Langtian Blog

Cycle life testing is one of the most critical evaluation methods for battery R&D and quality control. It helps engineers and labs validate battery performance and stability under repeated charge/discharge stress.

This article introduces how to perform high-frequency cycle life testing using our battery testing equipment, including a real-world step-by-step recipe configuration.

What is Cycle Life Testing?

Cycle life testing involves repeatedly charging and discharging a battery under controlled current, voltage, and time conditions to observe how the battery's performance degrades over time.

Typical evaluation objectives include:

• Capacity retention over cycles

• Voltage stability during each cycle

• Resistance increase or thermal drift

• End-of-life prediction (e.g., 80% capacity limit)

Test Method Overview

This test uses an infinite loop configuration to simulate stress aging. Each cycle includes:

• 1 minute charging at 5000 mA, upper voltage 3600 mV

• 1 minute discharging at 5000 mA, lower cut-off voltage 2000 mV

• 10-second sleep between steps to ensure stability

• Temperature range: +30°C to -30°C

The goal is to monitor whether current and voltage remain stable during rapid cycles and to detect early signs of degradation.

Test Recipe (Step Configuration)

Testing Data

Key Monitoring Metrics

• Charge/discharge capacity per cycle

• Voltage consistency and any abnormal drops

• Termination points (e.g., voltage cut-off reached too early)

• Temperature control within defined limits

Our battery test software supports real-time data capture and export, and you can generate capacity retention graphs or voltage-time profiles for further analysis.

Why Choose Langtian battery testing system?

• Supports high-current outputs (up to 1600A)

• Multi-channel control (8CH, 16CH, 32CH, or 64CH)

• Programmed step editor with flexible conditions

• Overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature protection

• Compatible with pouch, cylindrical, and coin cells