Battery life

Hi,

I heard or spotted somewhere that putting batteries in the freezer prolongs
there life until needed, is this a myth or what?

 

Not good to put in freezer, as the water will freeze and crystallize
and bust them.
However, in the cold, non-freezing area, the lower temperature will
reduce the chemical activity and extend the life for a number of years
depending on type / chemistry (some formulations are more active so
extenstion would be less).
This is a trick that is also used in photography (film).

 

If you freeze NiCad or Lithium batteries they will be damaged. If you
freeze a gel cell that is discharged, it will be damaged. As for the
alkeline batteries, I have been told by one manufacture representitive
to not freeze them.

As for their shelf life, most batteries are good for 3 to 5 years.
This is long enough for something as low in cost as a battery, where
there should not be any worry for its value.

Jerry G.
========

 

They would be put in some protective bag, ziploc sort of thing, suck the air
out too.

Thanks for the help tho

 

I've had alkaline batteries killed by being left in a car during cold
weather.

 

Well, I've actually thought freezing Alkaline batteries before recharging would
prevent them from getting too hot and leaking/exploding. Turns out I was wrong.
From experience, freezing always causes leakage, but I have yet to learn why.

 

The moisture inside (needed for chemistry to work) crystallizes on
freezing, making all expand and thus destroys the cell(s).