Early batteries were reserved for commercial use only, such as telecommunications, signaling, portable lighting and war activities. Today, batteries have become a steady travel companion of the public at large to reach a friend, they allow working outside the confines of four walls, provide entertainment when time permits and enable personal transportation. Best of all, batteries help in missions when people are in need.
Folks are eager to learn more about this wonderful portable energy device and one of the most common questions asked is, “What can I do to prolong the life of my battery?” Table 1 addresses how to care for your batteries to meet their needs. Because of similarities within the different battery families, the table addresses the needs and wants of only the most common systems by keeping in mind that these desires extend to almost all batteries in use.
- Keep a battery at a moderate temperature. As food stays fresher when refrigerated, so also does cool temperature protect the battery by reducing internal corrosion, also known as parasitic reactions on the electrolyte and electrodes.
- Avoid deep cycling. Each cycle wears the battery down by a small amount and a partial discharge is better than a full discharge. When possible, only apply a full discharge to calibrate a smart battery and to prevent “memory” on nickel-based batteries. Li-ion is maintenance-free and the battery lasts longest when operating between 30 and 80 percent SoC.
- Avoid abuse. Like a machine that wears down quicker under strenuous work, so also is a battery stressed by harsh discharges and rapid charges. Use cells that are optimized for the power and energy requirements as per application and increase that pack size to minimize load-related stresses.
- Avoid ultra-fast charge. Charge Li-ion Energy Cells at less than 1C (below rated Ah); Power Cells are more rugged and can be charged and discharged at a higher rate. NiCd is the only battery that can be fast charged up to 70 percent SoC without adverse side-effects.
- Store Li-ion at partial charge in a cool place. The worst combination is high voltage and elevated temperature. Store Li-ion at approximately 50 percent SoC.
Frequently asked question | Lead acid (Sealed, flooded) | Nickel-based (NiCd and NiMH) | Lithium-ion (Li-ion, polymer) |
How should I prepare a new battery? | Battery comes fully charged. Apply a topping* charge. | Charge 14–16h. Priming may be needed to format | Apply a topping charge before use. No priming needed |
Can I damage a battery with incorrect use? | Always store battery fully charged. | Battery is robust. New pack will improve with use. | Keep partially charged. Low charge can turn off protection circuit |
Do I need to apply a full charge? | Fully charge every few weeks or months. Continuous low charge causes sulfation. | Partial charge is fine | Partial charge better than a full charge |
Can I disrupt the charge cycle? | Partial charge causes no harm when applying periodic fully saturated charges. | Repeat charges can cause heat buildup | Partial charge causes no harm |
Should I use up all battery energy before charging? | No, deep discharge wears battery down. Charge more often | Apply scheduled discharges only to prevent memory | Deep discharge wears the battery down |
Do I have to worry about “memory”? | No, there is no memory | Discharge NiCd every 1–3 months | No memory |
How do I calibrate a “smart” battery? | Not applicable | Apply discharge/charge when the fuel gauge gets inaccurate. Repeat every 1–3 months | |
Can I charge with the device on? | Avoid load if possible | Parasitic load can alter full-charge detection and overcharge battery or cause mini-cycles | |
Do I remove the battery when full? | Charger switches to float charge | Remove after a few days in charger | Not necessary; charger turns off |
How do I store my battery? | Keep cells above 2.10V; topping-charge* every 6 months. | Store in cool place; can be stored fully discharged | Store in cool place partially charged |
Does battery heat up on charge? | Gets lukewarm towards end of charge | Warm but must cool down when ready | Must stay cool or slightly warm |
How do I charge when cold? | Slow charge (0.1): 0–45°C (32–113°F) Fast charge (0.5–1C): 5–45°C (41–113°F) | Do not charge below freezing | |
Can I charge at hot temperatures? | Lower threshold by 3mV/°C above 25°C | Battery will not fully charge when hot | Do not charge above 50°C (122°F) |
What should I know about chargers? | Charger should float at 2.25–2.30V/cell when ready | Battery should not get too hot and should include temp sensor | Battery must stay cool and no trickle charge when ready |
Strenuous demands cannot always be prevented.
* Topping charge is applied on a battery that is in service or storage to maintain full charge and to prevent sulfation on lead acid batteries.
Comments
i bought my m1 macbook pro last year around the month of may.Since then i have been using my laptop with charger plugged in even after 100 percent.So now my laptop shows maximum battery capacity is 89 percent and life cycles is 109.Is there anything i should worry about.Is the charging method correct
I am a photographer. I have a set of Lithium batteries in my LED light arrays. I have not used them in a year due to illness. Is this harming the batteries? Should I charge them up, even though I don't plan on using them for a while? I have heard mixed stories to not charge up batteries until you are about to use them. Basically, to leave them stored depleted. They are stored in cases, in a cool dry place. Very confused :)
Thanks so much!
I have a Question: I have been considering buying an AGM battery, but I have noticed that the price of 3 Varta battery are not all the same! But it is claimed that they all can deliver the same amount of energy. The battery part numbers are as follows: Varta 58395 Blue Dynamic, Varta 600400833162 'Starter Battery, and Varta G14 Silver Dynamic AGM 59590185D852.
Do you have any idea what the difference is between these three batteries from Varta?
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I'd like to know if anyone has any insight into whether a rest period in between charge and discharge provides any benefit for lithium ion or NiMH? ie) after charging letting the cell sit and drop to a lower OCV before discharging, or vice-versa, after discharging letting the cell sit and bounce back to a higher OCV before charging? I can't find any data on this.