ER Battery + LIC for IoT: Li-SOCl2 High-Pulse Power Guide

ER Battery + LIC for IoT: Choosing the Right Li-SOCl2 High-Pulse Power Solution

As more IoT devices are deployed in smart metering, remote monitoring, asset tracking, environmental sensing and industrial automation, power design has become increasingly important.

Many IoT devices have one characteristic in common: they consume very little power most of the time, but periodically require a much higher current when the wireless module wakes up and transmits data.

This creates a challenge.

A battery that performs extremely well under low continuous loads may not always be optimized for short, high-current pulses. On the other hand, selecting a battery only for high pulse capability can increase size, cost or self-discharge unnecessarily.

One practical solution is to combine a lithium thionyl chloride battery with a Lithium-Ion Capacitor.

At Cowon, typical combinations include:

• ER10450 + LIC0813

• ER14250 + LIC0820

• ER14505 + LIC1020

• ER26500 + LIC1320

• ER34615 + LIC1620

• ER34615 + LIC1840

These combinations are designed to balance two important requirements in battery-powered IoT equipment:

long-term energy supply and short-duration high pulse power.

Why IoT Devices Need Both Energy and Power

A typical wireless IoT device does not consume current at a constant rate.

Its operating cycle may look like this:

Sleep → Wake Up → Measure → Transmit Data → Return to Sleep

During sleep mode, the current consumption may be extremely low.

When the communication module is activated, however, current demand can increase significantly for a short period.

This is common in devices using communication technologies such as:

• NB-IoT

• LTE-M

• GSM

• LoRa

• LoRaWAN

• GPS

• RF communication

This means that average current consumption alone is not enough to select the correct battery.

Engineers also need to consider:

• peak current,

• pulse duration,

• pulse frequency,

• minimum operating voltage,

• temperature,

• expected service life,

• and available installation space.

A battery may contain enough total energy to operate a device for many years, but the device can still fail if the voltage drops below the electronics' minimum operating voltage during transmission.

That is where an ER battery + LIC solution becomes useful.

What Is an ER Li-SOCl2 Battery?

ER batteries are primary lithium batteries based on Lithium Thionyl Chloride chemistry, commonly written as Li-SOCl2.

They typically provide a nominal voltage of 3.6V and are widely used in industrial and IoT equipment because of several important characteristics:

• high energy density,

• low self-discharge,

• long storage capability,

• stable voltage during low-rate discharge,

• wide operating temperature capability,

• and suitability for long-term unattended operation.

Common ER battery sizes include:

ER10450, ER14250, ER14505, ER26500 and ER34615.

Smaller cells are useful when PCB space and product dimensions are limited, while larger cells such as ER26500 and ER34615 provide significantly more energy for applications requiring longer service life.

However, energy capacity is only part of the power-system design.

Why Add a Lithium-Ion Capacitor?

A Lithium-Ion Capacitor, or LIC, is used as a high-power support component.

In a properly designed hybrid power system, the ER battery provides the long-term energy required by the device, while the LIC helps support short periods of high current demand.

A simple way to understand the relationship is:

ER Battery = Long-Term Energy

LIC = Short-Term Pulse Power

During normal standby operation, the ER battery supports the low background current.

When the device wakes up and the wireless module begins transmitting, the LIC can help provide the additional pulse current required by the load.

After the transmission event, the system returns to its low-power state.

This architecture can help improve voltage stability during high-current events and reduce the electrical stress placed directly on the primary battery.

Why Not Use a Li-SOCl2 Battery Alone?

Li-SOCl2 batteries are particularly attractive for applications requiring long operating life because of their low self-discharge and high energy density.

However, many high-capacity ER cells are primarily optimized for long-term, low-current discharge.

Another characteristic of Li-SOCl2 chemistry is passivation.

During storage and low-current operation, a protective layer forms on the lithium surface. This layer contributes to the excellent storage characteristics and low self-discharge of the battery.

However, under certain operating conditions, especially after extended storage, a sudden increase in load can cause a temporary voltage drop.

For a simple low-power circuit, this may not be important.

For an IoT communication module, however, temporary voltage drop can be critical.

If the system voltage falls below the minimum operating voltage of the modem, MCU or RF circuit, the device may reset, fail to register with the network or lose a data transmission.

