Lithium ion battery lamp storage

[wisdom]

Just a question.Now the lighter mornings are on the way,It won't be long before lights will be put away. What's the best way to store them fully charged and just in a dry environment. Or periodic charges throughout the summer.What do you recommend?

 

[fossyant]

The experts say partially charged, but I've usually left them at full charge.

 

[cosmicbike]

Best stored at about 60% charge. I've not had any issues with them being fully charged, though there are reports (from my RC days) that if they warm up they can naturally become over-charged which can be an issue.
Definitely don't leave them fully discharged.

 

[si_c]

I just put them in the drawer at whatever % battery they have left. On the flip side, my lights have 18650 rechargeable batteries, so my situation is slightly different as I can replace them at will.

 

[KnackeredBike]

The best range for them to be kept is between 20% and 80% charged - this is the range electric cars keep their batteries at which is why they last longer than phone batteries.

Because they lose an initial 5% then 5% a month (3% from the safety circuit rather than actual self discharge) they should just about last the summer but would benefit from a charge part way through to be on the safe side.

 

[gbb]

After a poor year on the bike last year, my lights / batteries (4x18650 pack) hardly got used, if at all last winter.
Earlier this year i fitted my wifes bike with those lights / batteries. They'd been in a cupboard for maybe 12 months and lit up as soon as I switched them on and stayed lit for hours. I assume I'd put them away with a high state of charge...and they maintained a good proportion of that charge all year.