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Posted: 3/12/2009 12:50:17 PM EDT
| I just received a large order of lithium batterys. I know that heat is a batterys worst enemy and was wondering about optimal storage conditions. Do any of you keep their batterys in the freezer? Is this a good idea and if so do you seal them up really well before putting them in. Thanks. |
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Please do not store Lithium batteries in the freezer. They are much more tolerant of sub-zero (C) temperatures and will not benefit from freezing conditions that slow-down the chemistry of other batteries.
In fact, putting Lithium batteries in the freezer exposes them to a hazard (once they are removed) - moisture via condensation. Moisture and Lithium do not mix well. Take steps to prevent them being exposed to moisture. Keep them dry. Store Lithium batteries in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight, avoiding vibration and protect them from crushing. Importantly ensure they can not be accidentally short-circuited or contaminated by dust etc, especially metallic dust. Ensure that the batteries are not stored in a container in which pressurised gases can build-up. Ambient temperature conditions in doors (~10 C to ~35 C) are fine. If the temperature is outside this range the shelf-life may be shortened. As a ballpark I rotate out batteries in unused flashlights kept indoors every 3-5 years, and batteries in unused flashlights kept outdoors (my car, my garden shed etc) every year or so. Remember to keep the batteries in the set they were stored in the flashlight for use either as individual batteries in one-cell flashlights, or use all the batteries of the set in a flashlight requiring the same number of batteries. This is to prevent mixing fresh, used and partially used batteries (mixing batteries poses the real risk of explosion) If you start using a set of batteries they will not keep for as long as unused batteries. In fact I suggest that you replace partially used batteries before returning the flashlight to storage. I use an E1L or my L1 to individually use up batteries from my M6. To sum up: Keep Lithium batteries dry. Al |
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