Lithium batteries have become essential in our everyday devices, from smartphones to laptops to electric cars. But have you ever wondered what happens if these batteries sit unused for a long time? In this article, we’ll dive into the effects of leaving lithium batteries unused, the best pract Contact online >>
Lithium batteries have become essential in our everyday devices, from smartphones to laptops to electric cars. But have you ever wondered what happens if these batteries sit unused for a long time? In this article, we’ll dive into the effects of leaving lithium batteries unused, the best practices for storing them, and tips to maintain their longevity. Let’s get started and make sure your lithium batteries stay in top shape!
When lithium batteries are left unused for extended periods, several things can occur. Firstly, they experience self-discharge, which means they gradually lose their charge over time, even if they’re not powering a device. This self-discharge can lead to a completely drained battery if left unchecked. Additionally, a passivation layer might form on the battery’s electrodes. This layer increases the battery’s internal resistance, which reduces its capacity and efficiency. Essentially, your battery won’t perform as well as it used to.
Let’s break it down further:
When it comes to storing lithium batteries, you might wonder whether it’s best to store them charged or uncharged. The general consensus among experts is to store lithium batteries at about 50% to 60% of their capacity. Storing them fully charged can put extra stress on the battery, while storing them completely discharged can cause them to enter a deep discharge state, which is harmful. Keeping them partially charged helps to maintain their overall health and prolong their lifespan.
1. Storing Fully Charged Batteries
While it might seem logical to store a fully charged battery, doing so can put unnecessary stress on the battery cells. High voltage can cause the battery to degrade faster, reducing its overall lifespan. If you plan to store your lithium batteries for an extended period, avoid charging them to 100%.
2. Storing Fully Discharged Batteries
On the other hand, storing batteries that are completely discharged can lead to a condition known as deep discharge. In this state, the battery’s voltage drops too low, making it difficult, if not impossible, to recharge. Deep discharge can cause permanent damage to the battery, reducing its capacity and overall lifespan.
The sweet spot for storing lithium batteries is at a partial charge, around 50-60%. This level helps to minimize stress on the battery cells while preventing deep discharge. It’s a balanced approach that ensures the battery remains in good condition during storage.
You might be curious about how long you can store a lithium battery before it starts to degrade. Generally, lithium batteries can be stored for up to 6 to 12 months without significant degradation, provided they are stored under the right conditions. However, it’s a good idea to check on them every few months to ensure they’re still in good condition. Here are some storage tips:
Several factors can influence how long you can store a lithium battery before it starts to degrade:
Leaving a lithium battery completely uncharged for a long time can be detrimental. If a lithium battery is left in a discharged state for too long, it can fall into a deep discharge state. In this state, the battery’s voltage drops too low, which can lead to irreversible damage and a significant reduction in capacity. To avoid this, always ensure that lithium batteries are stored with a partial charge.
Deep discharge can cause several issues:
Yes, lithium batteries do drain when not in use, thanks to self-discharge. The rate of self-discharge depends on the battery’s quality, age, and storage conditions. On average, lithium batteries lose about 2-3% of their charge per month when stored properly. While this might not seem like much, it can add up over several months, potentially leaving the battery with little to no charge when you need it. Regularly checking and recharging the battery can help keep this issue in check.
Factors Affecting Self-Discharge
Proper storage is key to maintaining the health of your lithium batteries. Here are some tips for storing lithium batteries that won’t be used for a while:
Lithium batteries are an integral part of modern life, but knowing how to store them properly when not in use is crucial. By keeping them partially charged, storing them in a cool and dry place, and checking their charge levels periodically, you can ensure your lithium batteries remain in good condition and ready to use when you need them. Proper storage and maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your lithium batteries, providing reliable power for your devices over time.
Lithium-ion batteries, when not in use, generally don''t degrade significantly simply by sitting idle. The monthly SoH (State of Health) loss of a lithium-ion battery that is not undercharged, overcharged, or overheated is between 0.08 to 0.25%.If they are stored for an extended duration, however, the potential for deterioration may arise due to certain factors. All batteries have some amount of self-discharge. Self-discharge is a phenomenon that occurs in which a battery will use a very tiny fraction of its own energy, even when no load is attached.
As all batteries experience some degree of self-discharge, this phenomenon can be a concern for lithium-ion batteries as well, albeit at a much lower rate. When these batteries are stored for an exceptionally long time without being charged, the self-discharge could potentially cause the cell voltage to fall below 2.5 volts. If this low voltage state persists, it may lead to cell damage.
Lithium-ion batteries don''t really go bad very quickly just sitting there. As long as they are properly stored, they will only lose a tiny, tiny fraction of their lifespan sitting on a shelf. For any real damage to occur, it takes either charge and discharge cycles to damage them, or for their voltage to fall below 2.5 volts or over 4.2 volts.
When the voltage of a lithium-ion battery falls below 2.5V, the electrochemical stability of the cell is compromised. This leads to excessive lithium-ion extraction from the cathode and can cause the copper in the anode to dissolve. The extra lithium pulled from the cathode can then be plated onto the anode, causing an increase in IR (Internal Resistance).
It''s pretty rare for internal discharge to ruin a battery. In most cases, if a lithium-ion battery pack has been sitting on a shelf and has not been cycled, chances are it''s as good as new.
If a battery was installed in a device that was on standby, though, it''s a different story. Whatever standby current that the device has will be much larger than the self-discharge rate of the cell. This can put your cells in a situation in which they are pulled way, way lower than 2.5 volts. This situation can lead to damage in the cells, and trying to recover the cells from a low voltage state can be a somewhat dangerous procedure.
Again, the wear that comes from using lithium-ion batteries comes from just that, using them. They have to be charged and discharged, repeatedly cycled over and over again before they start losing capacity. This is because the loss of capacity is a function of that process. Every time the battery is charged or discharged, it''s damaged a little bit. If you don''t charge or discharge, little to no damage occurs.
Lithium-ion batteries can be stored for years without any issues as long as you take the proper precautions and follow the right procedures.
Storage conditions: Lithium-ion batteries need to be stored in cool, dry conditions. This means they need to be stored in an air-conditioned environment. Extreme temperatures and humidity can accelerate the self-discharge rate and cause damage to the cells. For the longest possible shelf life, store your batteries between 50°F and 77°F.
Storage charge level: Don''t store dead batteries. Make sure your lithium-ion batteries are somewhere between 40 and 60% charged to prevent over-discharge during storage. This charge level ensures that the battery remains in a stable condition and reduces the likelihood of voltage dropping to a damaging level. We wrote up a guide to help you find the best storage voltages for batteries.
Check on your batteries: Check the status of the cells you''re storing from time to time. This can be extremely helpful in identifying potential issues before they cause damage, giving you time to take corrective action.
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