Whether it is a spare battery for a mobile phone, an idle battery for an electric car in winter, or a dry battery stored at home, improper long-term storage will cause the battery performance to deteriorate or even become scrapped. According to statistics, about 30% of battery damage is caused by incorrect storage methods (data source: Battery University). This article will provide scientific storage methods based on the different characteristics of lithium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and dry batteries to help you keep your batteries healthy to the maximum extent.
I. General storage principles (all battery types)
a. Clean battery contacts
- Wipe the positive and negative electrodes with alcohol cotton pads to prevent oxidation and poor contact.
b. Stay away from extreme environments
- Temperature: The best storage temperature is 15°C-25°C (high temperature accelerates aging, and low temperature may cause the electrolyte to freeze).
- Humidity: Keep the relative humidity below 50% to avoid moisture causing short circuits.
c. Physical protection
- Store individual batteries in their original packaging or insulated boxes to avoid short circuits caused by contact with metal objects.
II. Storage methods for different types of batteries
a. Lithium-ion batteries (mobile phone/laptop/drone batteries)
- Key steps:
✅ Charge to 50%-60%: Full charge will accelerate the decomposition of electrolyte, and empty charge may cause over-discharge damage.
✅ Disconnect: Remove from the device to avoid over-discharge caused by standby power consumption.
✅ Monthly inspection: If the power is less than 20%, recharge to 50%. - Taboo:
❌ Store at full charge for a long time (such as the power bank is always plugged in).
❌ Place in a high temperature environment (such as the temperature in the trunk of a car can reach 60°C in summer).
b. NiMH batteries (camera/toy AA/AAA rechargeable batteries)
- Key steps:
✅ Charge to 40%-50%: NiMH batteries have a high self-discharge rate (about 20% per month), and do not need to be fully discharged.
✅ Fully charged before use: The first use after storage requires 1-2 full charge and discharge to restore capacity. - Taboo:
❌ Long-term empty storage (may cause electrode passivation and permanent capacity reduction).
c. Dry cell (alkaline/carbon battery)
- Key steps:
✅ Store in original packaging: prevent short circuit between positive and negative electrodes.
✅ Separate old and new batteries: avoid mixing and causing leakage risk. - Taboo:
❌ Refrigerate (condensation may cause leakage unless sealed and moisture-proof).
❌ Try to charge disposable batteries (risk of explosion).
d. Lead-acid battery (car/electric vehicle backup battery)
- Key steps:
✅ Charge to 80%: lead-acid batteries self-discharge quickly (about 5%-10% per month).
✅ Disconnect the negative pole: prevent the vehicle circuit from slowly consuming power.
✅ Recharge every 3 months: avoid plate sulfation. - Taboo:
❌ Long-term empty storage (may cause sulfation and complete scrapping).
III. Special scene processing
a. Electric vehicles are idle for a long time (such as parking in winter)
- Recommended operation:
- Charge to 50%-60%, disconnect the negative pole of the low-voltage battery.
- Start the vehicle and charge to 50% every month, or use a battery maintainer (such as CTEK smart charger).
- Park in the garage or cover the car with a car cover to avoid the influence of low temperature.
b. Backup battery for drones/cameras
- Intelligent battery management:
- DJ drone batteries can be set to storage mode (automatically discharge to 60%).
- Sony camera batteries are recommended to be fully charged and discharged once every six months.
c. Button batteries (watches/car keys)
- Anti-oxidation tips:
- Stick a small piece of electrical tape on the positive and negative poles and tear it off when using.
- Avoid direct contact with the electrodes with your fingers (grease will accelerate corrosion).
IV. How to resume use after long-term storage?
a. Lithium battery:
- Check for bulging or leakage, and use it normally after fully charging.
b. NiMH battery:
- Fully charge and discharge 2-3 times to activate capacity.
c. Lead-acid battery:
- If the voltage is lower than 10.8V (12V battery), try to restore it with a pulse repairer.
V. Dangerous signals and scrapping
- Discard immediately:
The battery is bulging, leaking, or emitting odor.
⚡ Unable to maintain power after charging (such as running out of power a few minutes after being fully charged).
- Environmentally friendly recycling:
- Lithium battery/NiMH battery: Send to electronic product recycling point or community hazardous waste station.
- Dry cell battery: In most areas, it can be disposed of with domestic waste (some countries need to recycle it separately).
Conclusion
Batteries are like "sleeping energy tanks". Scientific storage methods can revive them at any time. Remember three keywords: half-charged, cool, and regular inspection. Next time you are tidying up your housework, you might as well give your idle batteries a "physical examination" so that they can continue to serve reliably in the future!
