I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
"Michael Quinlan" <[email protected]> wrote ...
> I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
> I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
> would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
> charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
> short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Leaving Dewalt 18V batteries on the charger in the
non-air-conditioned but insulated shop, in the 115F+ heat
of Arizona summer, killed some of them dead.
So I don't do that anymore. What happens if they
are in the heat but not in the charger, I don't know.
--
Dennis M. O'Connor [email protected]
Heat's bad for them, also. I live in AZ and keep my cordless driver in the
pickup with a bed cover. It's white, but it still gets hot in there. The
batteries don't seem to last more than a few years. Tom
>Subject: NiCD
batteries & temperature extremes
>From: [email protected] (Michael Quinlan)
>Date: 12/04/2003 2:44 PM US Mountain Standard Time
>Message-id: <[email protected]>
>
>I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
>I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
>would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
>charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
>short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
>Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Someday, it'll all be over....
> Charging "hot" batteries has a number of potential problems.
> Many of which can lead to total battery failure. Sometimes
> in "catastrophic" form.
>
> "large" batteries, with sophisticated charging systems, often
> have a temperature sensor -internal- to each battery; for that
> precise reason -- to let the 'smart' charger limit the inflow
> to 'safe' regions.
>
"Reading" your posts *is* like watching a 'bad' William Shatner -movie-.
In article <[email protected]>,
Michael Quinlan <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
>I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
>would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
>charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
>short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
>Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
*storage* in low temperature environments is generally _not_ a problem.
Available peak amperage decreases *signficantly* as temperature goes
down. For -any- type of rechargable battery. The rate of drop-off
does depend, somewhat, on the 'chemistry' used in the battery.
for maximum battery life, you want to let cold Ni-Cd, Li-ion, and/or
(especially) NiMh batteries acclimate to room temperature before using
and/or charging.
It's less of a concern with lead-acid cells.
Charging "hot" batteries has a number of potential problems.
Many of which can lead to total battery failure. Sometimes
in "catastrophic" form.
"large" batteries, with sophisticated charging systems, often
have a temperature sensor -internal- to each battery; for that
precise reason -- to let the 'smart' charger limit the inflow
to 'safe' regions.
In article <[email protected]>,
Caractacus Potts <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Charging "hot" batteries has a number of potential problems.
>> Many of which can lead to total battery failure. Sometimes
>> in "catastrophic" form.
>>
>> "large" batteries, with sophisticated charging systems, often
>> have a temperature sensor -internal- to each battery; for that
>> precise reason -- to let the 'smart' charger limit the inflow
>> to 'safe' regions.
>>
>
>"Reading" your posts *is* like watching a 'bad' William Shatner -movie-.
>
>
Now I understand why your car caused that button on the dashboard to turn
a deeper shade of purple, and added the second word to the label on it.
"Michael Quinlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
> I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
> would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
> charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
> short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hey hombre, the best way to tell if the battery is weak is to stick your
tongue on the contacts.
"Michael Quinlan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
> I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
> would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
> charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
> short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
they can freeze. the charge doesn't last very long when used at low temps.
HEAT kills batteries, not cold.
There are issues with charging them when it's cold (they will accept
charge slower, so you have to be more careful about quick charging)
but storing them in the cold has no harmful effects.
Using them in the cold should have no harmful effect, but you will
llikely have reduced output.
Y
On 4 Dec 2003 13:44:15 -0800, [email protected] (Michael Quinlan)
wrote:
>I have several cordless tools that I keep in a trailer for work, and
>I'm wondering if keeping them there during the winter (or summer)
>would degrade battery life or performance. I've seen references to
>charging at extreme temperatures being harmful, but nothing about
>short-term storage (i.e. a week or less) between uses.
>
>Any advice would be greatly appreciated.