How to Choose Battery for Lighting Equipment?

Lighting Battery Application

In modern life and work, lighting devices are everywhere—from household LED desk lamps to outdoor spotlights, mine emergency lights, industrial high-altitude fixtures, portable camping lanterns, and various smart lighting products. All of them rely on one seemingly inconspicuous yet crucial component: the battery.

Lighting Battery Guide | How to Choose Battery for Lighting Equipment?

As users increasingly demand longer battery life, more stable light output, smaller size, and lighter weight from lighting devices, the battery—being the core power source—has undergone continuous technological iteration and structural upgrades.
Traditional batteries such as nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), and lead-acid batteries dominated the market for years, but due to their low energy density, high self-discharge rate, and environmental regulations, they have gradually been replaced by high-performance lithium-ion batteries. At the same time, lighting products have become increasingly intelligent, evolving beyond simple on/off and brightness control to include motion sensing, timer functions, USB charging, and even integration with IoT systems. This places higher demands on battery output stability, safety, and lifespan.
In this guide, the team at Iray Energy will introduce what lighting batteries are, their basic requirements, common types and their pros and cons, how to choose the right battery based on different application scenarios, and trustworthy lighting battery manufacturers in the current market. We hope this professional guide can help OEM manufacturers, procurement teams, and end users make more informed decisions when selecting and using lighting batteries.

1、What is a lighting battery?

A lighting battery is a dedicated energy storage unit designed to provide power for various types of lighting devices. Essentially, it is an electrochemical energy conversion device that transforms stored chemical energy into electrical energy, thereby supplying a stable current to LED light sources, light strips, fluorescent tubes, and other forms of lighting components. In lighting systems, the battery is often hidden inside the lamp housing or overlooked as a replaceable accessory by users, but in reality, it plays a crucial role in the entire system—determining whether the light can turn on, how long it can stay on, and how stable the illumination is.

2、What are the basic requirements for lighting batteries?

When designing and selecting lighting batteries, it is essential to comprehensively consider the device’s actual working environment, usage patterns, and various user needs. The following are the fundamental requirements lighting devices place on batteries:

2.1 Battery Capacity and Endurance

Capacity is one of the most basic indicators of a battery, typically measured in mAh (milliampere-hours) or Ah (ampere-hours). The battery’s capacity directly determines how long a lighting device can operate. For outdoor lighting equipment—especially emergency lights and portable lanterns—users often have high expectations for runtime. The lighting product must deliver a stable current over a sustained period to meet the desired brightness and usage duration. For example, if a lamp requires 500mA and the battery capacity is 3000mAh, the theoretical operating time is 6 hours. For high-power lighting devices such as industrial lamps or high-intensity spotlights, the required capacity is usually much greater—often above 5000mAh to 10,000mAh.

2.2 Stable Discharge Performance

A battery’s discharge capability is typically represented by its discharge current and voltage curve. For LED lighting devices, the discharge curve must ensure stable light output without sudden shutdowns or flickering. Lighting devices usually demand both continuous and pulse current. Continuous discharge refers to the battery providing power steadily during normal operation, while pulse current occurs during switching or activating specific functions. Lighting batteries must accommodate both current types, ensuring that voltage does not drop too quickly during startup and preventing battery damage.

2.3 High Charging Efficiency and Short Charging Time

The charging efficiency of a lighting battery determines how long it takes to charge and how efficiently energy is converted. During charging, some energy is lost—higher efficiency means less loss and shorter charging time. In general, lithium-ion batteries take around 2–4 hours to fully charge. For emergency lighting and smart lighting systems, it’s crucial to keep charging times short to restore functionality quickly. Long charging times degrade user experience, especially in urgent scenarios.

2.4 Long Cycle Life

A high-quality lighting battery should achieve at least 500 full charge-discharge cycles, with premium applications requiring over 1000 cycles. For rechargeable lighting devices, cycle life is a key metric. Lighting products, particularly those used in public, industrial, or commercial environments, must perform consistently through multiple charge cycles while keeping maintenance costs low over time.

2.5 Wide Temperature Tolerance

Lighting equipment is used in diverse environments, from hot industrial workshops and outdoor high-temperature areas to freezing outdoor locations or polar expedition lamps. Batteries must exhibit strong high- and low-temperature adaptability. Ideally, they should function between –20°C and 50°C. In low temperatures, the battery must maintain low internal resistance and stable discharge; in high temperatures, it must avoid thermal runaway and rapid degradation.

