2 questions about battery storage (CR123A and Energizer AA/AAA lithium)

Hello.

2 questions about battery storage

Both refer to primary lithiums - CR123A and Energizer AA/AAA.

1: There is lots of info on fridge storage on the forum, but my question refers specifically to a sealed otter case. I'm not sure if it's best to close the lid before putting it in the fridge, thus avoiding any condensation, or if condensation will still form inside anyway so it would be better to put it in the fridge for a while with the lid open, then seal. Or, is it a bad idea anyway for a reason I haven't thought of?

2: A family member has a small machine (on a farm) that can wrap sections of meat in plastic, then suck out the air and seal it.
If I do this with groups of batteries, would this be....

A: A good idea, leaking/venting couldn't happen as there would be no air to react with?
B: A very bad idea because leaking/venting can still happen, but it will have nowhere to go and will force itself out of the plastic?

I might just go with a small cool-bag for storage though (not in fridge), if the above ideas are not advisable.


Thank you

Niconical said:

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I think you are over analyzing this. Your solution has become way more complilcated than the problem.

I suggest storing your batteries at room temperature, in a cool dry place. That's all.

The fridge?? Are you eating those batts?? :laughing: NO seriously where are this fridge storing threads I need to read up, but in my opinion storing them inside the fridge won't do squat...Also i've never heard of batteries venting/leaking/self-discharging when not inside a device of sorts, so yes storing them normally should not be a problem.

ltiu said:

...

I suggest storing your batteries at room temperature, in a cool dry place. That's all.

Click to expand...

I agree.

Hi Niconical,

Over the years I've read quite a few posts about storing various types of cells in the fridge and while I don't do it myself the arguments for it make sense to me.

Concerning the humidity, there are a few things that may be worth consideration. I don't know how humid it is where you live in Spain but the air inside the Otterbox will be as humid as the locale it came from, which may or may not deserve consideration.

If it concerns you there are at least a few things that you might do to change the situation.

I bought some bulk Silica Gel dessicant which I use in a few storage applications to control the humidity in airtight containers. ( A couple of them ARE in the fridge) It is inexpensive in bulk and once you have it you may find many other uses for it.

Another thing you could do is to put the cells in the box and just throw in some white rice before you seal up the lid. The rice should draw most of the moisture out of the air in the box in the first few days in the fridge. That should do it.

Another thing you could do would be to put the cells in a ziplock bag and kind of roll it up and push out as much air as possible before sealing it anf putting it in the Otterbox. That should help keep the condensation away from the cells.

Cuso said:

...NO seriously where are this fridge storing threads...

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Here's a few threads that have posts that mention storing cells in the fridge to start with:

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/211713
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2904036
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/8392
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/149890&page=2
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2900433
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/226437
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/39702
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=67078&page=16
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/227668
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/131107
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=231742
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/212681
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2951678
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/225703
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/153414
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/228703
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/182369
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2952039
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/228272
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2931545
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/225910
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/173760
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/168348&page=6
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/posts/2110110

If you want more the Google query below will give you 2-3 times as many solid hits on threads with posts referencing storing cells in the fridge:

cells | batteries refrigerator | fridge | refridgerator site:candlepowerforums.com

ltiu said:

I suggest storing your batteries at room temperature, in a cool dry place. That's all.

Click to expand...

This is info I have gleaned over a period of time, room temperature storage ≈≈

Thanks for all the info.

I think I started with this 'keep 'em in the fridge' thing because I had seen enough threads on it (lots of them linked by Sub_Umbra, thank you ) that it just 'seemed like what I should be doing'.

Personally though I always assumed a cool dry place was fine. I have about 170 CR123A and maybe 80 AA/AAA lithiums, so I'll put around half of each aside, store them in a cool-bag somewhere safe and dry, then when my stock that are in my battery drawer run out, they can come out and go into the rotation.

There is one more element to this that has been overlooked on this thread. While it has been noted that cr123a cells are designed with a 10 year shelf life, plans and design specs don't always play out the way they are supposed to in the real world.

I've read a number of threads where posters wrote about 123s being dead after storage of only as little as 4 years from their date of manufacture. I just read one of those threads within the last couple of months. This is another battery issue that surfaces from time to time. I was interested because it also happened to me with the same brand of cells.

If I were storing 170 123s I would certainly consider keeping them in the fridge, especially in light of the fact that I am not inclined to buy high priced 123s. Slowing down the chemical reactions in the cells would seem prudent to me if I had a bunch of them.

A fridge is a cool, dark place. I divide my cells by type and seal each type in individual freezer-zip-lock bags. Then I place those bags in a large plastic food storage tub that also seals tightly. That tub then goes in my "back room" fridge. When I need a cell or two, I only need open the tub and one sealed bag. The remainder of the bags stay sealed and cold for the minute or so that I am accessing the cells. Probably (no, certainly!) a bit excessive, but I agree with the notion to slow down chemical reactions by lowering temps and my tendency is to be somewhen "AR" about doing things as well as possible.

I got some good advice by PM, and I'm going to do a similar thing to that described by Dhart, ziplock bags, plastic box.

I am also considering another option though. I have some bags of indicating (color changing) silica gel ordered and on the way, so I might try this approach. Put the cells in small trays or unsealed bags, then all in the plastic box. Put that in the fridge without the lid sealed. After 24 hours or so when it is all at fridge temp, without removing the box from the fridge, quickly add the silica bags then seal the lid.

This makes it a one-time only thing. As soon as I remove it and open, condensation will form, but that's fine as when it's out it's out to stay. The entire contents then can come back to room temp and be moved to my battery drawer.

Not specifically a better option, but I like the idea of seeing the silica change color (if it comes to that), so I might try it. Not sure yet though.

EDIT: Oops, my first read of your post was wrong. I thought you got some bulk gel. Oh well, I'll leave this post up as there may be something useful in it anyway. /EDIT


I'm glad you ordered the silica gel -- it's cool stuff to have around and the more you play with it the more uses you are likely to find for it.

I use a few strategies with mine that you may want to consider. Regardless of how I package my bulk silica gel for a container, some containers with "high value" contents get a hydrometer. Nearly all of my containers are at least transucent enough that at any time I may get an accurate reading of the humidity without even opening the box. Outside of the fridge I have hydrometers in boxes on shelves which may be read at a glance without opening the box or even touching it at all.

At least one hydrometer is very handy when one starts working with Indicating Silica gel so the user may get a better feel of what the colors mean in terms of actual humidity.

I looked around quite a bit for inexpensive hydrometers because I wanted a few and I didn't have much money. The best deals I've found are made for people who have lizards as pets in terrariums. Since there are jungle lizzards and desert lizards they have the full range of 0-100%. They are nice and small (1.5 inch dia) and affordable. I've bought them at pet shops and online for $6-10 USD.

For some things that don't get opened and I don't want to mess with often I use kind of an overkill approach. I just cut a square of clean light cotton, dump a pile of gel onto it, tie it into a bundle with a rubber band and throw it and a hydrometer into a box and seal it up. I may then check on it without touching it and even here in the subtropics I rarely have to service them less than every couple years...