battery checking

[David]

We were at our 'new' new property last night well after dark. I pulled out my Nitecore SRT3 and it provided plenty of light until we were almost done and then started flickering. I charged up several of my 14500's this morning and put in a better battery and then it went back in the car. Good light though.

[bdcochran]

1. I didn't know, so I pass this on. The generality is that when rechargeable batteries are shipped by a reputable source, the literature indicates that the batteries are not fully charged, but will retain a high percentage of remaining capacity for years in storage.

2. Naturally, during the current epidemic, I started charging up my batteries. This week, I was charging some Enloops, a good brand. Two 18650s were completely dead. They weren't 10 years old by any stretch of the imagination. Just dead dead.

3. What I am doing is putting the charged batteries into clear plastic 2 unit holders from the PRC. I write a note of when the batteries are charged. Then the battery units and note go into a zip lock plastic baggie.

4. It is unfortunate that a couple of batteries were dead. It causes me to now what to test more enloops. I don't have a solar battery charger that works as well as a plug-in-the wall type. And, so,it is worth it to me to continue the project than to assume that all the Enloops will be good.

[tom mac]

quick little aprox chart on self drain below
Self-discharge increases with age, cycling and elevated temperature. Discard a battery if the self-discharge reaches 30 percent in 24 hours.



Estimated self-discharge

Primary lithium-metal
10% in 5 years

Alkaline
2–3% per year (7-10 years shelf life)

Lead-acid
5% per month

Nickel-based
10–15% in 24h, then 10-15% per month

Lithium-ion
5% in 24h, then 1–2% per month (plus 3% for safety circuit)

[bdcochran]

thank you.

I just finished going through and charging a number of 18650s for the first time. Then, I created packages. A typical package would be a zip log baggie, a flashlight, a clear plastic PRC battery container (if the light took one battery, then there would be two non inserted batteries in a pack), a note on a flash card stating the date of the charge.

Yes, I have too many flashlights, until shtf time. I recognize that if I want to survive, it behooves me to be in a group and to have source light so that necessary work does not have to stop when the sun goes down or that you have to rely upon a fire for light.

[bdcochran]

I was doing the following with batteries in the last month and I relate the observations:
1. initial charging of uncharged and stored quality rechargeable batteries, both AA,AAA and 18650. I had not marked when I had purchased them. I was concerned enough to want full charge a number of batteries. I had about a 1% chance of the "new" and stored batteries not taking a charge. Good to know when buying batteries.
2. I went through stored short range communication devices. I had packets of Kirkland Costco AA and AAA batteries. A reputable company makes the batteries. I was replacing the stored batteries with current "10 year life batteries". Many batteries, in small PRC supplied battery plastic boxes had leaked. I have never had a quality rechargeable battery leak. That observation pushed me over the ledge of buying, in bulk, quality rechargeable AA and AAA batteries instead of going to Costco today when there would be no crowds.
As I advance in age, the amount of battery charged equipment I own will decrease substantially. My goal is to end up with only rechargeable batteries in 10 years if shtf doesn't happen earlier. I will have given away a lot of electronics by then as well.

[tom mac]

In my garage, I have a chart for my rechargable cells ...
On a monthly basis, I recharge and check off the box so I know I did it.

It helps the old brain remember

[bdcochran]

TomMac. Good idea.
When I started initial charging of rechargeable batteries, I would put them in inexpensive PRC clear plastic containers. Then, I would put the PRC containers into ziplock small baggies with a card stating the date of the charge.

If I have stored communications gear in clear plastic containers with 2 copies of the manual and batteries in zip lock bags, I will only go and examine the batteries periodically. Some of those items, like Family Service radios have been stored for years. If there is a leakage, the problem will show up in many of the PRC plastic containers. Then, the containers are cleaned dried, and filled with replacement batteries with a note of the replacement date.

Today, I will pull out the box in the garage with the empty PRC battery containers and bring it in the house. Rechargeable batteries will be delivered this week or early next week from a US reputable internet site. I probably will be in my house for 10 years. Beyond that . . .

I have only two types of rechargeable rotation:
1. deployed flashlights
2. three game cameras in the backyard. Pull a unit and test the batteries. If low, recharge. Then work with the next unit. I am going to use the dedicated batteries to the unit before switching in other batteries.

[David]

We went out to the property tonight, well after dark. I planned on using my SRT3 which is my light that I keep in the car. However, the battery had died which means I was negligent in checking it as often as I need to. Luckily I had my EDC sling bag with me and had the Nitecore EA11 so it worked out. But it's a lesson learned.

[bdcochran]

Reply to David:

Have you considered carrying spare batteries in the car? SRT3 takes a 123 battery. I have some from Surefire that register a strong charge more than 10 years after I purchased them.

I put AA battery lights in the car. Several 4 packs of AA batteries in PRC plastic containers. So, I will always have spare batteries and compact carrying cases of batteries if I have to leave the car and hoof it.

[David]

Thank you. Actually the Nitecore SRT3 takes either 14500/AA or CR123/16340. And I do carry spares in my EDC sling bag. In this case I carry 2x14500 and 2xAA in a plastic battery case. Last night it was just simpler to grab the Nitecore EA11 than change the battery in the SRT3. But it's nice that both take the same type of battery (in the case of the 14500/AA. I do have a second vehicle light which is the ThruNite 1C that takes either a 16340 or CR123. I had taken it out a while back because I was using it inside. But your post has me remembering to put it back in the vehicle and get a couple of CR123's for the vehicle as spares for it. And that will cover the SRT3 as well by simply taking out the center tube to change it from AA size to 123 size. As the mantra goes, 'two is one and one is none'. Thanks