Battery Labeling Integrity

[xjasperstudentx]

How do you label your batteries for when you get them?? I've heard people use excel to date them. What system should I use?? I have 3 batteries at the moment and am getting a lot more! 18650's, 14340's, AA ect. I know when I received my 3 batteries not sure how to label. Thanks!


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[TEEJ]

I write on them with a sharpie.

:D

 

[skeeterbait]

I buy 18650's in sets for a given light. Every battery gets its own unique number starting with 1 on the first one I ever baught. I simply write the number on the battery with a permanent sharpie. I record the numbers, the date bought the set it is assigned to, and the light they are dedicated to in an Excel file where I also record the stats of the given light model.

 

[cbutters]

+1 for the sharpie method, some battery compartments are incredibly tight... even a small label might get scraped off easily. I write the number on the battery in 4 different places just in case of scuffing/scratching.

 

[Admiralgrey]

+1 sharpie method, the "industrial" ones are insanely permanent!

I give each string a Greek character, then label the cells A, B, C...
Single cells are named after the lights I use them in.
Hotwire cells get current tested and that bulb, current and resting voltage are written on them for later comparison.
If a cell shows signs of dwindling it gets a :/ face or a :( depending on severity.
I would say that age is not as important as what voltage they are charging up to and how balanced a string stays after discharge.

 

[bbrins]

I use an industrial Sharpie on my Eneloops to mark the purchase date and battery number. For my 18650's, I use my Brother label maker to mark the same info as the AA's. I haven't had any issues yet with 18650's fitting into my lights with labels.

 

[mcnair55]

I have a different system that works for me.I have a large plastic storage box(a few actually).I buy the type that i can configure myself by way of plastic dividers.In each compartment will be say 2 batteries-3 batteries and perhaps even 4 batteries plus of course my single cells.When I need a set I just select the number of cells that the light needs,I have no problem with mixed cells as the spent set are always recharged as a set,just me but the newly charged cells are always to the right looking down on the box,so i use from the left first.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I've never heard of "industrial Sharpie" markers before.

A quick google shows they are better than the standard fare, but not the best.

A reviewer on Amazon, more than one, in fact, says that for the real deal use VWR lab markers.

They seem very expensive, though.

 

[Tana]

I use Brother label maker to make one label to go vertical on each battery and it identifies them as pairs... no dates or anything, just identifying a twin battery in case I need to run them in series for high powered lights for prolonged times... I have 3 pairs of 18650, 2 pairs of 18500, 2 pairs of 17500, 1 pair of 17670 (17xxx for non-bored Surefires)... oh... 2 pairs of RCR123, 2 pairs of IMR 16340 and 2 pairs of IMR 18350... all AW's...

Some silly thing like "TNT 911" or "BAT 13" or "RCR-01" or whatever on the label...

 

[SaraAB87]

I just use the sharpie RT or sharpie retractable. These seem to have thicker ink. I just number my cells, and if its an alkaline with a bit of power left in it I might put a P on it for partial, indicating a partial charge so I don't confuse it with the never used ones. I have a box with compartments so I probably don't even need to do this. I also have the glitter eneloops so matching those up is easy. Never had a problem with the labeling wearing off. Of course with eneloops and a BC700 since it charges each battery individually this is mostly excessive care of batteries.

 

[Tete]

I use Brother label maker to make one label to go vertical on each battery and it identifies them as pairs... no dates or anything, just identifying a twin battery in case I need to run them in series for high powered lights for prolonged times... I have 3 pairs of 18650, 2 pairs of 18500, 2 pairs of 17500, 1 pair of 17670 (17xxx for non-bored Surefires)... oh... 2 pairs of RCR123, 2 pairs of IMR 16340 and 2 pairs of IMR 18350... all AW's...

Some silly thing like "TNT 911" or "BAT 13" or "RCR-01" or whatever on the label...

I also use the Brother-labeller.
I mark them with the month and year of adoption. For example 01/13. And for multicell lights, I make pairs/groups for every light, labelling them accordingly, for example "M170" for my latest Roche M170.
It's good to see the time of usage of the batteries when they start to go bad, if for nothing more than to recognize good brands from the bad ones...;)

 

[Burgess]

Been using Sharpie's for Decades !

:thumbsup:
_

 

[peterscm]

I used silver label. Using Sharpie to label it with the following info:
1. Battery#
2. Tested mAh up to 3V using hobby charger to discharge it.
3. Date of purchase.
and
4. Put a small piece of paper with last charged date in the battery case.

Then track it using Excel sheet.