Mostly the title. I have a few items with built in rechargeable batteries that I don’t need to use very frequently. How do I keep the batteries in those items from going bad? Is there a preferred way to store them for a few weeks in between uses? Thanks in advance.

  • @[email protected]
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    122 years ago

    A few weeks is fine for most devices to not take special precautions. Mostly just make sure they’re stored not completely dead, but not completely full either- generally 50-60% charged prolongs their life the best. Then charge before you’re ready to use.

    Really, modern battery chemistries are so advanced that even just charging them and tossing them in the drawer will be fine. It’s not like ye olden days of ni-cad batteries that were finicky as hell and had to be charged perfectly or else they took a memory set and became useless.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      32 years ago

      I have a percussion massager that will only hold a very small charge after about 6 months (it was a Christmas present). I assumed I stored the battery improperly because I’ve only used it infrequently since then. Maybe I’m wrong about that, I really don’t know, it might have just been cheaply made. I’ll try the ~40% charge for my other devices to be on the safe side. Thanks for the tips :)

      • @[email protected]
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        42 years ago

        yeah some cells are just built very poorly and will age out prematurely. It’s far too prominent nowadays with lowest-bidder manufactured E-waste that populates so many store shelves.