Adding a properly selected LIC can help provide the short-duration current required during these events.

Six ER + LIC Configurations for Different IoT Requirements

Different IoT products require different combinations of energy capacity, pulse capability and physical size.

Cowon offers multiple ER + LIC configurations to cover different application requirements.

ER10450 + LIC0813

This compact combination is suitable for miniature IoT products where PCB space and battery size are important considerations.

Typical applications may include:

• compact wireless sensors,

• small monitoring devices,

• low-duty-cycle transmitters,

• small tracking devices,

• compact utility electronics.

It is particularly suitable when the system requires a small primary battery while still benefiting from additional pulse support.

ER14250 + LIC0820

ER14250 is a common compact Li-SOCl2 size used in industrial electronics and smart sensing products.

When paired with LIC0820, it can provide a useful balance between compact dimensions, long standby operation and periodic wireless communication.

Potential applications include:

• smart sensors,

• compact utility meters,

• security devices,

• remote monitoring nodes,

• low-power RF devices.

ER14505 + LIC1020

ER14505 offers higher energy capacity while maintaining a familiar AA-size format.

Combined with LIC1020, this configuration can be considered for IoT products requiring a longer operating period or greater communication demand than smaller battery systems.

Typical applications may include:

• smart water meters,

• gas meters,

• asset tracking devices,

• LoRa and LoRaWAN nodes,

• NB-IoT sensors,

• industrial monitoring systems.

ER26500 + LIC1320

As energy requirements increase, ER26500 becomes an attractive option for long-life industrial IoT systems.

The larger battery provides considerably more available energy than compact ER cells, while LIC1320 supports the system during communication or other peak-load events.

Potential applications include:

• NB-IoT monitoring devices,

• remote telemetry units,

• industrial sensors,

• smart metering equipment,

• agricultural IoT,

• environmental monitoring,

• infrastructure monitoring.

This type of combination is particularly useful for devices expected to remain in the field for extended periods without frequent battery replacement.

ER34615 + LIC1620

ER34615 is a D-size Li-SOCl2 battery commonly selected when long service life and high total energy are important.

Paired with LIC1620, it can support demanding IoT applications that combine very low standby consumption with periodic high-current communication.

Potential applications include:

• long-life smart meters,

• remote monitoring systems,

• industrial telemetry,

• GPS and asset tracking,

• pipeline monitoring,

• outdoor IoT equipment,

• cellular-connected sensors.

ER34615 + LIC1840

For applications with both high energy requirements and more demanding pulse loads, ER34615 + LIC1840 provides another option.

The larger LIC can be considered when the wireless communication system or device architecture requires stronger pulse support.

Typical applications may include:

• high-power NB-IoT devices,

• LTE-M communication terminals,

• remote industrial monitoring,

• tracking devices,

• smart infrastructure,

• utility equipment,

• outdoor connected systems.

The exact battery and LIC combination should always be selected according to the real electrical profile of the device rather than application name alone.

How to Select the Right ER + LIC Combination

There is no single battery combination that is ideal for every IoT application.

A reliable power solution starts with understanding the actual load profile.

Before selecting an ER battery and LIC, engineers should evaluate the following parameters.

1. Standby Current

How much current does the device consume while sleeping?

Because IoT devices can spend most of their service life in standby mode, even a small change in sleep current can have a significant effect on total battery life.

2. Peak Current

What is the highest current required when the modem, radio, motor, valve or other load is activated?

This is one of the most important parameters when selecting the LIC.

3. Pulse Duration

A short pulse lasting a few milliseconds is very different from a load that remains high for several seconds.

Peak current and pulse duration must therefore be considered together.

4. Transmission Frequency

How often does the device communicate?

Once per day?

Once per hour?

Every few minutes?

A device that transmits frequently may place very different demands on the battery system compared with a device that sends one short packet per day.

5. Minimum Operating Voltage

Every electronic system has a minimum voltage below which reliable operation cannot be guaranteed.

The power solution must maintain sufficient voltage during the highest load condition.

6. Operating Temperature

Temperature affects battery performance, pulse behavior, internal resistance and usable capacity.

Outdoor and industrial IoT devices may experience very different conditions from indoor electronics.