2.6 High Safety

In many applications, lighting batteries are not just power sources but are directly linked to user safety. For products such as emergency lights, fire exit signs, and mining lamps that require high safety standards, the battery must feature robust protection measures to ensure operational safety in all conditions.

3、What are the common types of lighting batteries? What are their pros and cons?

There is a wide variety of lighting equipment, and different scenarios place varying demands on batteries. Therefore, in practical applications, lighting batteries are not standardized products. Instead, they are selected flexibly based on factors such as the power requirements, structural constraints, runtime expectations, and safety levels of the lighting device.
Currently, the most commonly used battery types in the lighting industry include alkaline batteries, zinc-carbon batteries, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, and lead-acid batteries. Below is a comparison of these different battery types in terms of their advantages, disadvantages, and typical applications.

Battery Type	Advantages	Disadvantages	Typical Applications
Alkaline Battery	Low cost, widely available, stable in storage, high safety	Non-rechargeable, short runtime, low energy density, poor environmental profile	Portable night lights, small flashlights, LED candle lamps
Zinc-Carbon Battery	Extremely low cost, simple structure	Unstable voltage, low capacity, high self-discharge, very short lifespan	Toy lights, disposable emergency lighting
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)	Rechargeable, relatively eco-friendly, safe	Low energy density, high self-discharge, memory effect, short cycle life	Basic LED flashlights, older headlamps, small night lights, removable emergency lights
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion)	High energy density, compact size, lightweight, stable output, supports high-rate discharge, long cycle life	Relatively high cost, requires protection circuitry, high thermal management demand	High-brightness LED flashlights, smart lighting, camping lanterns, industrial lighting, portable lights
Lithium Polymer (Li-Po)	Customizable shapes, ultra-thin, lightweight, safe, leak-resistant	Complex packaging, relatively high cost	Wearable lighting, headlamps, ultra-thin smart lights, lights with complex structures
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄)	Ultra-long lifespan (2000+ cycles), high thermal stability, supports high current, extremely safe, heat resistant	Moderate energy density, larger size	Solar street lamps, outdoor explosion-proof lights, emergency systems, high-temp/high-vibration industrial lighting
Lead-Acid Battery	Low cost, mature and safe technology, stable high-capacity output, standardized	Heavy, low energy density, short lifespan, lead pollution, unsuitable for portable use	EPS centralized lighting systems, tunnel lighting, old building fire safety lighting, low-end solar lights

4、How to Choose the Right Battery Type Based on Lighting Application Scenarios?

4.1 Portable Lighting Devices (Headlamps, Camping Lanterns, Small Spotlights)

It is recommended to use lithium polymer (Li-Po) batteries, mainly for the following advantages:

Soft pack structure allows flexible customization of thickness and shape, suitable for irregular lamp bodies;
Lightweight design significantly reduces the burden of wearing (e.g., for headlamps);
Supports high-rate discharge, enabling instant activation of high-brightness LED light sources;
Good low-temperature performance, suitable for outdoor night camping or high-altitude environments;
Compatible with USB-C charging ports for convenient recharging.

4.2 Emergency Lighting Systems (Fire Exit Lights, Evacuation Lights, Safety Sign Lights)

It is recommended to use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, mainly for the following advantages:

Low self-discharge rate, supports standby for over six months while maintaining start-up reliability;
Stable discharge platform, prevents flickering or dimming during activation;
High energy density allows longer runtime within limited space;
Customizable protection circuit boards supporting temperature, current, and voltage monitoring to enhance safety;
Can be integrated with BMS to display SOC (State of Charge) in real-time.

4.3 Solar Lighting Devices (Solar Garden Lights, Street Lights, Warning Lights)

It is recommended to use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, mainly for the following advantages:

Cycle life of over 2000 cycles, supports one charge-discharge cycle per day, enabling more than 5 years of service;
High thermal stability, non-combustible under high temperatures, much safer than ternary lithium batteries;
Supports deep discharge, minimal impact from SOC fluctuations on battery lifespan;
No swelling or leakage issues, ensuring long-term outdoor safety and reliability.

4.4 Disposable Lighting Devices (Promotional Lights, Giveaways, Emergency Lights in Relief Kits)

It is recommended to use alkaline or zinc-carbon batteries, mainly for the following advantages:

Extremely low cost, suitable for bulk purchasing;
Maintenance-free and no need to recharge—ready to use upon installation;
Widely available in retail channels, easy for consumers to replace;
High safety with low risk of short circuit or thermal hazard.

