Are the any specific changes you would make in my routine? Different type charger or like letting the cells discharge more so I don't need to not use the pila (which shows charged/green at around 4.0 V.) And use the Trustfire, which will show red for half another hour or more with the same cell.
Hi samm. What I'll say here is that my routine is different, not that yours is wrong, with the exception of the use of the TrustFire, your routine seems fine.
I have many Li-Ion cells, over 100, in many different sizes and varieties. With this many cells, most of them are in storage, most of the time. They are stored in the Fridge at about 35-40F in a ~40% state of charge (SOC).
When I know that I am actually going to use a "set" (usually one to three cells for the light, plus a backup set or two if deemed necessary), I charge them up. After they have been used for the "mission", I don't worry too much about returning them to storage if the cells were not discharged to an acceptable storage level, but go ahead and use them normally. This may take days, or weeks. When the cells are discharged to ~40% capacity, or lower, I prepare them for storage again. Cells that are below 40% capacity are charged up to 40%. Of course, this is easy to do with a hobby charger, as the "storage charge" function charges (or discharges, which seems a waste to me) cells to ~40%. The ~40% SOC isn't really all that critical, as long as the cells are about half charged or less, and not fully discharged (~3.6 volts OC (open circuit) voltage for a LiCo, or LiMn cell). In other words, you don't really need a hobby charger, anywhere between roughly 3.70-3.85 Volts OC is fine for storing.
So anyway, I don't really run into the problem of finding it necessary to top cells off, that are at 4.00 volts, or higher. I just use them until they reach a suitable voltage level, replace with a backup, and then mix the discharged cell back into the storage rotation.
I don't own a Pila IBC, so someone else may have a "trick" that will allow you to top up your cells. It seems I remember someone saying that for cells that are too fully charged to start charging in the Pila, if you run them briefly in a light for a few seconds at a high output level, and then quickly slap them into the charger, they will start to charge. It's worth a try anyway.
Any opinion on keeping them stored in the airtight Pelican for my trunk in all but extreme heat?
I personally don't like the idea of storing Li-Ion cells in the car. If nothing else, high temperatures will degrade the cells much more quickly. This is a better situation for the use of lithium primary cells, as they hold up well to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. When the WX isn't so hot, I don't see any problem with Li-Ions, or if I'm on a "mission", I don't worry too much about it either. The less time Li-Ion cells are exposed to high temperatures though, the better.
I still have a ton to learn
If you haven't already, you should check out
Battery University. There is a wealth of information there, not only about Li-Ion batteries and cells, but most other common rechargeable cells, as well.
And if it doesn''t make sense it's because its 4 AM, lol.
Makes sense to me.
Dave