Cold Batteries

[bad_idea]

I am having issues with my dewalt 20v batteries being too cold to charge, or not working well due to cold temps. Anyone have a good solution for this? I have a detached garage that is not heated. I don't want to bring the batteries and chargers into the house. I am considering a cabinet with an incandescent bulb in it on a thermostat set for 50 degrees or so. Or it may be time to build the bathroom and install a heater in there with a shelf for the chargers.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Lithium ion batteries have permanent reduced capacity when charged below freeing temperatures. So the battery charge management (BCM) electronics often have temperature sensors to prevent charging at low temperatures. So you need to have a warmer environment for charging.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I don't want to bring the batteries and chargers into the house.

Any particular reason? Throw them in a shoebox or something and they’ll be organized and out of the way.

 

[bad_idea]

I use them in the garage most times. Don't want to run in the house every time I need a battery.

 

[RTM]

The lightbulb in a cabinet can get quite warm. A 40w bulb stick on in your fridge can overpower the cooling. So you don't need much. Helps prevent rust too.

 

[bad_idea]

That's why I was thinking a thermostat, to keep the temps from going too high. Sometimes it is weeks before I go in the garage and the temps swing from 20-80degrees Fahrenheit in the course of a week. Just this morning it was 34, and 65 by noon.

 

[zendriver]

https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically-Controlled/dp/B0006U2HD2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

How cold has it been in NC that batteries can't charge?

 

[bad_idea]

Down in the 20s at night, 30s in the morning. Has been a nuisance.

 

[mreisner]

Harbor Freight imitation Pelican case and a reptile tank heating pad with thermostat. As they are foam lined you just pull out the precut foam cubes leaving a layer all the way around it and place batteries and thermostat and heat pad inside and clamp it shut. Protected from falls and freezing and cheap to run as they only draw 8 to 15 watts.

 

[mreisner]

Harbor Freight imitation Pelican case and a reptile tank heating pad with thermostat. As they are foam lined you just pull out the precut foam cubes leaving a layer all the way around it and place batteries and thermostat and heat pad inside and clamp it shut. Protected from falls and freezing and cheap to run as they only draw 8 to 15 watts.

 

[toolenthusiast]

Don't want to run in the house every time I need a battery.

Soooo… remember to take batteries out there with you?

 

[jonesg]

I don't have any trouble charging milwaukee batteries in very low temps.

 

[Bert_]

The construction guys often have a cooler that they keep the chargers in. Stays warm enough for the batteries to charge

 

[Old Man Roger]

When I was working on trash trucks in Massachusetts, we kept all the welding rod in a non working fridge with a light to protect them from humidity. I remember it was always warm in there too.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Down in the 20s at night, 30s in the morning. Has been a nuisance.

That shouldn't cause any issues. Are the batteries old?

I bring all my batteries in the basement but not until it's consistently down in the single digits. If I'm going out to the garage to work, I throw a few batteries in one of those Milwaukee zipper bags all the drills come in, and bring them back in when I'm done for the day. I leave a few chargers in the garage all the time.

 

[Steve_P]

Lithium ion batteries have permanent reduced capacity when charged below freeing temperatures. So the battery charge management (BCM) electronics often have temperature sensors to prevent charging at low temperatures. So you need to have a warmer environment for charging.

Yes, cell phones have this protection built in. When I go camping in cold weather and try to charge the phone in the morning, it gives a "low temperature" type warning on the screen and says it won't charge until it warms up.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Keep the batteries and chargers in the house. Charge when you're home watching tv, remove them when they are full and they are ready to take outside when it's time to use them. Keep a 5gal bucket on the porch to carry tools, batteries or hand tools to wherever you need to go work on the property.

 

[Firebrick43]

I am having issues with my dewalt 20v batteries being too cold to charge, or not working well due to cold temps. Anyone have a good solution for this? I have a detached garage that is not heated. I don't want to bring the batteries and chargers into the house. I am considering a cabinet with an incandescent bulb in it on a thermostat set for 50 degrees or so. Or it may be time to build the bathroom and install a heater in there with a shelf for the chargers.

Better stock up on those incandescent bulbs as they can’t manufacture them any more since august.


They make PTC cabinet heaters exactly for heating industrial electrical cabinets. The are available on 110v and there are small ones under 100 watts. Some have built in thermostats but many are controlled by an enclosure thermostat which are 35 bucks or so.

https://www.wolfautomation.com/heaters-mini-radiant-20w-100-250vac-1/

https://www.wolfautomation.com/thermostat-32-140-f-100-250vac-dc-30w-max/

They make even dual function enclosure thermostats that will engage a heater if to cold and turn on a fan of to warm.