|
x |
Nickel-based
(NiCd and NiMH) |
Lithium-ion
(Li-ion) |
Lead-acid
(Sealed or flooded) |
How
should I prepare my new battery?
|
Nickel-based
batteries come partially charged. Prime new battery by putting
on a 14-16h charge. |
Li-ion
comes partially charged. You can use the battery right away
and charge it when needed. |
Lead
acid comes fully charged. For best result, apply a topping charge
to assure full charge. |
| Can
I damage my battery if incorrectly prepared? |
No;
without priming, the performance will be low at first, then
gradually improve with use. |
No;
Li-ion is forgiving to partial and full charge. No priming is
needed when new. |
Lead
acid needs a fully saturated charge to keep good performance.
A charge can take over 10h. |
| Should
I use up all battery energy before charging? |
Yes,
fully discharge once every 1-3 months to prevent memory. It
is not necessary to deplete the battery before each charge.
Over cycling wears down NiMH. |
No,
it is better to recharge more often; avoid frequent full discharges.
Yes, on batteries with a fuel gauge, allow a full discharge
once a month to enable reset |
No,
it is better to recharge more often; avoid frequent full discharges.
Deep cycles wear down the battery. Use a larger battery if full
cycles are required. |
| Should
I charge my battery partially or fully? |
Allow
full charge without interruptions. Repeated partial charge can
cause heat buildup. (Many chargers terminate charge by heat.
A fully charged battery will re-heat, causing overcharge.) |
Does
not matter. Charging in stages is acceptable. Full charge termination
occurs by reading the voltage level and charge current. Charging
a full battery is safe and does not cause harm. |
Does
not matter. Charging in stages is acceptable. Full charge termination
occurs by reading the voltage level and charge current. Charging
a full battery is safe and does not cause harm. |
| Should I remove the battery from the charger when full? |
Yes,
it is best to remove the pack from the charger when full. A
prolonged trickle charge to a fully charged battery can be harmful. |
It
does not matter. The charger automatically cuts the charge current
when the battery is full. A laptop may be connected to the AC
when not in use. |
A
float charge of about 2.27V/cell is advisable. Do not allow
the open cell voltage to drop below 2.10V/cell while in storage. |
| Should
the battery be kept charged when not in use? |
Not
critical. Manufacturers recommend a 40% charge for long storage.
(Open terminal voltage cannot determine state-of-charge.) Store
in a cool place. Battery can be fully depleted and recharged.
Priming may be needed. |
Best
to store at 40% charge or 3.75-3.80V/cell open terminal. Cool
storage is more important than state-of-charge. Do not fully
deplete battery because Li-ion may turn off its protection circuit.
|
IMPORTANT:
always keep battery fully charged. A discharged battery causes
sulfation (insulating layer in the cell). This condition is
often irreversible. |
| Will
the battery heat up during charge? |
Yes,
towards full charge. The battery must cool down when ready.
Discontinue using a charger that keeps the battery warm on standby.
|
No,
little heating is generated during charge. A large laptop battery
may get lukewarm. Do not allow the battery to heat during charge. |
No,
the battery should remain cool or lukewarm to the touch. The
battery must remain cold on maintenance charge. |
Charging Temperatures
Slow
charge (0.1C)
Fast charge (0.5-1C) |
32°F - 113°F
41°F - 113°F
Charging a hot battery decreases the charge time. The battery
may not fully charge.
|
32°F - 113°F
41°F
- 113°F
Temperature sensor may prevent charge or cut off the charge
prematurely.
|
32°F - 113°F
41°F - 113°F
Warm temperature lowers the battery voltage. Serious overcharge
occurs if the cut-off voltage is not reached. |
| What
should I know about chargers? |
Best
results are achieved with a fast-charger that terminates the
charge by other than temperature alone. Fastest full-charge
time: Slightly over 1 hour. |
Charger
should apply full charge. Avoid economy chargers that advertise
one-hours charge. Fastest full-charge time: 2-3 hours. |
Multi-level
charges shorten charge time. Charge must be fully saturated.
Failing to do so will gradually decrease the capacity. Fastest
full-charge time: 8-14 hours. |
