Power Tool Batteries- Lithium

[jhelrey]

I live in MN so it gets cold. I do not heat my garage and my garage temps in the winter are right around freezing. Mine are in the tool box in the summer but winter I've always been tempted to bring them indoors.

Do you bring your batteries into the house when the project is completed or do you leave them out in the garage?

 

[OHMS LAW]

Never thought about that one. If it’s constantly below freezing I’m sure bringing them in can’t hurt

 

[kctyphoon]

Every battery I've ever had at work over the years has LIVED in a utility truck outside. Honestly, in the probably 2 dozen batteries I've had between different jobs, inside different trucks (mostly Milwaukee) I've only had one battery go bad, and it didn't happen in the winter. It's impossible to gauge such a thing unless you had a controlled study over a long period of time (years probably) and treated each group equally. There are MANY professionals working outdoors all year round. If there were any significant issue with it, we would have heard of massive problems. Online reviewers have placed factory Lithium batteries in the freezer and they still operated fine. Many of these brand named batteries will have a self warming feature upon use, and I'd expect you have to live at one of the poles to experience any real problems with them.

 

[Farmall450]

I normally just keep the ones I need outside, and extras in the garage or basement where they'll charge and live until I need them. No sense in leaving several hundred in batteries out anyhow; and it certainly can't hurt to take them in, but no, I wouldn't consider bringing in the ones in my tools nightly.

 

[Rabid Badger]

It's best not to expose batteries to extreme temperatures, although heat is much worse than cold.

The main problem with cold is that if you fully discharge a battery at normal temps, leave it in the cold overnight and then throw it on the charger in the morning it can fool the protection circuitry into thinking it's over-discharged.

 

[GaryM909]

I have Makita batteries and have left them out in the unheated garage for the last two winters with no problems. Last winter was a long and cold one too. I just did an indoor project last week and they worked fine.

 

[purplezr2]

I try not to leave mine out once it gets below 30. I know they may last fine but it gets -30 and lower up here so not sure if that would damage them or not. Keeping them warm ensures they will work when needed.

 

[CJM8515]

Mines are all in the garage and have been since day 1. It gets very cold in there in the winter and no issues.

 

[Negen]

Danger comes below 32F mainly when charging or discharging. If the cells are above 32 degrees when in use or charging damage probably won't occur. Owners manuals should state operation temps. Should never charge a lithium cell below freezing temps. I suspect a garage is around 35-40 degrees.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bretny]

I have an 8yr old m18 battery that lives outside on and off the charger. Im in NY.

 

[jgromada]

I think these new Lithium battery packs are better than the old NiCd packs not too long ago.

I try not to keep them outside but i will say once they start pumping out current they heat up real fast.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Lithium batteries can be damaged if you try to charge them when it is too cold. Likely the charger will prevent that from happening, but you might end up with an uncharged battery if you don't have a warmer place to keep them.