|
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. |
| How
do I prepare a battery with charge indication? |
Fully
charge and discharge battery. Repeat when readings get inaccurate. |
Fully
charge and discharge battery. Repeat when readings get inaccurate. |
Larger
lead acid use different charge indicator to nickel & lithium-based
chemistries. |
| 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?
- Should I remove the AC when my laptop is not in use? |
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. (Laptops
use Lithium-ion) |
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.(Not used for
laptops) |
| 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. |
| What
are the allowable charging temperatures? |
Important:
Rechargeable batteries can be used under a wide temperature range.
This does not automatically permit charging at these extreme conditions.
The maximum allowable charge temperatures are shown below: |
Slow
charge (0.1)
Fast charge (0.5-1C) |
0°C
- 45°C (32°F - 113°F)
5°C - 45°C (41°F - 113°F)
Charging a hot battery decreases the charge time. The battery may
not fully charge.
|
0°C
- 45°C (32°F - 113°F) 5C° - 45°C (41°F - 113°F)
Temperature sensor may prevent charge or cut off the charge prematurely.
|
0°C
- 45°C (32°F - 113°F)
5C° - 45°C (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. |