How long are my Lithium Ions good for
Jan/16/2011
Life Span on Lithium Ions
The stated spec for Lithium Ion cells is 3yrs from the
manufacture. Fromeco strongly recommends replacing them every 2
years.
Because there are many things that will effect a batteries
life span, it is hard to just put a cap at a 2yr mark. If the
batteries are properly taken care of stored correctly they deliver a good 3 year
service life. Longer in some cases.
Things you can do to test the viability of your packs at
the 2yr mark and past.
- Load test your cells with a 1amp load. This needs
to be done directly at the pack. NO switches, wiring, jumpers, charge
leashes should be between your pack and the load device. The voltage drop
accross your pack should be no more than .30volts.
- Do a capacity discharge test. Your pack should
read 20% of capacity after 2yrs.
There are linked articles to this article that you should
read for storage and discharge testing.
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