Will flashamping reduce storage/shelf life of LIthiums

[aerosimon]

Does using a lithium battery initiate a slow drain process of any sort? CR123A shelf life is generally stated as 10 yrs. Is there any ill effects from flashamping your batteries to sort into batches prior to storage on shelf life. Shortening shelf life, or altering self drain characteristics as a result of sorting may change my post purchase procedure if some chemical reaction is initiated resulting in dead cells after 5yrs due to initial catalyst...

Thanks for any input.. If this is the case with other cells, not lithiums, please advise also Similarly with Li-Ions 2 yr throwaway shelf life, used or unused. Does this start from the first charge/drain or date of manufacture.. Sorry for too many questions at once.
kind regards
aerosimon

 

[zipplet]

Li-ion: The timer starts ticking from the moment the cell drops off the production line. This is why it's not advisable to stock up on spare li-ion packs for things like laptops unless you'll use them regularly.

Primaries: As far as I know, this should not reduce storage life. *pokes others to confirm this*

 

[jayflash]

I've been short circuit testing ("flash amp") all types of cells, beginning with NiCd, NiMH, alkaline and carbon-zinc types about 20+ years ago, with good results or I'd have discontinued that practice. Primary chemistry, CR123A cells also yield accurate results for "batching" similar cells. I normally don't test Li-Ion or SLA batteries this way due to their high current output.

If others have experienced repeatable, negative, results, I'm not aware of it.

A less severe test would be to load the cell with a 5 - 10 watt wire wound resistor of the appropriate value so that a one amp drain will placed on the cell. Approx 2.5 - 3 ohms for a CR123, 3.5 - 4 ohms for Li-Ion, 1.25 -1.5 for alkaline cells. The lithiums lose about 1/2 volts into that load so a 2.5v & 3.5v reading indicates good cells. A good alkaline should read 1.3 - 1.4 volts.

Hope I've given you accurate info.

 

[aerosimon]

Thanks to you guys,

zipplet I believed both of what you said, but wasnt sure whether the li ion was manufactured charged or not, hence my uncertainty, but thats the asnwer anyway... Thanks for that.

As for you jayflash, I hope it wasnt an experience which stopped you flashamping lead acids If so, , i hope you are still in a major piece If really bad, then ill pm you, and better never talk with you again
No, In all seriousness I understand what you are saying and that makes sens, load it to a reasonable level, which my dodgy DMM 5 buck bin has plenty resistance so tests arent up in the 9s etc for binning etc. My question though, and you are the right man to answer then, is would this test start a reaction which continues to degrade the innards of the cell causing premature failure than if the cell had othewise been left new, and untested.

Well Nice chatting with ya both.. Ill yell out to all who think thay can nail this one for sure, chime in and help me close this coffin and may that myth rest in peice.. Maybe a mythbusters episode could be made around something like this... Get some more CPF out there

Thanks all, definitely keep on helping, becuase I too was once afraid to ask/answer life would be completely different if i hadnt been that way.. Again, my dangerous toys wouldve achieved a forum of their own and been Id be behind bars............ gotta run, outa state now...

 

[jayflash]

I'm still using NiCd & NiMH cells from 1999 that have been "flashed" numerous times and they still have most of their capacity. I suspect that CR123 cells aren't affected by a short (1 second) flash test.

Short circuit testing will show the approximate amount of power in a primary cell. For example a reading of 9 - 10 amps indicates a new or almost new CR123 and about 7 amp for an alkaline.

As NiCd & NiMH cells lose capacity they will put less power into a load. 10 - 15 amps new and gradually less as the cells ages.