Where Do You Store Batteries?

CalgaryGuy

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 23, 2003
Messages
501
Location
Alberta, Canada
Hi, where do you guys store your spare batteries? I think that I read somewhere a few years ago that it's best to store in fridge. Can someone confirm or deny that the fridge is the best storage place? Thanks.
 

SilverFox

Flashaholic
Joined
Jan 19, 2003
Messages
12,449
Location
Bellingham WA
Hello CalgaryGuy,

I store my spare batteries in my spare flashlights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I believe the general recommendation is a cool dry place.

Tom
 

Eugene

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
1,190
I've gotten too lazy to use rechargeables so I've started buying Alkalines in the Ray-o-vac 30 pack they sell at the registers at Lowes hardware stores. They come ina small plastic case that is recloseable. Its a really cheap case though so it gets bent out of shape easy.
 

WolfEyes

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Joined
Oct 9, 2003
Messages
36
Location
Good old Germany, near Kelley Barracks
I remember having read on some battery manufactorers site that batteries should not be stored in the fridge because it is to dry in there and batteries will start to loose water if stored in too dry conditions.

I store them in a drawer of my desk (=around 21 degrees Celsius, no sun light).
 

JSWrightOC

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Messages
559
Location
Fort Mill, SC
Actually a refrigerator can be quite damp, too damp for batteries. However, placing them in a sealed container (ie a reclosable bag of some sort) will protect them from any moisture/dryness they might be exposed to. It will also prevent condensation from forming on the batteries when they are removed--and it is best to let them warm up to room temperature before using them.

Considering that most batteries are sealed cells, I'm not sure why excessive dryness would cause them to "dry out"...in fact, exposure to dryness might be better, as it prevents corrosion.

The one thing you might not want to do is store them in the freezer because of the possibility of freezing the electrolyte. Not likely, but possible.

And to keep things in perspective, if you go through your stash of alkaline batteries within a few months of purchasing them, storage at anything colder than room temperature is almost a moot point anyway. So a cool, dark (no direct sunlight exposure) location such as a desk drawer would be perfect unless you're storing up a ton of them for a few years. I personally keep mine in a nice shoebox in the corner of my bedroom. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

Bravo25

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Messages
1,129
Location
Kansas, USA
I store some in the fridge with sicone pack.
Some in the car.
Some in my emergency chest.
Some in my "To Go" bag.
Some in my briefcase.
Some in the light pouch I carry.
Some in my pocket.
Some in the garage.

Question to self "Now which ones do I rotate next?"
 

Neko2

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
23
Location
Michigan
I've always kept my batteries in the freezer with good results. I've always heard that they last longer in there...

N2
 

gadget_lover

Flashaholic
Joined
Oct 7, 2003
Messages
7,148
Location
Near Silicon Valley (too near)
I store them:

In a plastic bag or glad disposable container with others of the same type and batch. All the cells of the same type go into a bigger bag to keep them together. All the containers go in a box that is stored in a cupboard. When possible all cells are alligned with positive pointing the same way.

The lead acid (gel-cell and otherwise) are on a bench in the garage.

Rechargables (nicad and nimh) are on a counter in the kitchen while charging. I tried leaving in the garage but they fail quickly due to the uneven temperatures. I even bring in rechargable tools to charge.

Daniel
 

paulr

Flashaholic
Joined
Mar 29, 2003
Messages
10,832
I don't do anything special. They're just all over my room. Lithiums have very long shelf life and I don't worry about them. Alkalines have actually held up pretty well too, though a few have leaked. I don't keep too many around. NiMH is what I use the most. They don't hold their charge if you leave them sitting around for too long, but just recharge them when you need them and they're fine.
 
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