Topic: watch for V3 battery drain

[mermentaper]

I've been running my V3 with one of the Wal-Mart Li-ion batteries for the past few months. I couldn't figure out why when I would charge the battery right after a show, it would be down at least one bar (dot) when I went to run it a week later. Turned out it was because I was leaving it plugged in to the Lunatec and it was draining, since I started pulling the Lunatec connection after the show it has held charge just fine.

Steve

[dnsacks]

store the battery in the fridge between shows, seriously, lithium ion batteries will last longer and maintain their full capacity longer if stored in a cold place.

[Swampy]

store the battery in the fridge between shows, seriously, lithium ion batteries will last longer and maintain their full capacity longer if stored in a cold place.

Really? thats pretty interseting. cool.

[phrazelle]

store the battery in the fridge between shows, seriously, lithium ion batteries will last longer and maintain their full capacity longer if stored in a cold place.

Really? thats pretty interseting. cool.

pun intended? 

[caymanreview]

store the battery in the fridge between shows, seriously, lithium ion batteries will last longer and maintain their full capacity longer if stored in a cold place.

Really? thats pretty interseting. cool.

i think a lithium battery reguarly drains at 1% a day, but when stored in the fridge the drain is quite a bit slower

[dnsacks]

The articles I've read indicate that time is also an enemy of lithium ion batteries -- their capacity will decrease over time (whether used or not).  The articles stated that storing lithium ion batteries in a fridge will reduce the effects time has on these batteries.

[caymanreview]

that is good to know!

[mermentaper]

just wanted to reinforce that in my case the drain was not (or not solely) due to normal charge loss while sitting around, it didn't drop anywhere near as much when I stopped leaving it plugged in to the V3.

Steve

[John R]

great battery primer.  camera based, but answers many portable power questions.

http://www.shortcourses.com/choosing/batteries/13.htm

jr

[Ed.]

roommate: "what are those square silver things in the fridge?"
me: "they're batteries"
roommate: "cool, can i eat them?"
me: "i wouldn't"

[ts]

Oh shit. I have mine in the freezer!

[keepongoin]

roommate: "what are those square silver things in the fridge?"
me: "they're batteries"
roommate: "cool, can i eat them?"
me: "i wouldn't"

I ate a lava lamp once.  It wasn't lava.

[Ed.]

haha

[phrazelle]

I thought this was interesting.  It came from the shortcourses.com 
"Confused?  In one place you read that batteries retain their charge longer when stored in a cold freezer, and in another place you read that you need to keep them warm to prolong their charge. What gives? Well if you think about batteries as small chemical engines, it all makes sense. When batteries are cold or frozen their chemical reactions slow down and the batteries will keep their stored charge longer. However, if you try to use the batteries when they are cold, there isn't enough of a chemical reaction to generate the power you need. Warming them up speeds up the reaction and gives you more power to draw on."

Something to think about before using the cold ones

[phrazelle]

This is also from the same site.....good info

" Recycling batteries
According to the EPA, each year over 2 billion used batteries are disposed into solid waste facilities in the United States. This constitutes 88% of the highly toxic mercury and 54% of the cadmium deposited into our landfills. Many kinds of batteries, like those used in digital cameras, can be recycled instead of thrown away. When they wear out, try to take them back to the store where you bought them. Many stores collect the used batteries and then send them to a factory to be recycled. NiCad batteries use Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal, that can damage the environment if not disposed of properly. (They should be recycled; not discarded). NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are the most environmentally friendly batteries because they are made from non-toxic metals."