How do you guys label batteries?

[alank2]

Hi,

What method do you use?

Thanks,

Alan

 

[Black Rose]

I currently just use a Sharpie and put a number on the body and the negative end.

 

[ltiu]

I use a sharpie.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Fine tip permanent marker. Generally I just keep track of batches of cells so I know which ones are older than other ones, an I try to keep them grouped together as much as I can for similar cycle usage.
I have written down in a notepad when I bought each batch.

 

[Christoph]

Fine tip sharpie
c

 

[phenwick]

I use a Brother P Touch thermal labeler connected to my computer. I can choose any font and a range of label width as well as label color. Right now I only put the purchase date on my cells.
I also use it to label my plastic storage cases for cells, Charged, Discharged, need Conditioning, Questionable. I also label things like chargers with the purchase date and where purchased.
I have yet to have a label start to peel off.

 

[tslrc]

I started to use a Sharpie, but it always seemed to rub off. I tried a Brother P-Touch label maker I had, and the labels have remained on for over a year so far and none are peeling off. I also track batches, dates purchased, numbering them by groups, then logging in a spreadsheet.

The labels even stick very well even on the lower quality batteries i have that get hotter during charging.

 

[shadowjk]

I use the p-touch approach as well. I only put a small label, big enough to fit a cell id number on it. At first I wrapped label around the battery, but it added too much thickness.

 

[tslrc]

I do the same shadowjk, just enough to fit 2 digits, then trim the excess away. I reserved the same number ranges for AA & AAA, like 1-20 for AA Eneloops, and also 1-20 for AAA Eneloops. Although i don't have quite that many, I may some day . I also left #'s 21-30 open for Eneloop expansion.

The LaCrosse batteries that came free with my BC-900 charger are numbered 96-99 for AA & AAA, although only 97 is still kicking on the AAA's, AA's self-discharge really badly. :thumbsdow The 80's for my older Energizers, and 50's for newer ones. Hybrid's range are 60's & 70's.

If I do refreshes or break-in's, I notate results in my spreadsheet. Six Hybrids power my P-Touch labeler.

 

[Bones]

If you prefer to use a Sharpie, and want your markings to really last, first knock the gloss of the cell wrapper with ultra-fine sandpaper or an equivilant.

In a painter's vernacular, this gives the ink a 'tooth' to bind with.

0000 grade steel wool also works very well, but keep in mind it conducts current.

For a neater job, you can tape off the area you intend to mark, which also helps to keep steel wool from shorting out the cell.

 

[Black Rose]

I number my cells by brand and type.

For example I have:
Eneloop AA - 1 to 44
Eneloop AAA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AAA - 1 to 20
Titanium Enduro AA - 1 to 8
Titanium Enduro AAA - 1 to 16

Labeled and tested capacity, last charge date, and where it actually is are recorded in an Excel spreadsheet.

 

[metlarules]

If you prefer to use a Sharpie, and want your markings to really last, first knock the gloss of the cell wrapper with ultra-fine sandpaper or an equivilant.

In a painter's vernacular, this gives the ink a 'tooth' to bind with.

0000 grade steel wool also works very well, but keep in mind it conducts current.

For a neater job, you can tape off the area you intend to mark, which also helps to keep steel wool from shorting out the cell.

Thanks for the tip Bones.:wave:I too use a sharpie and was bothered by the smudge marks handling puts on the cell. I'll have to try it and see how it turns out.

 

[alphazeta]

I too make a tiny p-touch label for my cells & keep a geeky spreadsheet with all sorts of info (charge date, charging method, capacities, etc.)

On tighter fitting cells such as rcr123s, I will use a sharpie & then scotch tape over the marking to prevent rubs without added too much thickness to the cell...

-AZ

 

[ltiu]

I number my cells by brand and type.

For example I have:
Eneloop AA - 1 to 44
Eneloop AAA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AAA - 1 to 20
Titanium Enduro AA - 1 to 8
Titanium Enduro AAA - 1 to 16

Labeled and tested capacity, last charge date, and where it actually is are recorded in an Excel spreadsheet.

Excel?

You need more than Excel!

You need an RDBMS like Oracle for that. Plus a middle-ware that holds business rules like AA NiMH batteries cannot have greater than 3000 mAh capacity and an easy to use web based front end for the whole world to see.

 

[mwaldron]

You need an RDBMS like Oracle for that. Plus a middle-ware that holds business rules like AA NiMH batteries cannot have greater than 3000 mAh capacity and an easy to use web based front end for the whole world to see.

It's sorta sad but I have a mysql database that keeps track of batteries.

It's web-based (mostly), It parses the output of my charger and stores the data so it can show me the graph of every charge cycle, remembering capacity and watching them change over time. I can group batteries into packs, see where/when a given battery was last used or charged.

It's a really neat system I did in a weekend, but the sad truth of the matter is after I toyed around with it I realized I really don't care.

It's a battery. It's in a device. When it stops working satisfactorily it needs replaced. Normal NiMh are cheap enough to be considered disposable and Eneloops are even inexpensive enough it's not worth the hassle. Li Ions are still (for me at least) special purpose enough that tracking them is easily accomplished with the meat-based computer on my shoulders, occasionally augmented with a text file on the PC that runs the charger.

The only real place where this was truly useful (and what it was originally intended to do) was to keep track of RC Car and glider packs. Especially the airplane packs matter when you really really need to know the health of that pack beyond any margin of error.

 

[Bones]

Thanks for the tip Bones. I too use a sharpie and was bothered by the smudge marks handling puts on the cell. I'll have to try it and see how it turns out.

Your most welcome metlarules.

In post 13, alphazeta mentioned covering the markings with Scotch tape, which brought to mind another method which seems to work very well, keeps your cells in pristine condition and is completely reversable.

Rather than cover the markings with tape, mark the tape itself. I've just tried it using a mechanical pencil, which is easy to remove if it migrates while handling your cells, and the smudging was still negligible when I ran my thumb along the markings.

In fact, I just checked the 3m.com site, and both their Magic and Removable tape were specifically designed to accept writing with pencil, pen or marker:

http://solutions.3m.com ... transparent tapes

It's also very thin, quite sturdy, easily sized and completely removable.

 

[Black Rose]

The only real place where this was truly useful (and what it was originally intended to do) was to keep track of RC Car and glider packs. Especially the airplane packs matter when you really really need to know the health of that pack beyond any margin of error.

Yeah, that was always my concern when I was flying RC gliders.
That and making sure the glider stayed within radio range. I haven't flown my gliders in years....I bet my packs are toast.

 

[leukos]

Sharpie's rub off, but those markers at craft stores designed for writing on photographs are pretty good, maybe have to touch my batteries up once a year with it.

 

[Meterman]

At least as important as the survey of the different batteries and their health I regard the wellbeing of all the devices the batteries are used (and often enough forgotten) in. Without leaking there would be few problems, but mainly because of that I keep a detailed Excel table of all gear containing any battery including all relevant data.

Since long I label batteries with a sharpie and protect the writing with Scotch Magic, which I use generally.

Wulf

 

[geek4christ]

I number my cells by brand and type.

For example I have:
Eneloop AA - 1 to 44
Eneloop AAA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AA - 1 to 12
Rayovac Hybrid AAA - 1 to 20
Titanium Enduro AA - 1 to 8
Titanium Enduro AAA - 1 to 16

Labeled and tested capacity, last charge date, and where it actually is are recorded in an Excel spreadsheet.

I do almost the same thing!

I don't have nearly as many cells as you though :candle: