Battery question???

[moishesmom]

Can someone pleeeeze answer this - If you fully charge your batteries & put them away, do they remain charged or do they lose power in storage. I'm just trying to prepare for another Michigan winter (power outages) & my old Girl Scout motto of "be prepared" is kicking in.

 

[tc1]

The batteries we use are BEST stored only 50% charged if not used for months at a time. The amount of charge that will be retained can vary from battery to battery but they generally stay fairly charged.

 

[moishesmom]

The batteries we use are BEST stored only 50% charged if not used for months at a time. The amount of charge that will be retained can vary from battery to battery but they generally stay fairly charged.

Thank you.....I honestly didn't have a clue.

 

[DEVO357]

Yes I was wondering about that too, I usually use mine within a few days so they dont sit around too long but good to know.

 

[Strigoi]

I'll let some sit for weeks and when I throw them on the charger it only takes 2-30 minutes to be fully charged again. This is mainly with my 18500s or 18650s.

 

[DizGrizz]

As a rule, Lithium-ion (and derivatives like Lithium-manganese, etc.) prefer to be at 1/2 to 3/4 charge when placed into "cold storage". At full charge, they are, like all batteries, more prone to internal current leakage which can degrade them over time. LiOn batteries are, however, some of the best rechargeables at retaining their power in storage and can hold a charge for months and longer.

 

[moishesmom]

I'll let some sit for weeks and when I throw them on the charger it only takes 2-30 minutes to be fully charged again. This is mainly with my 18500s or 18650s.

Thanks, I'll do that. Those are the only 2 sizes of batts I have - great idea.

 

[vsummer1]

As a rule, Lithium-ion (and derivatives like Lithium-manganese, etc.) prefer to be at 1/2 to 3/4 charge when placed into "cold storage". At full charge, they are, like all batteries, more prone to internal current leakage which can degrade them over time. LiOn batteries are, however, some of the best rechargeables at retaining their power in storage and can hold a charge for months and longer.

And based on this information, I would indeed store mine fully charged in anticipation of power outages if I was in an area where they tend to occur. You can buy another battery for what, $10? Which is better than NOT having a charged battery.

I rotate mine but keep them charged.

Also, I have a car adapter for my charger. It came with it, and I am very happy with it:
Crystal Clear Vaping

 

[moishesmom]

As a rule, Lithium-ion (and derivatives like Lithium-manganese, etc.) prefer to be at 1/2 to 3/4 charge when placed into "cold storage". At full charge, they are, like all batteries, more prone to internal current leakage which can degrade them over time. LiOn batteries are, however, some of the best rechargeables at retaining their power in storage and can hold a charge for months and longer.

I know I have the brain of a road-cone & now I'm REALLY confused all my batts are Li-Ion; am I supposed to partially use them & then store them or can I fully charge them before I put them away? I'd hate to ruin them........

 

[vsummer1]

I know I have the brain of a road-cone & now I'm REALLY confused all my batts are Li-Ion; am I supposed to partially use them & then store them or can I fully charge them before I put them away? I'd hate to ruin them........

NO. It won't matter if you rotate them, and half discharged is only for LONG TERM storage. Don't be cheap if you may need those batteries charged!

 

[moishesmom]

NO. It won't matter if you rotate them, and half discharged is only for LONG TERM storage. Don't be cheap if you may need those batteries charged!

I do rotate but just bought some new ones & thought of just charging them for storage....guess I'll just put all of them to use in rotation?

 

[doots]

Ive had batts well over a year sitting that still have a lot of charge..

 

[moishesmom]

Ive had batts well over a year sitting that still have a lot of charge..

Good to know, THANKS I just recently ventured into the world of batts; starting with 18500s & have now included the 18650s - so with the ice-age coming, just didn't have a clue. BTW - Love your avatar...what a cutey.

 

[moishesmom]

NO. It won't matter if you rotate them, and half discharged is only for LONG TERM storage. Don't be cheap if you may need those batteries charged!

Cost doesn't enter into it....just want to be prepared if the wind blows over 2mph here. I don't know where 'lurking behind the iron curtain' is or if you've ever had an outage, but it means no gas, no cash registers, nothing. Therefore, generators, gasoline, propane,etc are all 'must haves' here. This is my 1st year using these type of batts & just want to cma the best way possible.

 

[vsummer1]

Cost doesn't enter into it....just want to be prepared if the wind blows over 2mph here. I don't know where 'lurking behind the iron curtain' is or if you've ever had an outage, but it means no gas, no cash registers, nothing. Therefore, generators, gasoline, propane,etc are all 'must haves' here. This is my 1st year using these type of batts & just want to cma the best way possible.

I was referring to the people who were saying that the battery would last longer if stored half charged. What I meant was, for you, a charged battery is more important than a $10 battery lasting another year

Sorry if you took my meaning wrong.

 

[tc1]

Well, you only want to keep it 50% charged if you plan to store the battery long term. If it's a battery you're going to use here and there often ... obviously you want to keep it charged.

So basically, the only reason you'd be storing at 50% is if you bought spare batteries you don't plan on using for awhile.

 

[Faylool]

As a rule, Lithium-ion (and derivatives like Lithium-manganese, etc.) prefer to be at 1/2 to 3/4 charge when placed into "cold storage". At full charge, they are, like all batteries, more prone to internal current leakage which can degrade them over time. LiOn batteries are, however, some of the best rechargeables at retaining their power in storage and can hold a charge for months and longer.

What are my AW IMRs then please. Thank you

 

[tc1]

AW's are LiMN batteries manufactured by Panasonic. The whole 50% thing is pretty much a rule on all lithium-based batteries (Li in the beginning of the name).

 

[moishesmom]

I was referring to the people who were saying that the battery would last longer if stored half charged. What I meant was, for you, a charged battery is more important than a $10 battery lasting another year

Sorry if you took my meaning wrong.

No...I'm sorry if I sounded crossYou're absolutely right, having the batteries charged in an emergency is exactly what I want. Funny that you mentioned CCV - I'm expecting an order from them tomorrow. I never even looked at the auto charger (duh). I've seen where someone wrote that their PV blew up w/one of those; not necessarily from CCV. I've even been looking for some kind of crank charger - not paranoid am I?

 

[vsummer1]

No...I'm sorry if I sounded crossYou're absolutely right, having the batteries charged in an emergency is exactly what I want. Funny that you mentioned CCV - I'm expecting an order from them tomorrow. I never even looked at the auto charger (duh). I've seen where someone wrote that their PV blew up w/one of those; not necessarily from CCV. I've even been looking for some kind of crank charger - not paranoid am I?

I just had this insane picture in my head of you cranking that charger like a madperson!

ETA: you don't put a PV in a charger? You put a battery in one. No wonder it blew up! I love mine, and it does have all those nice features plus the car adapter...