I don't know if this is normal or not, how long should the batteries last before I need to buy new ones? Is it a good or bad idea to buy a few and store for when I will need them. Can someone tell me what the best way is to handle batteries? Thanks!
Handling lithium rechargables is pretty simple.
The biggest thing is that lithium is VERY different than NiCad and NiMh batteries. You are already using the highest quality batteries on the market and the best charger. You need a multimeter (like 10 bucks for cheapies). The reason is the Provari can only read tenths in battery power. Where as a 4.20 is a perfect charge, 4.26 is an overcharge. The Provari might only show this as 4.2.
In terms of storage and service life prolonging, lithium batteries differ from others more so than in any other way. The Pila will charge right up to 4.2 volts, which is the maximum safe charge. One reason it can go right up to this is it is very consistent in its charge and very accurate. Even with high end Fluke multimeters that are very precise, the Pila delivers an extremely consistent charged voltage on the AWs. However, at 4.2 volts, the battery is under more stress than at the 3.7 volt range. So once it goes to a full charge, USE IT! The longer a lithium battery sits at its full service charge, the more strain on it. Recharging at 3.5 volts is a good range. Lithium batteries have no memory and so charging them more frequently with lesser drains is actually good for them (where as with a traditional NiCad battery, it would destroy the battery).
Storing lithium batteries with a full charge is bad. You store them with a 40% charge because more will put unneeded stress on them and too little and they can go into a 'sleep' mode. It is also worth noting that lithium batteries do not do well with heat (or extreme cold for that matter). If the batteries are seeing substantial heat during discharge, then service life will almost surely be negatively impacted. When not using them, be sure they are kept somewhere in which metallic objects cannot touch them and the terminals cannot touch each other, such as a battery container. If a metallic object touches the battery and allows a circuit to be completed, the best case scenario is that you will lose the battery.
If you haven't gotten anywhere near 300 cycles on these and all of the above has been followed, it is possible you got a weak batch and they may be covered under warranty.
