choice for densely packed assemblies, occupied spaces and safety-critical enclosures where an NCM cell would require additional protection engineering.

14500 LiFePO4 Battery Applications

Solar garden lights and solar luminaires. The flagship application. A 4S-IFR14500 string (12.8 V nominal) replaces the aging packs in garden and pathway lights, and the 2000-cycle rating matches the daily charge-discharge duty exactly. Self-discharge is low enough for seasonal storage.

IoT sensors and smart home devices. Low self-discharge plus wide temperature range suits unattended sensors that must survive months between maintenance windows, with the flat 3.2 V curve simplifying simple voltage-threshold firmware.

LED flashlights and penlights. Fits standard 14500 holders; the 3.2 V platform is close to the 3.0 V primary-lithium format many legacy lights were designed around. Confirm your charger outputs 3.65 V before ordering.

Medical devices and wearable tracks. Enclosed, body-adjacent applications benefit from the chemistry’s thermal stability; per-lot test data simplifies incoming QC for regulated product lines.

12.8 V standby and memory-backup packs. Four cells in series with a protection circuit deliver a maintenance-free 12.8 V block for small UPS, alarm panels and backup circuits.

Certifications and Shipping Compliance

Every IFR14500 ships against the documentation compliance teams ask for first: UN38.3 (the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria test summary required for lithium transport by air and sea), MSDS, IEC 62133-2 cell safety compliance, CE and RoHS declarations. Lot-level documentation — capacity, internal resistance and open-circuit voltage per cell — accompanies each shipment so incoming QC starts from data rather than sampling. For the full certification scope, see our lithium battery certifications and compliance page.

OEM/ODM Customization and Ordering

CMX Battery supplies the IFR14500 for OEM programs: welded tabs or connectors to your drawing, shrink-wrap or label branding with your model number, PCM/BMS integration for pack orders, and packaging configured to your line. Cells ship at partial SOC with per-lot test data. Samples are available for bench validation before volume commitment; minimum order quantities, lead times and per-lot test-data format are confirmed with your quotation, which comes back within 24 hours. Warranty is one year from date of shipment against manufacturing defects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 14500 LiFePO4 battery?
A 14500 LiFePO4 battery is a rechargeable cylindrical LFP cell (Ø14 × 50 mm, 600 mAh, 3.2 V nominal). The IFR14500 is the LiFePO4 counterpart of the NCM 14500 — same envelope, different chemistry and voltage platform.

What is the difference between IFR14500 and INR14500?
Chemistry and voltage: IFR14500 is LiFePO4 at 3.2 V nominal (3.65 V charge) with 2000-class cycle life; INR14500 is NCM at 3.6–3.7 V (4.20 V charge) with higher capacity but shorter cycle life. They are not interchangeable in the same circuit.

What is a 14500 LiFePO4 battery used for?
Solar garden lights, IoT sensors, LED flashlights with 3.65 V-compatible chargers, medical wearables, and 12.8 V standby packs built from 4S strings.

How do you charge a 14500 LiFePO4 battery?
CC-CV to 3.65 V with taper cut-off; standard charge 0.2C (120 mA), maximum 1C (600 mA), charge window 0–45 °C. Never use a 4.2 V li-ion charger.

How long does an IFR14500 last?
Established production cells are specified at 1500–2000+ cycles to ≥80% capacity retention — in daily-cycling solar service that translates to five or more years.

Can I use a 14500 LiFePO4 in a solar light?
Yes — it is the standard upgrade for 12 V nominal solar lights that use 14500-format cells, provided the existing charger regulates to 3.65 V per cell. In a 4S pack, confirm the pack protection circuit matches the LFP profile.

Is the 14500 LiFePO4 available with OEM branding?
Yes — welded tabs or connectors, custom labels with your model number, PCM integration and tailored packaging are standard services, with per-lot test data on every shipment.

Request a Quote

Send your target voltage, capacity, continuous current and mechanical envelope — you will receive a datasheet-matched quotation, sample options and lead time within 24 hours.

Or email sales@cmxbattery.com. Download the typical specifications overview: IFR14500 Typical Specifications Overview (PDF). The controlled product datasheet is issued with your quotation on request.