4.5 High-Brightness Industrial Lighting Devices (Floodlights, Inspection Lamps, Tunnel Lights, Mining Lamps)

It is recommended to use high-rate lithium-ion batteries (e.g., 18650) or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, mainly for the following advantages:

18650 lithium-ion cells support 3C–10C discharge, capable of instantly powering high-wattage LED lights;
LiFePO₄ battery modules withstand strong vibration and impact, with low fire risk;
Supports voltage scaling via series configuration (12V / 24V / 48V systems);
Long cycle life, ideal for high-frequency use or continuous 24/7 operation systems;
Can be paired with BMS for redundant protection and remote battery monitoring.

5、Which Manufacturers Specialize in the Development and Production of Lighting Batteries?

At present, there are many manufacturers producing batteries for lighting equipment, but the quality of their products varies widely. Only a few manufacturers possess true independent R&D capabilities, controlled production processes, and guaranteed product quality.
As a company focused on high-performance lithium-ion battery research and customization, Iray Energy fully understands the core requirements of lighting devices—such as long battery life, high-rate discharge, low internal resistance, lightweight design, and high safety. Based on the specific needs of different clients and lighting device types, Iray Energy offers comprehensive custom battery solutions.
Iray Energy currently operates over 10,000 square meters of modern production facilities, equipped with multiple fully automated PACK assembly lines. With a team of over 300 employees, including 32 R&D engineers, the company has complete development capabilities covering everything from cell selection and structural design to system integration.

For lighting product manufacturers, Iray Energy can provide:

Battery model selection recommendations
Structural fit assessments
Prototype verification
One-on-one engineering support
Collaborative development with rapid response

The company also has a comprehensive certification and delivery system in place. All products can be provided with UN38.3, MSDS, IEC62133, CE, RoHS, and other relevant certifications.
With fast tooling customization, short sample lead times, and support for low MOQ flexible production (from 1000 pcs), Iray Energy is well-suited for small to medium lighting brands and ODM projects.

FAQs About Lighting Battery

Can the battery in a lighting device be replaced?

Some lighting devices have built-in, non-replaceable batteries, especially ultra-thin and sealed smart lights. However, devices like headlamps, flashlights, and camping lanterns are typically designed with removable batteries and allow users to replace them with 18650 lithium batteries, NiMH batteries, or standard alkaline batteries. When replacing, be sure to choose a battery with the same voltage, capacity, and connector specifications as the original.

How long does a lighting device battery last on a full charge?

Runtime depends on the battery capacity, the power consumption of the light, and the usage mode (full brightness / low light / flashing). For example, a 3000mAh lithium battery powering a 3W LED camping lantern can last 8–10 hours; however, a 10W spotlight may only last 2–3 hours.

Can lighting device batteries be used while charging?

Most lighting devices with charging management support simultaneous charging and use, but care should be taken to monitor temperature rise. High-power lights are not recommended for long periods of use while charging, as this can accelerate battery aging or create safety risks. It is advisable to avoid using the device while charging if the ambient temperature exceeds 35°C.

How do I know when a lighting battery needs to be replaced?

The following signs usually indicate that the battery has reached the end of its life or its performance is deteriorating:

Significantly shorter runtime;
Longer charging time with slow power recovery;
Noticeable heat or swelling during use;
Flickering or unstable voltage output.

What’s the difference between solar lighting batteries and regular lithium batteries?

Batteries for solar lighting devices must support deep daily charge-discharge cycles (“charge by day, discharge by night”). Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries are preferred for their long cycle life, wide operating temperature range, and excellent resistance to sunlight and heat. Regular ternary lithium batteries degrade quickly under frequent deep cycling.

Which type of lighting battery is most environmentally friendly?

Lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries are relatively eco-friendly, recyclable, and free of heavy metal contamination. Alkaline batteries are also recyclable but carry higher pollution risk after use. Lead-acid batteries contain lead and require strict handling—otherwise, they pose serious environmental hazards. It is recommended to choose RoHS-compliant eco-friendly battery products.

Can third-party replacement batteries be used?

Yes, but you must ensure that:

Voltage, current, capacity, and dimensions match the original battery;
The cell type is the same (e.g., do not replace LiFePO₄ with ternary lithium);
The battery includes overcharge, over-discharge, and short-circuit protection circuits;
It has passed relevant certifications (e.g., UN38.3, CE, RoHS).

📌 Tip:
For professional Lighting Battery customization or replacement solutions, feel free to contact the IrayEnergy engineering team. We’re here to provide efficient, reliable, and high-performance power solutions!