The best battery for car use in hot weather?

[QuinnK]

Assuming a regular replacement in a reasonable time, once or twice per year?... what is the best type of primary battery for a flashlight to be left in a car all the time? Specifically, this would be in Texas where the summertime temps can hit 110° F or so at times (I haven't checked for sure, but I've heard 140° in a parked car). Considering possible leakage or other problems, what is the best solution... AA lithium, Cr123, etc? Some lights are in and out, but would like to know what's the best type of battery for a light just left in at all times.

Thanks... Quinn

 

[barkingmad]

Assuming a regular replacement in a reasonable time, once or twice per year?... what is the best type of primary battery for a flashlight to be left in a car all the time? Specifically, this would be in Texas where the summertime temps can hit 110° F or so at times (I haven't checked for sure, but I've heard 140° in a parked car). Considering possible leakage or other problems, what is the best solution... AA lithium, Cr123, etc? Some lights are in and out, but would like to know what's the best type of battery for a light just left in at all times.

Thanks... Quinn

AA / CR123A lithium primaries are good for their ultra-low self discharge rates - Energizer recommend theirs for storage / use up to 60 C (140 F) so guess you are just about ok?

They rate their NiMH rechargeables at up to 50 C and their Alkaline primaries up to 55 C.

 

[barkingmad]

Just to add (again for the Energizer AA Lithium) - on the Energizer data sheet it states:

There are no problems at 60°C (140°F), and the batteries can tolerate 71°C (160°F) for at least 1 week.

That probably means 'constant' 71°C - which is good if your 'peak' might be up to 60°C - park in the shade! :naughty:​

 

[defusion]

and don't leave it on the dash, put in somewhere like the glovebox where it's less hot.

 

[QuinnK]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like I should be ok with either the lithium AA or the CD123 in the vehicles.

Much appreciated... Quinn

 

[BIGIRON]

Ha. I thought you meant car battery with regular replacement twice a year.

I'm guessing the temp inside a dark colored car in direct summer sun might exceed 140f. Particularly if the ambient is 100+.

How do you recognize a native Texan? He parks all the way across the parking lot.......under the shade tree.

 

[QuinnK]

*LOL*... you found a parking lot in Texas with a tree??... Quinn

 

[el_vato]

Anyone wanna throw a thermometer in their glove box and find out the temp for him...

 

[2xTrinity]

One idea that might be worth considering would be to store the flashlight, and other temperature sensitive goods inside of a thermos or something, and then wrap that up in aluminum foil or reflective tape. Either way though, 1.5V Lithium primary is probably the best way to go, that, or CR123 (they go for roughly the same price if you search online, and each have similar energy content)

 

[QuinnK]

Anyone wanna throw a thermometer in their glove box and find out the temp for him...

*LOL*

Actually, I wasn't asking what the temp is (I can always do the thermometer thing if I don't think the estimations I've heard are close enough.)

I was more interested in the best type of battery for the purpose... and got some good answers, BTW. :thumbsup:

Thanks... Quinn

 

[DM51]

Mythbusters did a program with white and black cars to see which heated up more. IIRC after a whole day in the heat the white one had a max internal temp of ~125F and the black one ~140F. That is borderline for some batteries but should be OK.

 

[Bones]

Here's a graph indicating that the interior temperature of a Prius parked in Richardson, Texas, reached almost 155°F:

http://enerjazz.com/data/cartemp/

What I found really interesting was that the data logger wasn't even in direct sunlight, it was placed in a compartment under the radio.

It also states that the vehicle was blue in color with an albedo of approximately 37%, and that the vehicle was even facing North.

As well, the graph indicates that the temperature could be reduced by almost 25°F by leaving both front windows down 1/2" or so.

Personally, I think that could result in a much greater reduction in temperature, especially when the thief who jacks the vehicle turns on the air conditioner...

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Quinn,

After much consideration and some research, I think your best bet would be to use a light that runs well on Alkaline cells. I would also suggest replacing those cells every Halloween. In addition, in your glove box I would pick a light that is tolerant of battery leaks.

Rechargeable batteries have issues with soaking at high temperatures. If the internal temperature exceeds 120 - 140 F for any length of time (as in minutes, not hours) there is most likely going to be damage done to the batteries. Even NiCd cells have issues with these high temperatures.

Now, if you could insulate your glove box you could probably use any of the chemistries without problems.

Tom

 

[gchand]

I keep my 2-C Maglight with ROP-Hi bulb and AW Li-Ion 'C' cells (wrapped
in foam) in a Tupperware spaghetti container on the floor of my 1995
Beige Camry here in NJ. I have used a recording Omega Engineering
thermometer to record summertime temperatures, and have found that
temperatures on the floor run approx 10 deg F over ambient, with the car
parked in direct sunlight with windows all up. Temperatures higher up, in the
area of the glove compartment, center console, etc are *substantially*
higher.

