Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries must be kept at full charge during storage

Aug. 14, 2008 - PRLog -- NiCad batteries, and to a lesser extent NIMH batteries, suffer from what’s called the
"memory effect". What this means is that when a battery is partially discharged
before recharging, the battery "forgets" that it has the capacity to further discharge all the
way down. For example if you on a regular basis, fully charge your battery and then use
only 50% of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the battery will become
unaware of its extra 50% of its original capacity. The battery will remain functional but only
at 50% of its original capacity.

Solution: The way to avoid the dreaded "memory effect" is to fully cycle (fully charge and
then fully discharge) at least once every two months.

Exceptions to the rule are LI-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.

Maybe, NiCad, NiMH, and Li-Ion are all fundamentally different from one another and cannot
be substituted unless the device has been pre-configured from the factory to accept more
than one type of battery chemistry.


Please refer to your owners manual to find out which rechargeable battery types the
particular device supports.

What are volts and milliamp-hours (mAH)?

There are two ratings on every battery: volts and amp-hours (AH) The AH rating may also
be given as milliamps-hours (mAH), which are one-thousandth of an amp-hour (for example,
1Ah = 1000mAH).

The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of your original unless
the batteries are different chemistries.

NiMH and NiCad batteries have different voltage ratings then that of Li-Ion, even if they’re
for the same device. Some our battery lines will have higher amp-hour ratings than you
original battery found in the device. The higher capacity or mAH giver your device longer
run-time and will not cause any incompatibilities.

The new battery isn’t charging, Is it defective?

Usually NO. New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before
use. Is recommended that you fully charge and discharge the new battery two to four times
to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.

It is generally recommended an over night charge (approximately twelve hours). It is normal
for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging.

When charging the battery for the first time, the device may indicate that charging is
complete after just 10- 15 minutes. This is a normal with rechargeable batteries. New
batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully charged and not
"broken in". Sometimes the device’s charger will stop charging a new battery before it is
fully charged. If this happens, remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it.
The charge cycle should begin again. This may happen several times during the first
battery charge. Don’t worry; it’s perfectly normal.

How long will my new battery run?

Battery run-time is difficult to determine. Actual battery running time depends upon the
power demands made by the equipment. The total run-time of the battery is also
dependent upon the design of the equipment.

How can I maximize the performance of my battery?

Prevent the memory effect- Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully
discharging it at least once every two months. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries
which do not suffer from memory effect.

Keep the batteries clean - It’s a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton
swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the device.

Exercise the battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We
recommend using the battery once every two months. If a battery has not been used for
a long period of time, perform the new battery break in procedure.

Battery storage - If you don’t plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a
clean, dry, cool place, fully charged, away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and
Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries
before use.

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