18v Lithion-Ion battery lifespan

[3 at 8]

I bought both a Porter Cable 18v 3 piece and 4 piece sets that use LI-Ion batteries. They both came with two batteries apeice, which is plenty for my use. I have the oppertunity to purhase some extra batteries from a local store which is closeing for about $42 a peice before tax. If I keep them in thier packages in dry storage inside my home, how many years can they sit unused until it no longer becomes practical to buy them in the first place? The battery I am refering to is below, but mine dont say LX on them.Thanks.

Battery: http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=21324

 

[cherokee140]

Lithium batts are some amazing things, but take care in using them and the storage of them.

Keep them cool but not cold, if your charger has a maint. setting charge them at that then let them sit.

In the tool arena Lithium and A123 cells are pretty safe but they do store TONS of energy and need to be treated with respect. Damaged packs need to be desposed of correctly. In the hobby arena we are very demanding of our batteries, and failures while not common do happen.

I am not going to stand on the soap box any more on this....google lithium fire for an idea what can happen.

Store them in a safe place, I keep mine that I am not using in an old 20mm ammo can.

 

[3 at 8]

Thanks for the reply , I am familiar with the potential of venting with flame from 123's which is what I think you are refering to as I use these in my Fenix TK10's. Didnt realize these were of the same chemistry though. Is it worth just buying these to store until the original four expire?

 

[djjsr]

That's a real good price but I think it's risky. Seems to me that the batteries start crapping out in 2 or 3 years regardless of how much they are used. So by the time you're ready to use the spares, they may not have much life left.

 

[truckdriver]

Lithium batteries start to degrade from the date of manufacture,regardless of how they are stored or when put into service.
Check out batteryuniversity.com for tips on storage.

 

[Monte]

IIRC the self discharge of Li-Ion Batteries is about 3 - 4% per month, so theoretically if you charge the battery once a year it should survive the 2000 cycles or whatever the manufacturer say ???! Unfortunately there is no long term experience with Li-Ion batteries...