| Buying a brand new battery? If so you may be inclined | | | | very clear and define what a new battery is and is |
| to ask about the age of the battery inventory at your | | | | not! A new battery is NOT: a battery that was |
| battery supplier of choice! For that matter does the | | | | charged, connected to a device, been opened or |
| age of the battery really matter? | | | | chemically activated in any way. Now be very careful |
| It is a good question to ask. A battery is a consumable | | | | with any assumption you may have where a battery |
| product. Think about your favorite restaurant? Would | | | | could still be considered new even after it was |
| you eat there if you knew that your salad of choice | | | | charged, connected to a device, been opened or |
| had ingredients that were 6 months old? Probably not! | | | | chemically activated in any way. Why? |
| But with batteries is there such a thing as an old | | | | Inside the battery itself, is a chemical reaction that |
| battery? The answer is yes! | | | | produces the electrons. The chemical reaction is |
| You see batteries as a consumable have a shelf-life | | | | designed for a single purpose: to create an electron |
| meaning that a battery will only last a certain amount | | | | flow (i.e. electricity) by which the device is powered. |
| of time before it is unusable. Now I am not speaking | | | | The electron flow is measured (or moves at speeds) |
| about a battery's declining capacity. Declining capacity | | | | in amperes, where 1 ampere is the flow of |
| is a natural process of a battery use that once | | | | 62,000,000,000,000,000,000 electrons per second! |
| declining capacity begins the battery will degrade to | | | | Therefore once the chemical is activated and the flow |
| the point of non-operability. Technically speaking | | | | of electrons takes place, even for a second, then the |
| declining capacity is when the amount of charge a | | | | loss of power and battery degradation begins and |
| battery can hold gradually decreases due to usage, | | | | there is no stopping it. Once battery degradation begins |
| aging, and with some chemistry, lack of maintenance. | | | | a battery is considered used and its natural life will |
| PDA batteries, for example, are specified to deliver | | | | deplete in a matter of time. |
| about 100 percent capacity when new but after usage | | | | Now a new battery (a battery that was NEVER |
| and aging and lack of conditioning a pda battery's | | | | charged, connected to a device, been opened or |
| capacity will drop. This is normal. If you are using a pda | | | | chemically activated in any way can have a shelf-life |
| battery (or any lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery) | | | | up to 36 months (under certain conditions). My personal |
| when your battery's capacity reaches 60% to 70% | | | | preference is to never buy a new battery that has |
| the pda battery will need to be replaced. Standard | | | | been sitting on the shelf for more than 18 months. But |
| industry practice will warranty a battery above 80%. | | | | again that is merely a personal preference. Batteries |
| Below 80% typically means you have used the | | | | that are left in temperature extremes will not last as |
| practical life of a battery. Thus the threshold by which | | | | long and may degrade within a few weeks or less if |
| a battery can be returned under warranty is typically | | | | the weather is really extreme. Brand new batteries |
| 80%. | | | | that are less than 12 months old are your best choice |
| But when I speak about the shelf-life of a battery I am | | | | as they represent your "freshest" battery type. |
| speaking wholly of a battery that is new. Let me be | | | | |