Battery care
|
Lead acid: Flooded, sealed, AGM
|
Nickel-based:
NiCd, NiMH
|
Lithium-ion: Cobalt, manganese, phosphate
|
Best way
to charge
|
Apply a saturated charge to prevent sulfation; can stay on charge with correct float charge.
|
Avoid getting battery too hot on charge. Do not leave battery in charger for more than a few days (memory!).
|
Partial and random charge is fine; does not need full charge; lower voltage limit preferred; keep battery cool.
|
Charge methods
|
Constant voltage to 2.40–2.45/cell, float
at 2.25–2.30V/cell; battery stays cool; no fast charge possible.
Charge = 14h
|
Constant current, trickle charge at 0.05C, fast charge preferred.
Slow charge = 14h
Rapid charge = 3h
Fast charge = 1h
|
Constant voltage to 4.20V/cell; no trickle charge; battery can
stay in charger
Rapid charge = 3h
Fast charge = 1h
|
Discharge
|
Do not cycle starter batteries; avoid full discharges; always charge after use.
|
Do not over-discharge under heavy load; cell reversal causes short. Avoid full discharges.
|
Prevent full cycles, apply some charge after a full discharge to keep the protection circuit alive.
|
How to prolong battery
|
Limit deep cycling, apply topping charge every 6 months while in storage to prevent sulfation, keep cells at or above 2.10V
|
Do not keep battery in charger for more than a few days, discharge to 1V/cell every 1–3 months to prevent memory (NiCd)
|
Keep cool, battery lasts longest when operating in mid state-of-charge of 20–80%. Prevent ultra-fast charging and high loads.
|
Storage
|
Do not store below 2.10V/cell; keep fully charged if possible
|
Store in cool place; NiCd stores for 5 years; prime before use
|
Store at 40% charge in cool place (40% SoC reads 3.75–3.80V/cell)
|
Disposal
|
Do not dispose. Lead is a toxic metal
|
NiCd: Do not dispose.
NiMH: Can be disposed in low volume
|
Can be disposed of in low volume
|