Do you leave lithium ion batteries charging?

[joseywales]

I searched but found the last time this was discussed was 2013 and things might have changed.

I have mostly Ryobi, but some Milwaukee.

- The Ryobi chargers have a Maintenance mode.
- Ryobi vacuums, at least appear, to want the battery in and charging 24/7 with the wall mounted chargers.

So do you leave your batteries in a charger?

If yes, there's probably some loss of overall life, but not enough to worry about, i.e. cost of convenience?

I have two vacuums, so I could have at least two batteries ready at all times, even if I don't use my other chargers. I'm thinking of using some of my other chargers, to keep batteries charged, as well. But maybe I don't need to. If I was planning a large job, I could always charge batteries prior.

Of course, none of the above applies to my M12/M18, because I don't have any vacuums. So I have to decide, do I try to keep those charged or not.

Thoughts?

 

[rshadd]

I typically remove batteries from the charger once they're charged full. The exception is the stuff I use often.

 

[Tbird22]

I try to remove them. Most tools I have multiple batteries so when I use one, I charge the others. If I forget and leave it plugged in, move on with life it’s not a big deal. Side note, I heard one time that even having plugged in chargers that aren’t charging are using a minute amount of electricity. While it prob doesn’t even save me a penny, at least for the good of the world, unplug it if it’s not in use. Sorry to be that save-the-world-guy lol


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[PelicanPines]

Sometimes...

 

[plc268]

I usually take em off when they're done charging. Sometimes I forget though.

 

[MattT]

Self discharge with Li-ion is so slight there's no reason to leave them on a charger to "keep them charged". I also turn the chargers off when not in use. No point paying to power them 24/7 when they might get used a few hours on a busy week.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I use the Ryobi 18v Li batteries. I have 6 or so and 2 chargers. There is usually a battery in each charger - usually the smaller ones (2ah IIRC). They are all in my garage year round (no a/c no heat). Most of the batteries are over 5 years old and work as good as when I got them.

 

[nikerret]

I take everything off the charger when finished. I’ve heard it doesn’t matter, but my batteries tend to last longer than the people who leave it.

 

[PelicanPines]

I'm actually considering putting a dial timer on my charger board... to limit the amount of time it's ON... KINDA like a vampire timer...

 

[dr_clyde]

Doesn’t make a lick of difference. Most lithium batteries have internal computers, and are on “smart” chargers. This means when they’re done charging, the charger stops putting current to it until it senses a low charge again.

 

[bwringer]

Doesn’t make a lick of difference. Most lithium batteries have internal computers, and are on “smart” chargers. This means when they’re done charging, the charger stops putting current to it until it senses a low charge again.

Agreed; assuming a reasonable quality brand it doesn't matter. The charger and battery talk to each other and shut off when the battery is topped up. This ain't anything like the old "dumb" NiCad chargers.

The charger makes a handy safe place to store the batteries. And (again, assuming decent quality electronics) the parasitical draw when it's not charging is infinitesimal. Just enough to keep the LED lit or blinking; maybe a ha'penny a year or something.

 

[BarryWells]

I have but generally when the "done light" comes on I charge others or put the whole pile in a drawer. Just makes common sense to me(means nothing to smart people)

 

[CrazyTools]

Doesn’t make a lick of difference. Most lithium batteries have internal computers, and are on “smart” chargers. This means when they’re done charging, the charger stops putting current to it until it senses a low charge again.

This is the exact post I was about to write, and is absolutely correct. Any decent lithium charger will simply turn off the current as soon as the charge cycle as completed.

 

[MattT]

And (again, assuming decent quality electronics) the parasitical draw when it's not charging is infinitesimal. Just enough to keep the LED lit or blinking; maybe a ha'penny a year or something.

Just measured a couple of mine. This is a couple minutes after plugging them in so it's possible they'll go to sleep if left plugged in. Anyways.....

Bosch 18v is drawing 24 mA. That's about $2.25 per year at my, fairly cheap, electric rates.

Older IR IQV 7.2/14,4/19.2 drew 120 mA. $11.25 a year And I have three of those.

