Lithium batteries are used in a variety of electronic devices. To avoid any potential problems, maintain quality and improve longevity, it’s vital to store lithium batteries in the right way. In this article, we’ll discuss the crucial things you need to keep in mind when storing your lithium batteries.

Guidelines for Storing Lithium Batteries:

There are many different lithium battery types on the market, each with its advantages and disadvantages. For example, there are lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) batteries with a high capacity ratio but are costly. There’re also lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries with a long life cycle but have a low nominal voltage.

Nonetheless, there are some general storage guidelines that apply to all lithium batteries.

Temperature

Generally speaking, a lithium battery is made up of electrodes and electrolytes. When not in use, it’s essential to store the battery in a cool, dry place. If it’s stored in a hot place, the battery will overheat, and the electrolytes will start to break down. This will cause the battery to lose its storage capacity and eventually die.

The ideal lithium battery temperature is 59℉. The longer you store lithium batteries, the more closely you must control your environment’s temperature. The following table illustrates the temperature ranges you need for various storage periods.

State of charge

It’s also essential to keep a lithium battery in the correct state of charge. If stored in a discharged state, the battery will lose its ability to hold a charge.

When storing a lithium battery, you want to keep it at room temperature and at a 40%-60% charge. If you store a battery at a high temperature regardless of the state of charge, it’ll cause the battery to age faster. If you store a battery at a low temperature, it will decrease its storage capacity.

Humidity

One overlooked factor that also determines a lithium battery’s lifespan is the humidity level at which it’s stored. A lithium battery kept in a low-humidity environment can lose up to 20% of its capacity, while a high-humidity environment can cause corrosion and shorten the battery’s life by up to 50%.

Storing the battery in a humidity-controlled environment at an ideal range of 50% is essential to preserving its quality and longevity.

Tips/Precautions When Storing a Lithium Battery

Here are additional tips and precautionary measures to consider when it comes to storing lithium batteries:

• Avoid storing your lithium-ion batteries in the fridge
• Avoid stacking lithium batteries over each other
• Store your batteries where they’ll not be disturbed by movement Before storing lithium batteries, thoroughly read the labels on the battery and the packaging to ensure you are storing them correctly
• Lithium batteries should never be stored near metal objects. This could cause a short circuit and could potentially lead to an explosion
• Store your lithium batteries in a cabinet, locker, or shelf where the environment can be easily controlled
• Ensure the battery terminals are not in contact with any metals, or other battery terminals
• Keep new and old lithium batteries separately to maintain the optimum condition of each
• Don’t expose Li-Ion batteries to excessive vibration
• If you must store your lithium batteries in a refrigerator, make sure your battery is in a Ziploc bag

What are the Consequences of Improper Lithium Battery Storage?

When stored incorrectly, lithium batteries can have disastrous consequences:

1. If a lithium battery is stored incorrectly, it can become extremely hot. This can cause the battery to burst or even explode.
2. Exploding lithium batteries can cause extensive damage to property as well as serious personal injuries.
3. Exploding batteries can cause fires that can lead to extensive property damage.
4. Leaking lithium batteries can contaminate your equipment and surrounding areas with corrosive substances.
5. Improperly stored lithium batteries can release toxic gases that can be harmful to humans and animals.
6. Poorly stored lithium batteries will have their internal components damaged, compromising the optimal operation.

FAQs

What is the shelf life of lithium batteries?

Lithium batteries have a long shelf life and are often used in electronics. But there are different types of lithium batteries, and each has its own shelf life. In general, though, lithium batteries have a shelf life of 4 years. Depending on the type and how the battery is handled and stored, it can clock the 10 years mark.

Is it safe to store lithium batteries in a refrigerator?

Lithium batteries should not be stored in a place that is too cold. For this reason, you should avoid storing your lithium batteries in your refrigerator or freezer.

Here are some reasons why this is a bad idea:

• The humidity and cold in the fridge can cause battery corrosion and rust.
• The sudden temperature change that occurs when you store your lithium batteries in a refrigerator can damage internal components.
• Lithium batteries can freeze. If the battery is frozen, it could damage the device it’s powering.

Should you store lithium batteries charged or discharged?

It’s not recommended to store lithium batteries at full charge or completely discharged – 40-60% is the ideal range, especially when you’ll be using the batteries after a few days. If you’re not going to use the batteries for several months, though, it’s better to store them at full charge.

Conclusion

Lithium batteries are a common power source for many electronics, but proper storage is vital to extend their life and prevent any safety hazards. In this post, we’ve outlined some essential tips for keeping your lithium batteries organized and safe. Just as you should follow the instruction manual when using a product, it is crucial to store lithium batteries the right way.