Nowadays, there are more and more electrical appliances using disposable batteries at home, usually more, such as flashlights, razors, remote controls, especially children’s toys. As consumers, we usually buy batteries as a necessity at home. Generally, you will not buy one or two, but usually the whole card or the whole box. Then put it at home for use at any time. We usually buy more alkaline batteries and zinc-carbon batteries, such as AA, AAA batteries. Presumably, most people are like this.
So How to Store Batteries?
Most of us only think about buying batteries and keeping them at home and don’t think too much about how to store the batteries safely at home or in other areas. Today I will give you a comprehensive explanation of the aspects of battery usage, storage, life, etc. I hope I can bring you some help.
#1 – Keep Away From Children
We know that children generally like to play with toys. When they see batteries at home, they like to install the batteries in their toys at will. When children install batteries, they are easy to install the positive and negative electrodes in reverse, which will cause the battery to short circuit. At the same time, sometimes children like to throw the battery for fun, and the battery may be short-circuited when the battery falls to the ground. If the battery is short-circuited, the battery will heat up, leak fluid, and may swell, causing certain hidden dangers to the children’s safety.
At the same time, sometimes children are not careful and like to put the battery in their mouth, which is also very dangerous.
So First Store It Out of the Reach of Children.
#2 – Keep Away From Fire, and Store in a Dry, Ventilated Place With a Suitable Temperature.
There is a chemical reaction inside the dry battery, and the temperature will affect the speed of running the battery. The higher the temperature, the faster the running speed of the dry battery, and the lower the temperature, the slower the running speed. So remember to avoid putting dry batteries in direct sunlight in daily life. Fortunately, it is stored at 10-25 degrees Celsius. This can better protect the battery, extend the service life of the battery, and reduce the battery self-discharge rate.
For disposable dry batteries, the IEC stipulates that the annual decline rate of alkaline battery capacity is generally not more than 10%, and that of carbon batteries is not more than 20%. But if it is stored in a place where the temperature is relatively high for a long time, the decline rate will exceed this value. The original storage period was 5 years, but now it may only be 3 years.
Humidity is a factor that affects the running speed of dry batteries. The higher the humidity, the faster the running speed, and the lower the humidity, the slower the running speed. For the storage environment of dry batteries, the humidity should not exceed 65%. Excessive humidity will make the battery contacts rusty, making it impossible to use dry batteries. Remember, the dry battery must be placed in a dry place to avoid an environment with water, which will increase the humidity in the environment.
#3 – Can the Battery Be Stored in the Freezer or Cold Storage?
Alkaline batteries and zinc-carbon batteries both have chemical energy converted into electrical energy. The battery is composed of a positive electrode (main material manganese dioxide), a negative electrode (zinc), and an electrolyte. If the battery is stored in a place where the temperature is relatively low for a long time, such as a refrigerator or cold storage, although the self-discharge will be inhibited, it will also affect the electrolyte inside, because the electrolyte is mixed in the battery in the form of liquid, and the temperature will be too low. Affect the performance of the electrolyte. When we take the battery out of the ultra-low temperature, the battery will not immediately discharge as under normal temperature.
Therefore, it is not recommended to put the battery in the freezer or refrigerator, unless you are in a place where the indoor temperature exceeds 30 degrees for a long time or a higher temperature. You can temporarily store the battery in the refrigerator. But remember, do not let dry batteries come into direct contact with food, as this will have a bad effect on food. You can put a plastic bag and put the dry battery in the refrigerator, which can slow down the battery running speed.
#4 – Can You Leave the Battery in the Car?
We do not recommend storing the battery in the car.
We sometimes like to go out and explore, or as a backup. There will be some electrical appliances in the car, such as flashlights and emergency lights. We usually buy some batteries and put them in the car for use at any time. In fact, the inside of the car is one of the terrible places to store batteries. There are 2 reasons:
– If it is summer and the car is parked outdoors, if the outdoor temperature is 40 degrees Celsius, the inside of the car will generally reach above 50 degrees Celsius, and 50 degrees Celsius will accelerate the self-discharge of the battery. The temperature inside the car during the day is very high, and at night the temperature inside the car returns to below 30 degrees Celsius, so for the battery, it is equivalent to doing high and low-temperature tests. We usually simulate high and low temperatures in the laboratory to test the battery life. Generally, this kind of high and low-temperature cycle is more destructive to the battery than the battery is exposed to the condition of 35 degrees Celsius for a long time, and it is very unsuitable for battery storage.
– The battery is stored in the car. As the car is driving on the road, the battery is always in a state of motion, and this movement is irregular, which may damage or not be conducive to the integrity of the internal structure of the battery, which may cause damage to the internal structure of the battery. Cause a short circuit.
#5 – Where Is the Best Place to Store the Battery in the Home?
Usually if you are in a place where the summer temperature does not exceed 35 degrees, and the room is generally below 25 degrees Celsius, you can put the battery directly in the cabinet.
If the temperature in your place is high for a long time, it is recommended to put it in the refrigerator. At the same time, it is recommended that you purchase batteries on demand and do not store too many spare batteries at home. Store less, enough for urgent use.
It is best to use a sealed plastic bag or a plastic box when storing. It should be arranged neatly during storage. Do not connect the positive and negative poles to cause short circuit of the battery. Do not use metal boxes. Metal boxes can easily cause the positive and negative poles to contact and cause a short circuit.
No matter how it is stored, when we buy batteries, we must buy them on demand and do not store them for too long. Because the shelf life of alkaline batteries is generally 5 years, and that of carbon batteries is generally 3 years. Although the shelf life of some brands is 10 years, this is usually a theoretical value. It is the data obtained under strict storage conditions in the laboratory. We usually store it at home. The conditions are not met. The battery that is stored for too long is not well.
#6 – Is It Suitable to MIX Alkaline Batteries and Carbon Batteries Together?
Generally, it is not recommended to mix them together, because it is easy to mix and hold for a long time or sometimes when used, and it is easy to mix alkaline batteries and carbon batteries for use. This is not conducive to the use of batteries, and it is not conducive to the release of battery performance.
#7 – How to Deal With the Batteries in Appliances That Are Not Frequently Used?
There are many places where dry batteries are used, such as toys, radios, flashlights, etc. For those that are not frequently used, the dry batteries can be taken out first, which can avoid the positive and negative poles of the dry battery from forming a cycle and reduce the loss of dry battery power.
For electrical appliances that we don’t use often, such as the remote control of the air conditioner, the battery is installed in the summer. When it is not in use in the fall, it is best to take the battery out and put it in a plastic bag and put it in the remote control. together. Wait until it is re-used in winter before reloading. This can prevent individual batteries from leaking and corrode the remote control. At the same time, it can also avoid the confusion between used batteries and new batteries, because from the appearance, new batteries and used batteries are almost invisible. Most of our families Without a voltmeter, it is impossible to measure the voltage of a new battery or an old battery. When it is used again, it is likely that the new battery and the old battery will be mixed.
#8 – How Do You Store the Batteries Used in Emergency Situations?
We can buy batteries and store them at home, usually for urgent needs. So where is it easy and convenient to store it and not forget it? It is recommended to store it in a first aid box, in an emergency bag, or with an emergency light, so that it can be used in an emergency.
For emergency batteries, it is recommended to buy alkaline batteries instead of carbon batteries. The storage life and service life of alkaline batteries are much longer than carbon batteries.
The above are some precautions for the storage of disposable alkaline dry batteries and zinc-carbon dry batteries. Regarding the storage of rechargeable batteries, especially lithium batteries, please keep following our blog.
