Store old Lithium ion batteries in refrigerator?

[Bill Bowden]

Is this a good idea? How low a temperature can they take?

I have a few spare used cell phone Li-ion batteries that I may want to
use for other applications, and I was reading some web info indicationg
they should be stored at 40% charge inside a refrigerator. I'm
considering putting them in a plastic grocery bag to keep out the
moisture. I haven't checked the capacity, but one or 2 seem to go dead
fairly fast, so I think the capacity is already reduced. I might run a
test on one or 2 of them.

What shelf life can I expect from old worn out li-Ion cell phone
batteries stored in the fridge?

-Bill

 

[Simoc]

Is this a good idea?
Yes.

How low a temperature can they take?

I dunno, but regular refrigerator temp won't be too cold, at least.

I have a few spare used cell phone Li-ion batteries that I may want to
use for other applications, and I was reading some web info indicationg
they should be stored at 40% charge inside a refrigerator.

That's true.

I'm
considering putting them in a plastic grocery bag to keep out the
moisture. I haven't checked the capacity, but one or 2 seem to go dead
fairly fast, so I think the capacity is already reduced. I might run a
test on one or 2 of them.

What shelf life can I expect from old worn out li-Ion cell phone
batteries stored in the fridge?

Dunno, but btw, I've heard that some "dead" li-ion batts can be
rejuvenated by putting them to freezer for one night... but i've just
"heard" that and I dunno if it's true, so I don't recommend putting
working ones to freezer

 

[Dan_Musicant]

On 7 Jul 2006 12:40:04 -0700, "Simoc" <[email protected]>
wrote:

:Bill Bowden wrote:
:> Is this a good idea?
:
:Yes.
:
:> How low a temperature can they take?
:
:I dunno, but regular refrigerator temp won't be too cold, at least.

Right.
:
:> I have a few spare used cell phone Li-ion batteries that I may want to
:> use for other applications, and I was reading some web info indicationg
:> they should be stored at 40% charge inside a refrigerator.
:
:That's true.

Agreed.
:
:> I'm
:> considering putting them in a plastic grocery bag to keep out the
:> moisture. I haven't checked the capacity, but one or 2 seem to go dead
:> fairly fast, so I think the capacity is already reduced. I might run a
:> test on one or 2 of them.
:>
:> What shelf life can I expect from old worn out li-Ion cell phone
:> batteries stored in the fridge?
:
unno, but btw, I've heard that some "dead" li-ion batts can be
:rejuvenated by putting them to freezer for one night... but i've just
:"heard" that and I dunno if it's true, so I don't recommend putting
:working ones to freezer

I keep my li-on rechargables stored in the refrigerator at 40% charge.
They are for my video camera, which I use infrequently.

Some tips:

Try not to charge them to full capacity. At full capacity, they degrade
a lot quicker. I charge mine to around 95% capacity or lower, when
possible.

Unrefrigerated, you can't expect them to last more than a year or two.
I'm hoping to get an extra year or two use out of them. My cell phone
battery, I don't refrigerate. It stays on the phone, but I try not to
charge it to capacity. It's getting close to 2 years old and still seems
OK.

Research here: sci.chem.electrochem.battery

I've seen various threads there that discuss these topics. Do a Google
Groups search.

Dan