How to care for lithium batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are some of the most useful battery types available today. They are lightweight, highly energy-dense, and rechargeable which makes them one of the best options for home energy storage and renewable energy applications. However, like any other type of battery, they do require proper care and maintenance to run efficiently and ensure a longer lifespan. This article highlights a few tips on what you should be doing as well as what you shouldn’t be doing with your lithium batteries.

Keep batteries dry and clean

Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to water, so it’s important to keep them properly dry and clean. Lithium-ion batteries are made with an electrolyte that can corrode on contact with moisture or other liquids. Make sure that you take care not to expose your lithium-ion batteries to water, as this will cause damage to the positive terminal and reduce the lifespan of the battery. If you’re storing your batteries in a cool place like in a refrigerator or freezer, they should be sealed by using heat shrink tubing or foil tape.

Avoid overcharging

Most lithium-ion batteries charge in 3.2 to 4 hours and can be charged up to 500 times, so you must avoid overcharging. Overcharging your lithium-ion battery can cause irreversible damage and reduce its service life. The best way to avoid overcharging is by using a good-quality charger with a low current limit setting.

Don’t short circuit batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most energy-dense battery types available today which makes them a perfect fit for electric vehicles. If the batteries are not stored properly and changed regularly, they will be unable to discharge themselves like other battery types. Because of this, it’s important to ensure that your lithium batteries are discharged regularly so they can continue storing and discharging energy without any issues. You should also avoid short-circuiting your lithium batteries as these events can cause significant damage.

Conclusion

Lithium batteries are small, lightweight, and powerful—however, they require proper care to keep them functioning properly. If you want to ensure that your lithium batteries are lasting you for a long time, make sure you follow these simple steps to care for them. If you require more information about batteries including RV batteries, AGM technology, lithium batteries, marine, and racing batteries, and deep cycle batteries, contact us today!