Maximizing Battery Life
May. 6 2024
Tips
Battery-powered tools offer convenience and efficiency, but to ensure they perform at their best for years to come, proper battery care is essential.Here are some tips and best practices based on recommendations from Husqvarna's website and general lithium-ion battery knowledge:
- Store at Optimal Charge:
- Aim to store your batteries at around 50% charge. This helps prevent over-discharge or overcharging during storage.
- Check your batteries occasionally and recharge them to 50% if the charge has dropped. Lithium-ion batteries slowly discharge over time, even when not in use.
- Temperature Considerations:
- Store batteries in a location where the temperature remains between 41-77 degrees Fahrenheit (5-25 degrees Celsius).
- Avoid storing batteries on the charger or on the equipment itself, as this can lead to unnecessary strain on the battery.
- Charging in the Right Conditions:
- Allow warm batteries to cool down before recharging. Some chargers, like those for Husqvarna products, may have built-in sensors to prevent charging until the batteries reach the optimal temperature.
- If the battery has been exposed to colder temperatures (below 41 degrees Fahrenheit), let it warm up before attempting to recharge. Never charge a frozen battery.
- Optimal Charge Range:
- For long-term storage, aim to keep batteries within the 15-85% charge range. Avoid fully draining or fully charging the battery, as the first and last 15% are harder on the battery and can shorten its lifespan.
- Similar to how cell phone batteries degrade over time, lithium-ion batteries experience faster degradation if regularly charged to 100% or drained to 0%.
- Understanding Charging Dynamics:
- Think of lithium-ion batteries like a parking lot. When the charge is low, there are plenty of "parking spots" available, making it easy to charge. As the battery fills up, it's like the parking lot getting fuller, and finding a spot becomes more challenging. This explains why the last 15% of charging takes longer, even with fast chargers.
- Think of lithium-ion batteries like a parking lot. When the charge is low, there are plenty of "parking spots" available, making it easy to charge. As the battery fills up, it's like the parking lot getting fuller, and finding a spot becomes more challenging. This explains why the last 15% of charging takes longer, even with fast chargers.
- Battery Life Expectancy:
- Lithium-ion batteries typically last about 2-3 years or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever comes first. A charge cycle is defined as using the battery from fully charged to fully discharged and then fully recharging it.
- Properly caring for your batteries during the off-season, such as following the storage and charging guidelines mentioned above, can help extend their lifespan.
Remember, maximizing the life of your lithium-ion batteries involves a combination of proper storage, charging habits, and temperature considerations. By following these tips, you can ensure that your battery-powered tools continue to serve you well for years to come.