For you Unused Cordless Batteries

[mobiledynamics]

Just kurious....for those that are OCD about these sorta things...

How do you store your LION battery packs that might sit for awhile or don't see constant usage.

For example, I'm all M18..the only M12 I have is couple of 2AH, and these are just to use in my M12 Pex and M12 Adhesive Gun.

I've got 5 Dewalt 40V batteries. The blowers do see some usage during the cold season, very minimal, but I always rotate/cycle my batteries...

I try to keep on average at 40-60 SOC for those hibernation periods.

 

[Ign]

I do nothing. Where ever they end up is where they end up. When I pick them back up again, I use them.

I've got 7 or 8 Ryobi 40V batteries. Like you, OPE doesn't see much use during the winter. I've only got two chargers. I fully charge them and stack them on a shelf. Two stay on the two wall-mounted chargers. Worked fine last winter like that (shrug). If they start flashing red/green from extreme cold at night (happens with M12, M28 and once with the Ryobi 40V, but never M18 so far) I yank them off the charger to stop the damn flashing and set them where ever.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I hear ya that you could just set and forget but technically, best pratice if they are going to sit dormant, is to not leave them in a full SOC

 

[Brian_WK]

I just try to keep mine at 50% charge. I have them sitting on my work bench sorted 100% and 50%. Never leaving them dead or fully charged unless a big job is coming up that I think will require multiple batteries. I have all bosch and 30 min chargers so getting them to full charge doesn't take long. All my batteries are over 4 years old and have no issues with capacities.

 

[Ign]

I hear ya that you could just set and forget but technically, best pratice if they are going to sit dormant, is to not leave them in a full SOC

That's just one of those things that works out on paper and seems to sit well with engineers. Best practice is to never smoke, never be around smokers, never eat fast food, never eat food packaged in plastic, etc. etc.

There are plenty of things we technically should or should not do, and then there's reality

 

[guy48065]

Always good to be reminded what Best Practice is...so we can say "told you so!" later.

I have this cordless stick vac that uses a big 25V Li-ion pack. I've had it 2 years and it mostly just sits on its charging stand. A few weeks ago I glanced at it and noticed the charging light was not doing its usual slow pulse but was on solid. I didn't know what this meant & it's not in the manual. Next morning I noticed it was glowing red. Now my $200 vac doesn't work. Fortunately I bought it before Electrolux shortened their warranty from 5 years to 2. They sent me a new pack after I sent them a copy of my receipt AND the warranty page of the manual. One week later the light is again red. Seems likely the charger is the fault (and I don't know if the circuit is in the wall wart or the vac) but might also be I wasn't following "Best Practice". I don't want to be on the hook for their overpriced crappy battery pack.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

That's just one of those things that works out on paper and seems to sit well with engineers. Best practice is to never smoke, never be around smokers, never eat fast food, never eat food packaged in plastic, etc. etc.

There are plenty of things we technically should or should not do, and then there's reality

HUGE +1

Reality... I leave them on the tool, wherever the tool is left.

 

[rlitman]

For the most part, I wouldn't worry much about it. Lithium ion batteries have a long shelf life.

A while back, I found a deal on a LOT of M18 batteries. I sold a few cases here, put a few into my regular battery lineup, and put a few more into the back of my freezer (sealed up). If they'll be sitting for years, the freezer isn't a bad idea. But be aware that while cold storage may slightly extend their shelf life, condensation melting on them, freeze/thaw cycles, and cold charging/discharging will shorten a battery's life.

 

[PFSard]

Here's Dewalt's spiel

Power Tools - Best Practices for Long Battery Pack Life
http://www.dewalt.com/dewalt-dna/featured-articles/best-practices-for-battery-life

 

[DFB]

This is what my Milwaukee manual reads... "store batteries at room temperature away from moisture and avoid damp locations where corrosion of terminals may occur. Milwaukee lithium batteries maintain a charge longer than other types and after about year of storage then charge as normal".

But excessive heat especially temps over 120F can more damaging and can cause permanent capacity loss according to the manual too.


Also says Milwaukee batteries can be used in the cold below freezing but may need to warm up for total performance and the charger may not charge and throw its flashing light signal if the battery is too cold to take the charge (same thing can happen if its too hot or too wet so it may need to warm up cool down or dry out). And batteries can be topped up at any time though they do not need to recharged until the end of their charge cycle.

Also too cold a battery can cause some charger hum. Hmm that's interesting I think a question about charger hum was asked over on the Milwaukee Addiction thread not long ago.

I just recently rounded up all my batteries that were in use from the different tools and topped each one off for temporary storage as its a slow time of year for me and using most of my construction tools. And just because I had the time to do it really, otherwise I don't think about it and they all will be fine except for my old Makita batteries they'll be dead.

BTW these days my workshop garage/storage area is around +60F on average all winter long. I like that

 

[FMC1959]

I have extreme OCD when it comes to my batteries. All are lithium and whenever I get a new one, I grab a Sharpie and mark the date of purchase on the battery

Impact drivers, radios and flashlights keep the battery on at all times because I use them often, all other tools, the battery comes off when I put the tool away.

I have 6 Fein batteries, 6 Metabo, 8 Ryobi, 9 Makita 18v, 11 of the M12 and only 2 of the M18. All heave their on mini shelf where I grab the battery at the front of the line, whatever comes off a charger goes to the back of the line. Any tool that gets used and is not the aforementioned radio, flashlight or impact, the battery goes back to the front of the line as long as it still has some charge, otherwise it goes into the charger.

I also have a piece of cardboard, the size of a playing card, which I put in the back of the line with, example, today's date. This card goes to the back of the line of the batteries on the shelf. As each battery goes through their cycle, the card moves closer to the front of the line. When it gets there, I know how many months the last battery was sitting, then the card gets the new date and back off the line it goes. I do this for all of the above batteries, except the M18 which I only have 2.

I try to make sure no battery sits for 6 months. Radios and flashlights are amazing in my book because I always listen to music and always need additional lighting. In both cases plugging in cords is a drag and using regular throw away batteries is a waste and expensive long term. I have 3 radios and 5 flashlights, which I use randomly, but if one of the battery brands has been unused for a while, I use them specifically.

It might sound complicated but once in place, it all happens with little thought process.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Similar system
I have mine labeled 1-24, etc
As I go through each one, I take the next number and that one goes into my lantern. So he next battery I grab , I just eyeball what's on the lantern (which is the ref point ) and just move down the line using the next number . So I guess I'm not the only one ��

 

[DHCrocks]

I have a couple of Bosch 10.8 batteries so these are older then 2008 when they made the switch to 12v naming. so it's at least 8 years old, I'm guessing more like 10. they still hold a charge and seem to be of similar capacity to other 12 labeled ones I have. I have always stored them fully charged. I just charge them after I use and rotate between my batteries so they might go unused months on end.

I also have some old Dewalt 18v Nano batteries when they first came out. Those must be well over 10 years old and they still work fine.

I have always stored my batteries full charged ready to go.