For the past couple of summers, I have kept an Inova T3 with primary
CR123 batteries in the center console - the batteries haven't failed, but I
have seen a faster deterioration of shelf life as might be expected under
high temperature conditions (empirical observation - no quantitative data
available).

Remember, heat rises. The lower that you can go for storage, the better.
Cracking the windows open an inch or so may also help - I plan to experiment
this summer to see if slightly open windows help the temperature situation.

George

 

[Bones]

I'm probably way behind the curve on this, but it was only this morning that it occurred to me that you only have to insulate and/or stow the batteries themselves in a cool place in your vehicle.

In follow up, I replaced the D cells in the flashlight I keep in an emergency kit in the spare tire compartment with AA adaptors. I then placed two sets of fully charge Eneloops (and a spare bulb) in a small insulated soup container and stowed the container with the flashlight.

In keeping with SilverFox's other suggestion, I also placed a good quality alkaline AA battery in the little single cell flashlight I keep in the glove box for casual use.

It is my intent to cycle the Eneloops every 6 months or so, but even if I don't get around to it for some time after that, I'm reasonably satisfied that I will still have reliable lighting should the need arise.

Now that I believe they shouldn't get cooked, especially considering gchand's post, I really like the idea of using Eneloops in this equation. It allows me to cycle them periodically, and more importantly, it allows me to cyle them with Eneloops that I've been using in other applications, and therefore know to be good performers.

I would also offer one additional thought to gchand's ' cool ' post. If you're going to stow your batteries and/or flashlight low, as I do, try to do it on the side opposite the exhaust system.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Shade takes precedence over distance when parking in Texas!

And even if it would make easier to steal my truck, I leave all windows down an inch or two.

EDIT> PS I keep Lith in lights I REALLY wish to use some day.

 

[barkingmad]

Hello Quinn,

After much consideration and some research, I think your best bet would be to use a light that runs well on Alkaline cells. I would also suggest replacing those cells every Halloween. In addition, in your glove box I would pick a light that is tolerant of battery leaks.

Rechargeable batteries have issues with soaking at high temperatures. If the internal temperature exceeds 120 - 140 F for any length of time (as in minutes, not hours) there is most likely going to be damage done to the batteries. Even NiCd cells have issues with these high temperatures.

Now, if you could insulate your glove box you could probably use any of the chemistries without problems.

Tom

Energizer rate their NiMH rechargeables at up to 50 C and their Alkaline primaries up to 55 C - the Lithium cells up to 60 C - so Lithium are probably best?

 

[QuinnK]

There's been a lot of interesting, and very informative stuff posted. According to the data posted on the Prius Car tests, there are a number of things that can be done to keep the inside temps down some... the scary thing is that was apparently a 100° ambient temp day. Most summers, it's common to have a number of days well above that, like something around 110° in that area. That's pretty close to where I live, something like 90 miles west of there, and the temps run in the same range.

Our vehicles are all white or silver... so a front window shade, windows cracked just a bit, and possibly a little insulation might make it possible for flashlight batteries to live and do fairly well in a car. I very much appreciate the responses in the thread, it's very helpful... this is a great forum for outstanding answers on all sorts of questions.

Thanks again... Quinn

 

[QuinnK]

After much consideration and some research, I think your best bet would be to use a light that runs well on Alkaline cells. I would also suggest replacing those cells every Halloween. In addition, in your glove box I would pick a light that is tolerant of battery leaks.

Hi Tom... a question. why do you think alkalines might fare better in the heat than lithiums? Actually two questions... If you think alkaline cells would be better for that purpose than lithiums, do think the alkaline battery leak thing would likely be a problem with batteries changed out once or twice a year? I hate acid leaks in a flashlight.

Thank you very much for the response... Quinn

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Quinn,

My suggestion is based on personnel use, historical use, and battery construction.

Historically, people have been using Alkaline cells in the heat for a long time. I have had discussions with Duracell, Energizer, and RayOVac and have been informed that the most common cause of battery leaks is seal dry out. The current Alkaline cells have been tested to be good for about 7 years in storage.

The testing on the Energizers Lithium cells is hard to uncover. I still am not sure if they have actual test data, or if they did accelerated tests and are projecting results. Most of the Lithium battery use is in photographic equipment. People tend to try to protect their cameras from the elements, but I have also heard reliable reports of Lithium "issues" in tropical environments.

In discussions with Duracell, Energizer, and RayOVac, they have all recommended changing out Alkaline batteries every year at the end of summer if the cells have been exposed to temperature extremes. I think this is good advice.

If I lived in your area, I would pick up a Mag Lite, treat the contacts with an anti corrosive agent, and load it with name brand Alkaline cells, changing them out every year at the end of summer. There should be no leaks, but if the batteries do leak, you should easily get the light and batteries replaced by the battery manufacturer.

Tom