How to Store Lithium-ion Batteries-Degradation, Resetting & Buying

Lithium-ion gets its name due to its possession of active materials. The composition of these active materials is shown either in their full names like Lithium Cobalt Oxide or Lithium Manganese Oxide or by their short names like LCO for lithium cobalt oxide and LMO for lithium manganese oxide etc.?

All these types of batteries are used in different electronic appliances and the usage of the active material depends on what kind of portable device it is used in. These batteries have a life of 2 to 3 years but there are ways to increase their life by following some simple precautions while you store the batteries for some period when your device will not be in use. We shall learn how to store them further in detail.

how to store lithium-ion batteries when not in use:

Storing lithium-ion batteries is a very simple yet very essential process if you want to extend their life. If the simple instructions of their storage are not followed, then within 2 to 3 years you will lose your battery and you’ll have to buy a new one but it is largely possible that the new one would not work as efficiently as the manufacturer-provided one.

First, it is very much important that when the device is not in use for a long period then the battery should be taken out from the device & be stored separately. Then, the question comes: how to store it separately? Well, there is more than one factor that should be kept in mind when storing these batteries. One is the temperature in which you store them. And the second is when they are stored, should they be charged or discharged?

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For the first question regarding the temperature of storage place, it should not be too hot or too cold otherwise your battery will not work after some time when needed. A constant temperature will prove to be your best friend in this matter. It should also be kept in mind that the storage place should not get wet by any means, it would also destroy your battery. Avoid storing it at a place that is directly exposed to sunlight because it will become too hot and may harm your battery or could even burst and catch fire. And these fires could be serious even a mobile battery can cause serious damage if it catches fire in the wrong place. The ideal temperature for its storage would be up to 60-degree Fahrenheit.?

For the second question, no they shouldn’t be completely discharged when stored. The reason is that when not in use for a period the lithium-ion battery leaks charge or degrades itself, and when there is no charge in the battery it is possible that it won’t charge again.

should lithium-ion batteries be stored in a refrigerator:

A question is very much asked that should a battery be placed in a refrigerator. Well as mentioned earlier that constant temperature is best for the battery's health when stored but up to 60-degree Fahrenheit. So, storing it in a refrigerator is probably the best option as its normal temperature is between 34 to 38-degree Fahrenheit. But the lithium-ion battery must be stored in such a manner that it doesn’t get wet in there because the environment is pretty much damp there. So, it’s important to store the battery in an airtight plastic bag. It is also very much important that the battery is charged at least up to 40% (which is half an hour with a good charger) before storing it in the refrigerator.

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It is completely cool to store it in the refrigerator but not in the freezer because the temperature gets too cold in there which is not good for the battery’s life. It must be stored in the lower part.

Another important thing is when you take out your battery how would you use it? You would directly put it in the device? No, you should not do that. Let it reach the room temperature first and after that put it in the device and use it. This procedure should also be followed when performing the charge and discharge cycle after every one or two months.

how long does a lithium-ion battery last in storage?

The average life of a lithium-ion battery even on a shelf is 2 to 3 years. So, if you are storing it with the mind that it will last longer then maybe you are wrong so you better use them for as long as you can.

Have you ever thought that when you buy a new battery it doesn’t last very long? Some say that it’s a manufacturing fault or the quality of this battery is not so good but even the good ones sometimes don’t last longer than a year. Well, yes it can be a quality or manufacturing issue but not every time.

Most of the time the reason is the shelf time of that batter. If it is stored in a warehouse or a retailer’s shop for about one or two years, then it would only last with you for a few months or maybe a year. It is very much important before you buy a battery that you check or ask its manufacturing date so that you could have a long-lasting battery.

It’s very much important that while your battery is in storage, you take it out after every 2 months, charge it and use it for a while. It will increase its life and prevent it from being harmed.

All the procedures mentioned for storing your battery and enhancing its life are pretty much simple yet very influential if followed. These are simple things that you need to follow when storing your lithium-ion battery, like the place of its storage, the temperature, and the process of charging & using it after every one or two months. Other than that, we have also learned about how to buy a new battery that could last long.