5 Best Storage and Charging Tips for Extending Lifespan Of Lithium Ion Batteries in Home, Business

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Lithium based batteries are becoming more and more popular these days in the world of batteries. They can be seen in many of our personal cordless electronic applications, including PDAs, cell phones, portable CD players, power tools, laptops and more.  But what happens when your CD player or laptop battery dies suddenly and unexpectedly. If the lithium battery you’re using is fully charged but doesn’t last as long as it used to, something is clearly wrong with the battery.  You won’t be able to fix the battery once corrosion or oxidation has occurred internally in the battery.  To avoid these painful consequences, there are a few simple steps to follow to help extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. 

1.    During storage periods, keep your lithium battery at a 40% charge state.

Although it’s best to fully charge a battery before use, prior to storage of lithium-ion batteries it’s harmful to fully discharge them.  The best battery manufacturers store lithium batteries at around 60 degrees and at a 40% charge level.  The 40 percent charge allows a stable condition even if it means a level of self-discharge.  Some reserve charge is necessary to keep a battery and its protection circuit operational during long periods of storage. 

2.    Never leave your lithium battery at an elevated temperature.

Lithium ion batteries do not like heat.  By leaving a lithium battery at a constant high temperature, their lifespan, run time and charge capacity reduce significantly. This is particularly true for laptop computers.  Laptops produce heat.  If you treat your laptop as a desktop replacement and use it as a main power source for a period of one year, the lithium battery capacity could fall to 60% of its original max capacity and lead to a greatly reduced battery life performance.  This issue can be resolved by removing a lithium battery while using a corded power source. 

3.    Always check the manufacturer date on a lithium battery.

Did you find a cheap price for a spare lithium-ion battery on eBay? Or did you find a bulk special on aged lithium batteries in a discount electronic store?  This might appear to be a great value for the money, but think again.  Always check the manufacturer date prior to any lithium battery purchase, and never purchase a lithium battery until you are ready to use it.  The life of a lithium battery starts declining the second it leaves a factory.  You can expect to lose around 20% of a lithium battery’s charge every year from its original manufacture date no matter how well you take care of your battery.  It’s best to make sure the manufacture date falls within a year of the date of your purchase.

4.     Never overcharge your lithium battery.

When a digital camera is not in use, it’s best to remove the lithium-ion battery from the camera unit.  It’s also best to remove the lithium battery when a camera is running on a power adapter.  If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one for the camera unit and keep the other cool by placing it in a refrigerator.  If you leave a lithium ion battery inside a digital camera battery compartment at all times, the battery will become unusable at a much faster rate.  It’s best to give your digital camera a breather by removing the battery every time it’s not in use. 

5.     Avoid frequent full discharges of your lithium batteries.

One of the great advantages of a lithium battery is it has no memory effect, which means recharging a partially charged lithium battery is not harmful.  And partial discharges with frequent recharges are much healthier for a lithium battery than one long deep discharge.  High discharge rates contribute to damage and strain on a lithium battery.  But by charging lithium ion batteries at a slower charge rate and more frequently, you can expect the life of your lithium battery to last much longer. 

If you follow these important tips and advice, the typical lifespan of a lithium-ion battery can last as long as 2 years or the equivalent of 300 charges.  For more information or to find the right lithium battery for your business or home, visit our website at www.ZeusBatteryProducts.com, email sales@ZeusBatteryProducts.com or call 630-295-6800 or toll-free at 877-469-4255.