7. Required Service Life

A five-year design and a fifteen-year design should not automatically use the same battery.

Expected lifetime must be evaluated together with standby current, transmission frequency, self-discharge and environmental conditions.

8. Available Installation Space

The ideal electrical solution must still fit inside the device.

This is why multiple combinations ranging from ER10450 + LIC0813 to ER34615 + LIC1840 are useful.

Does an LIC Increase the Battery's Ah Capacity?

This is an important distinction.

An LIC is not normally added primarily to increase the nominal Ah capacity of the ER battery.

The main purpose is to improve short-duration power delivery.

The ER battery remains the primary long-term energy source.

The LIC acts as a power buffer during pulse-load events.

Therefore, when calculating expected operating life, engineers should still evaluate the usable capacity of the ER battery together with the complete device duty cycle.

ER Battery + LIC vs High-Rate Battery

There are several ways to power a high-pulse IoT device.

One option is to use a battery chemistry or cell construction specifically designed for higher continuous and pulse current.

Another option is to combine a high-energy Li-SOCl2 cell with a pulse-support component such as an LIC.

The correct choice depends on the application.

An ER + LIC architecture can be particularly attractive when the system needs:

• very low self-discharge,

• long standby life,

• high total energy,

• and only periodic high-current pulses.

Instead of optimizing the entire battery around a short communication event, the system separates the energy requirement from the power requirement.

Typical Applications for ER + LIC Power Systems

This type of hybrid power architecture can be considered for many battery-powered connected products, including:

Smart Metering

• Smart water meters

• Smart gas meters

• Smart electricity meters

• Heat meters

Wireless IoT

• NB-IoT sensors

• LTE-M devices

• LoRaWAN nodes

• RF communication equipment

Tracking

• GPS trackers

• Asset tracking devices

• Logistics monitoring devices

• Remote location beacons

Industrial IoT

• Industrial sensors

• Remote monitoring equipment

• Pipeline monitoring

• Infrastructure monitoring

• Security and alarm systems

Environmental and Agricultural Monitoring

• Weather sensors

• Soil monitoring equipment

• Agricultural IoT devices

• Environmental data loggers

Why the Complete Load Profile Matters

Choosing the correct IoT battery is not simply a matter of selecting the largest possible capacity.

For example, two devices may both use NB-IoT communication but have completely different power requirements.

Device A may transmit one short message every 24 hours.

Device B may transmit every 15 minutes and perform frequent network registration.

Even if both products use the same communication technology, their battery requirements can be very different.

For this reason, the most useful information to provide when requesting a power solution includes:

• normal operating current,

• sleep current,

• maximum pulse current,

• pulse duration,

• communication frequency,

• minimum operating voltage,

• environmental temperature range,

• target service life,

• and available battery dimensions.

With this information, a more suitable ER battery and LIC combination can be evaluated.

A Scalable Power Platform for IoT Devices

The range from ER10450 + LIC0813 through ER34615 + LIC1840 creates a scalable platform for different IoT product sizes and power requirements.

Smaller combinations can support compact connected sensors where installation space is limited.

Mid-range configurations can serve smart metering, tracking and general wireless sensing.

Larger combinations can support remote industrial devices requiring both long operating life and stronger pulse performance.

Instead of treating the battery as a standalone component, IoT developers can evaluate the complete power architecture according to the actual duty cycle of the device.

Conclusion

Modern IoT devices require more than simply a battery with a large capacity.

They often require a power system capable of delivering very low current efficiently for months or years while still supporting short periods of much higher current during communication.

Combining a Li-SOCl2 ER battery with a Lithium-Ion Capacitor provides one practical way to address both requirements.

The ER battery provides long-term energy.

The LIC provides pulse-power support.

From compact combinations such as ER10450 + LIC0813 to higher-energy systems such as ER34615 + LIC1840, the right solution depends on the device's actual standby current, pulse current, pulse duration, communication frequency, temperature and required service life.

For IoT battery selection, the most important question is therefore not simply:

“Which battery has the largest capacity?”

A better question is:

“Which power combination best matches the real operating profile of the device?”

Cowon can support customized ER battery + LIC configurations for different IoT, smart metering, tracking and industrial applications based on the customer's electrical and mechanical requirements.