If I can find my kill a watt I'll do some longer term testing.

 

[Wrench97]

I make a habit of not leaving them plugged in since the Dewalt recall years ago over the chargers catching fire. > https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2001/C...-Tool-Co-Announce-Recall-of-Battery-Chargers1

 

[DieselNut88]

I have my chargers plugged into a mechanical timer that comes on 1 hour a day. It keeps the batteries charged without drawing power all the time.

 

[tomwil]

RYOBI BATTERY AND CHARGER ALMOST BURNED MY HOUSE DOWN

 

[2manytools]

The green light tells me they stopped charging. Figure the only draw at that point is the LED, which is enough illumination to not need to turn on my garage lights to walk thru, so doubles as a night light for me.

 

[2manytools]

RYOBI BATTERY AND CHARGER ALMOST BURNED MY HOUSE DOWN

No mention of the cut-rate Chinese knock off though. The charger may not know when the battery is full, or more likely the battery is not smart enough to know when itself is full.

 

[AS556]

I dont leave mine on it.

 

[Voi]

For over 20 years I have plugged chargers into a light timer with the ON tab removed. When I need to charge batteries I just spin the dial to the number of hours I want to charge & I know the charger will turn off & not come back on.

Modern timers don't seem to have removable tabs but one could set them to run for a set amount of time per day or use a countdown timer. I will probably buy a countdown timer for my boy's hover boards.

Probably not necessary for my current Makita chargers but it's habit now.

 

[ddawg16]

Doesn’t make a lick of difference. Most lithium batteries have internal computers, and are on “smart” chargers. This means when they’re done charging, the charger stops putting current to it until it senses a low charge again.

Agreed; assuming a reasonable quality brand it doesn't matter. The charger and battery talk to each other and shut off when the battery is topped up. This ain't anything like the old "dumb" NiCad chargers.

The charger makes a handy safe place to store the batteries. And (again, assuming decent quality electronics) the parasitical draw when it's not charging is infinitesimal. Just enough to keep the LED lit or blinking; maybe a ha'penny a year or something.

This is the exact post I was about to write, and is absolutely correct. Any decent lithium charger will simply turn off the current as soon as the charge cycle as completed.

Correct, correct, correct

One of my Ryobi 2Ah packs died I took it apart...5 18650 Li cells with a pretty sophisticated BMB (Battery Management Board) on it. What I suspect happened was I used the pack until it shut off then tossed it aside for several months (maybe even a year) in it's low state charge. Once a Li cell voltage drops below aprox 2 Vdc, it's done. No bringing it back.

As noted above, the charger apply the current...but the BMB controls the charging. Once it's charged, the BMB stops drawing current.

I leave my charger plugged in 24/7.

For Li batteries, I would not suggest a timer on the charge. Depending on the charger, it's possible it will start discharging the Li pack if the charger is unplugged.

For reference....an Li cell is shipped at 30% charge, which is about 3.57Vdc. A typical BMB will stop the discharge when the cell gets to about 15-20%.

 

[ajchien]

No mention of the cut-rate Chinese knock off though. The charger may not know when the battery is full, or more likely the battery is not smart enough to know when itself is full.

I agree. Something is missing from the story. A person in the comments replied that the battery he was using was not a ryobi, but an aftermarket. I agree, looking at the battery he showed. The video poster replied that his “wife got the battery from Lowe’s”. Lowe’s can not be selling ryobi aftermarket batteries.

 

[ajchien]

I usually take my batteries off the charger whenever I remember. Sometimes I’ve forgotten for 2-3 days.

I have only been disappointed with the “dumb” chargers, but hopefully those have been extinct for 15+ years now.

 

[Spacey_G]

A functioning charger won't overcharge a battery, but things don't always work as intended. I tend to pull batteries off when I notice they're done. If I forget, no big deal.

 

[Danglerb]

Phones and powerbanks mostly stay on a charger when not in use, except for the car booster which stays in the car and gets a charge couple times a year. Everything else is charge after and/or before use then disconnect.