How often do you throw out batteries??

[NICnurse]

Hey!

Just wanted a few thoughts on how often you completely toss out and purchase new batts. I use 18650 AW IMR for my provari and gripper. I purchased 6 new batts in May 2012. I use a batt per day. All of them come off the charger @ 4.2v, and I throw them on the charger once they get down to 3.6 or 3.7v. Never completely discharged. Each batt gets used once maybe twice per week. How long would all of you keep these before buying new ones? Just curious when I need to purchase a fresh set of 6 and toss these out. Oh and I have had no problems with any of them, this is more of a preventative maintenance issue. Thanks!!

 

[debook]

You should be able to go a long time on that setup. The yellow light should go off when something changes with them, but as close as it sounds like you are keeping track of them you'll notice it long before there are any problems. Keep an eye on their voltage after charge, after sitting a few days and after use. Also, it is good to let them rest before and after charging and inspect them for physical appearance before use. If you don't have one already, a cheap multimeter is good to keep at your charger to check voltages and there are plenty of videos on YT that show how to test battery voltage. When they stop getting the same charge voltage or the voltage after resting is quite a bit lower, something is up and probably best to stop using it and replace it. I have a couple of older 1600mah 18650 IMR's that only charge to about 4.16V now where before they would get to 4.2V, and though they work great I'm going to replace them within the next couple of weeks.

There is a great battery info thread here, in the modding forum I think. Search for it and give it a read, tons of great info about caring for and monitoring your batteries.

 

[NICnurse]

Thanks for the info! I always let the fresh off the charger batt sit on my glass desk for 12 hours. Then I throw it back into rotation with the other batts. Heading over to the batt thread for a good read.

 

[grandmato5]

As long as my batteries are charging properly, maintaining pretty much their run time between charges, have had no over heating issues, and no tears in their covering I continue to use them. Among my current collection of batteries I have some I have been using for over two years and will continue to use them until one of the above issues arises with them. I like to switch APV's and have several of each type of battery that I use so its not like any of my batteries have been charged daily since I got them.

In the past 28 months I have gotten rid of a couple batteries that had tears on their coverings that I could not easily cover with electrical tape, one that became extremely hot in my APV, and several that had reduced run time between charges (like from 5 hours down to two hours between charges). When a battery presents any sign of a problem I prefer to play it safe and stop using it.

If you have had 6 batteries for about 8 months and only recharge them once every 6 days they've each only had about 40 charges and should all have a long life ahead of them.

 

[Bosco]

I read a post on here not too long ago about changing out your batteries once per year . .on New Years so you'll remember. That sounds pretty reasonable . . a relatively small expenditure to avoid an unpleasant situation. I'm cheap, tho . .so I'll proabably hang on to mine as long as possible.

 

[yzer]

The number of charge cycles per li-ion battery is a better way to express battery lifespan. I keep seven to ten batteries in rotation so these will last me many months longer than if I was using just two batteries in rotation.

I have some batteries that showed enough capacity loss after 35 charges cycles that I replaced them. I have others that have lasted 75 charge cycles and are still going strong.

 

[djtonyb]

I have some batteries that showed enough capacity loss after 35 charges cycles that I replaced them. I have others that have lasted 75 charge cycles and are still going strong.

Really? Only 35? The general consensus is that they are good for about 300 cycles...

How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

 

[yzer]

Really? Only 35? The general consensus is that they are good for about 300 cycles...

How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

I don't think anyone who has been vaping for a while gets anywhere near 300 charge cycles off their Li-ion batteries regardless of type or brand. Actual practice differs from manufacturer's claims. YMMV.

 

[djensen9367]

I have 2 different chargers (both good quality) and my batteries (18650)never hit 4.2 on a charge, aw,panasonic,eh and efest. Usually just over 4.1. I would think a couple of years is not out of line especially with several batteries in rotation.

 

[Plumes.91]

Until they stop charging or putting out a normal amount of voltage.