Does freezing batteries imcrease their life?
- Thread starter kris994
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It does, for most type of batteries. But I suggest storing them at temperatures slightly over the freezing point - for example in the fridge. Especially rechargeable Li-Ion will degrade over time if stored at high temperatures. Be sure to seal the batteries because of the humidity and water condensation when storing at lower temperatures.
In the freezer?
Ok, I will admit I know little about rechargeable batteries, but this sounds odd to me.
I have four rechargeable 18v Milwaukee battery packs, fourish years old and used hard. I am having a hard time replacing them locally, Lowe's dumped Milwaukee tools.
Well one of the "Yo's" (sorry, thats what I refer to them as anymore) at Lowe's suggested I throw them in the freezer overnight.
Again, I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is this for real?
Ok, I will admit I know little about rechargeable batteries, but this sounds odd to me.
I have four rechargeable 18v Milwaukee battery packs, fourish years old and used hard. I am having a hard time replacing them locally, Lowe's dumped Milwaukee tools.
Well one of the "Yo's" (sorry, thats what I refer to them as anymore) at Lowe's suggested I throw them in the freezer overnight.
Again, I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is this for real?
Mr Happy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Re: In the freezer?
I've heard of the freezer for long term storage, but not for rejuvenating old batteries. I'm not sure that putting batteries in the freezer overnight would help at all.
You could try Home Depot? They still seem to stock Milwaukee.
I've heard of the freezer for long term storage, but not for rejuvenating old batteries. I'm not sure that putting batteries in the freezer overnight would help at all.
You could try Home Depot? They still seem to stock Milwaukee.
Lunal_Tic
Flashlight Enthusiast
Re: In the freezer?
Throwing battery packs in the freezer for a couple of days was a trick I heard from a Motorola cell phone repair tech back when the the monster cell phones were still using NiCads.
He said he had people coming in all the time with "dead" batteries and would buy a new one and leave the old ones with the repair center. He would take them home and toss them in the freezer and 9 times out of 10 would get it back to being usable. His take on it was that it "reset the memory" that the batteries got when being charged w/o being fully discharged over and over again.
At the time I went ahead and bought an extra battery but kept my old one and tried his idea. It did make it usuable again though not as strong as my new one. Might have been magic gremlins but for me it worked.
-LT
Throwing battery packs in the freezer for a couple of days was a trick I heard from a Motorola cell phone repair tech back when the the monster cell phones were still using NiCads.
He said he had people coming in all the time with "dead" batteries and would buy a new one and leave the old ones with the repair center. He would take them home and toss them in the freezer and 9 times out of 10 would get it back to being usable. His take on it was that it "reset the memory" that the batteries got when being charged w/o being fully discharged over and over again.
At the time I went ahead and bought an extra battery but kept my old one and tried his idea. It did make it usuable again though not as strong as my new one. Might have been magic gremlins but for me it worked.
-LT
StarHalo
Flashaholic
Re: In the freezer?
It's usually a good idea to store new/unused batteries in the fridge; all batteries have a self-discharge rate, which slows in cold temperature. Not sure I'd go with the freezer, there could be moisture/freezerburn issues.
It's usually a good idea to store new/unused batteries in the fridge; all batteries have a self-discharge rate, which slows in cold temperature. Not sure I'd go with the freezer, there could be moisture/freezerburn issues.
petersmith6
Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
- Messages
- 200
Re: In the freezer?
Nicd's form crystals in the cadmium over time, buy freezing them the crystals are broken up buy frost so the cell work again. Nimh use a sinter so i cant see how it would work.
Nicd's form crystals in the cadmium over time, buy freezing them the crystals are broken up buy frost so the cell work again. Nimh use a sinter so i cant see how it would work.
drmaxx
Enlightened
Lower temperatures decrease the speed of chemical reactions therefore the self-discharge of batteries. So general rule: The lower the temperature the longer the batteries will hold their charge.
Problematic with freezing is, that if the electrolyte actually freezes it usually damages the battery. So freezing temperature matters.
Here's the list that I have memorised (valid for normal household freezer, -18 °C):
* Alkaline / Li-Primaries: No problem - but not really worth while due to small gains.
* NiMH: No problem
* LiIon: Avoid.
I hope more will chime in with their experience.
Problematic with freezing is, that if the electrolyte actually freezes it usually damages the battery. So freezing temperature matters.
Here's the list that I have memorised (valid for normal household freezer, -18 °C):
* Alkaline / Li-Primaries: No problem - but not really worth while due to small gains.
* NiMH: No problem
* LiIon: Avoid.
I hope more will chime in with their experience.
csshih
Flashlight Enthusiast
doesnt do too much.
it works with glowsticks though.
it works with glowsticks though.
Re: In the freezer?
I threw one in the freezer last night and left the other two on the chargers. I didn't notice any effect with that battery.
I have been trying to replace windows in the house and NEED the sawzall to work!!! Wife and I went to Home Depot, it's a drive from here, to get some new batteries. They no longer carry them!!
I was just going to get a cheapie sawzall and carry on. My WIFE!!! spots a Makita 18v LXT Li-Ion 4 piece kit and says "Well, the batteries are going to be around $100 each, this is on sale for $400 and you can still get batteries. Merry Christmas!"
Not a bad day!
I threw one in the freezer last night and left the other two on the chargers. I didn't notice any effect with that battery.
I have been trying to replace windows in the house and NEED the sawzall to work!!! Wife and I went to Home Depot, it's a drive from here, to get some new batteries. They no longer carry them!!
I was just going to get a cheapie sawzall and carry on. My WIFE!!! spots a Makita 18v LXT Li-Ion 4 piece kit and says "Well, the batteries are going to be around $100 each, this is on sale for $400 and you can still get batteries. Merry Christmas!"
Not a bad day!
Radiophile
Enlightened
Re: In the freezer?
If you'd still like to use your old tool, there are companies that rebuild battery packs for less than the cost of new batteries and you'll probably be able to upgrade the capacity too. I did a quick search and for an 18v pack I found a site that'll rebuild it with NiCd cells for $48. If you're getting more than one pack rebuilt you might be able to get a discount and spread the shipping cost per pack too.
If you'd still like to use your old tool, there are companies that rebuild battery packs for less than the cost of new batteries and you'll probably be able to upgrade the capacity too. I did a quick search and for an 18v pack I found a site that'll rebuild it with NiCd cells for $48. If you're getting more than one pack rebuilt you might be able to get a discount and spread the shipping cost per pack too.
I don't need two tool kits, my tool fetish isn't that bad. The only thing I don't have that I want for the Makita is the circular saw. I think the Millwaukee kit is going on e-bay and I will use that money to get the saw and a couple more batteries.
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