I had a pair of huge lead acid AGM batteries die on me after a bit over
six years of very light use in a solar panel and battery system.
Consulting the factory, they stressed that the batteries were getting
cycled each day that the Sun came out and the charger started charging
the batteries. I used the batteries sparingly at my remote ham shack,
discharging about 10 to 12 % typically on the days that I used them.
Only once did I discharge them to almost 75% of full. I should have
used them more so I would not feel so cheated having them die so
quickly. My solution is to replace them with LiFePO4 batteries and
disconnect them from the solar charger unless I need the batteries for a
specific event. They can go a few months with no charging. I can keep
the charge cycles at a much lower rate with LiFePO4. You can't do that
with lead acid, or at least not as well.
Dave K1WHS
On 12/28/2018 4:56 PM, K9MA wrote:
I think Bob is mainly referring to NiMH batteries. I am not sure about
the partial discharges, and whether each one counts as a whole cycle.
That is certainly NOT true of lead-acid and Li-Ion batteries, which
will survive many more partial discharges than deep ones. Li-Ion
batteries should not be stored for long periods fully charged, but at
50-70 percent. Fortunately, their self-discharge rate is so low that
you would have to store them for years before you would have to worry
about them becoming completely discharged, which is bad for all types.
73,
Scott K9MA
On 12/28/2018 10:41, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
Something I learned from one of our "tech reps" regarding
rechargeable batteries and charge cycles. I have successfully
applied his advice for a multitude of and different types of my
rechargeable batteries.
If you use a battery and then recharge it, that is one charge
cycle. Likewise if you should use only 10% of the battery capacity
and recharge it, that is also one charge cycle. And in the same
vein, if you use 90% of battery capacity and then recharge it, that
is also one recharge cycle.
The point, every time you use the battery, regardless of the amount
of discharge, and recharge it, that is one charge cycle. In other
words, don't recharge until necessary. And never leave a battery in
the discharged state. Always charge to full capacity. Short
charging cycles, because one perhaps is in a hurry and can't wait,
only subtracts from the total number of charge cycles available.
And there are only so many charge cycles with each type of battery.
So every time you use and recharge a battery, click off one charge
cycle.
I've practiced this with several different types of batteries and
find that my batteries last much longer and need less frequent
replacement.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 12/28/2018 9:47 AM, Walter Underwood wrote:
Eneloop Pro (labeled Eneloop XX for a bit) are rated for 500 charge
cycles. Regular Eneloop batteries are rated for 2100 charge cycles
but have lower capacity. Choose the one you prefer. I like the
higher capacity batteries.
The Wikipedia page on Eneloop has a chart that clears this up to
some degree.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eneloop
wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
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