Battery question...
- Thread starter GiMante
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Lithium batteries aren't harmed by leaving on the charger, nor are they harmed by charging them before they are drained. They don't have memory effect. The only downside I've heard is really about storing batteries at full charge, which can reduce the overall life and performance of the battery. But I don't care about that, the batteries are best purchased fresh and used to death anyway.
Yeah, and I would have agreed with you a few months ago. I've recently seen some chargers floating around out there that absolutely will destroy a battery if left plugged in.
V4L changes manufacturers pretty frequently. It's hard for me to answer questions definitively (which is why I've been avoiding doing so) or so absolutely anymore. Before answering that question you would need to disassemble a couple current-generation V4L chargers and confirm they have a charge controller in them rather than just being "dumb". Dumb-charging Li* needs to be done a lot more carefully, including not leaving the batteries on the charger post-charge.
V4L changes manufacturers pretty frequently. It's hard for me to answer questions definitively (which is why I've been avoiding doing so) or so absolutely anymore. Before answering that question you would need to disassemble a couple current-generation V4L chargers and confirm they have a charge controller in them rather than just being "dumb". Dumb-charging Li* needs to be done a lot more carefully, including not leaving the batteries on the charger post-charge.
Are the chargers you are referring to AC wall chargers, USB chargers or another type (or combination of types)?
Note that I've seen a lot of charger designs of late, but not the latest V4L chargers - so I'm speaking in general terms. The chargers I've seen have been AC wall chargers, of the generic form. They were not V4L-branded, so I'm not certain what the latest-and-greatest from V4L equates to. I'm not alluding to V4L's having (or not having) charge management, simply cautioning careful examination. (ie. someone needs to cut a couple latest-and-greatest apart to see)
The 5-8 month old V4L AC wall chargers did have charge management controllers. My 7.5mo old and 5 month old chargers are still running fine and did have charge management.
[I pride myself on calling stuff for what it is, so I want to make sure it's clear that I have no educated opinion one way or another on the latest V4L-branded chargers at this time with present hardware-in-hand.]
The 5-8 month old V4L AC wall chargers did have charge management controllers. My 7.5mo old and 5 month old chargers are still running fine and did have charge management.
[I pride myself on calling stuff for what it is, so I want to make sure it's clear that I have no educated opinion one way or another on the latest V4L-branded chargers at this time with present hardware-in-hand.]
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This is the best source for battery-education I've come across. Someone somewhere else on the forum recommended it, but I can't remember who to give them credit.
How to prolong lithium-based batteries
In regard to Lithium laptop batteries they say:
"The worst condition is keeping a fully charged battery at elevated temperatures, which is the case with running laptop batteries. If used on main power, the battery inside a laptop will only last for 12-18 months. I must hasten to explain that the pack does not die suddenly but begins with reduced run-times."
But I can't really see that being a problem on an overnight charge, its just because most people run their laptops plugged in all the time and it kills the battery. That might be a problem on pass-thru battery chargers, but not for overnight charging.
Check out the tips at the bottom of the linked page. Good stuff there.
How to prolong lithium-based batteries
In regard to Lithium laptop batteries they say:
"The worst condition is keeping a fully charged battery at elevated temperatures, which is the case with running laptop batteries. If used on main power, the battery inside a laptop will only last for 12-18 months. I must hasten to explain that the pack does not die suddenly but begins with reduced run-times."
But I can't really see that being a problem on an overnight charge, its just because most people run their laptops plugged in all the time and it kills the battery. That might be a problem on pass-thru battery chargers, but not for overnight charging.
Check out the tips at the bottom of the linked page. Good stuff there.
Actually I'm talking Lithium based batteries to Lithium based batteries...though you might be right about the quote I selected to emphasize my point - I haven't exactly tried to screw an atomizer into my laptop battery.
But anyway, the recommendations for prolonging lithium based batteries are pretty consistent whether its a laptop battery, a portable charger, a flashlight battery, or being abused in a PV. The environment of use and design of the batteries changes a lot of things, but the way the lithium tech holds a charge, discharges, stores, degrades, etc is kumquats to kumquats. Or maybe kumquat marmalade to kumquat jelly, but close enough to gain insight from one and apply it to the other.
When you get a battery that costs ~$0.04 to last 18 months, let me know, and we can be rich together.
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