The battery should be stored under the following conditions.
a. Low humidity
b. 5 to 104oF(-15 to 40oC)
c. Clean, and avoid direct sunlight.
Capacity after Long Term Storage
After long term storage, all batteries deliver less than rated capacity on first cycle. In cyclic application, full capacity may be obtained through several charge/discharge cycles, normally 2-3 cycles.
Refresh Charge
When batteries are placed in extended storage, it is recommended to refresh charging at recommended intervals.
Storage Ambient Recommended Interval
- Below 20 oC(68oF) -------- 12 months
- 20 to 30oC(68 to 86oF) -------- 6 moths
- 30 to 40oC(86 to 104oF) -------- 3 moths
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"Shelf Life" - typical capacity vs. time
Self-discharge rate is very much dependent on the storage temperature as shown in Figure 1 (above).Lower temperatures allow the battery to be stored for longer periods. (Each ten degree centigrade drop results in a halving of self-discharge rate and doubles storage time.)
"Shelf Life" - storage time vs. temperature
Figure 2 (above) shows the time for the capacity to decrease to 50% of nominal capacity at each temperature during storage. If the storage temperature is known, the graph may be used for finding the most useful recommended refresh charge intervals.
Open Circuit Voltage and Residual Capacity
Residual capacity can be estimated by measuring the open circuit voltage as shown in Figure 3 (above).