The batteries we normally use with computer and filmaking are based on lithium-ion technology, a technology that has seen so many evolutions in recent years.

There are many myths and legends that are grounded only in the first versions of lithium-ion batteries, modern batteries have fewer problems than previous technologies, but of course they have time limits of life and a maximum of charges and recharges, so good use of batteries and good maintenance is a good habit to maximize the yield and especially the lifespan of batteries.

Without going into the technician, a battery is charged when it has a potential difference between positive and negative of a certain value.
The battery expresses its potential in Volt and amps, so when it needs to be charged it will apply some voltage and a certain amperage to restore this difference in potential.

During the charging phase the device / battery “asks” the charge and the charger “offers” the power charge up to its maximum charge value in Volt/ Ampere.

The life of a battery

The duration of the ability to retain and dispense the charge is determined by a number of factors:

  • number of charge cycles – download performed
  • temperature at which the battery was subjected
  • Fast charge vs slow charge
  • battery age (years since battery creation)
Number of charge cycles

Batteries have an almost finite number of charge and discharge cycles, which normally outpace battery life, so we don’t have to worry about how many times we’re going to charge a battery. A common number of cycles is around 1000 cycles up to 8000 charging cycles for some high-quality batteries. Assuming you use the battery every day, charging it every day you could charge it for about 3 years without affecting the battery.

The heat is his enemy

The heat generated by the charge/discharge or the heat outside the battery-powered device battery, affects the quality of the chemical elements contained inside the battery and their ability to work.

Many people treat batteries badly, abandon them in the cold, in the heat, and all these operations have a clear impact on both the performance and the duration of the battery charge.

Fast Charge vs Slow Charge

When we load a 12v battery we can use a 12v 1 amp power supply or 6v 2 amps, the difference between the two cases is that with a larger amperage we can accelerate the charge, but this generates more heat, which is not good for the battery and could give damage to the wiring. So using fast charging could wear out the battery’s ability to retain power. I use the conditional because this wear is determined more by heat generation than by chemical damage, so it depends on the situation, the charging system and the management of the charge. Many chargers contain charge control chips that monitor the situation and handle the outgoing amperage.

Battery age

The only real flaw in lithium batteries is that they have a limited lifespan, so it’s important to know the date of battery production because as time goes by the capacity will go down physiologically, so even when we buy batteries for the devices it is important to check the date of production.

Conservation

So summed up to properly store a battery the best strategy is:

  • Make a refresh of the charge every 4-6 months.
  • Store in a cool, dry place.
  • Don’t let the battery drain at 0%.
  • Up to 40% charge can be left.