Maintenance of Lithium-Ion Batteries (BAT41, BAT50, BAT60, BAT80)

There is no absolute answer for how long a Lithium-Ion battery will last. Aging of Lithium-Ion batteries is affected in several ways: age, use, charge-cycle and storage conditions. With moderate use, the life expectancy is typically 2 to 3 years and around 300 to 500 charges. Under the most ideal conditions, over 1000 cycles can be achieved.

Age - From the first day of their manufacture, Lithium-Ion batteries naturally lose capacity through cell oxidation which results in increased internal resistance further resulting in decreased capacity

Use – High current requirements increase the oxidation process.

Charge-Cycle – Deeper discharges increase the oxidation process.

• Always follow the charging instructions provided with your product. Refer to your product’s user manual and/ or online help for detailed information about the charging its battery

Storage – Hotter storage temperatures increase the oxidation process.

• Charge or discharge the battery to approximately 40% of capacity before storage

• Charge the battery to approximately 40% of capacity at least once very six months

• Remove the battery and store it separately from the product

• Store the battery at temperatures between 5⁰C and 20⁰C (41⁰F and 68⁰F)

• The battery self-discharges during storage. higher temperatures (above 20⁰C or 68⁰F) reduce battery life

Extreme conditions therefore increase the rate of oxidation limiting the useful life of a Lithium-Ion battery. An aged battery can be kept longer in applications that draw low current as opposed to a function that demands heavy loads. Lithium-Ion batteries prefer a partial rather than a full discharge.  Lithium-Ion batteries don’t have memory problems like Nickel-Cadmium batteries.

The worst condition for a Lithium-Ion battery is to store it fully charged at a high temperature (above ~40⁰C) .