Do you need to fully discharge your batteries from time to time?
- Thread starter Hozer
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BiggKidd
Well-known member
Some people claim leaving these L-ion batteries at 100% causes them to degrade faster and sometimes have mechanical problems, swelling and splitting / cracking open.
Most of the info I have been able to find suggests storing them for longer than a week or two to leave them at roughly 30-80% a lot suggest 60%. YMMV
Most of the info I have been able to find suggests storing them for longer than a week or two to leave them at roughly 30-80% a lot suggest 60%. YMMV
Ok thanx for the reply but I just wanted to know if I need to discharge from time to time. I have heard that if you can get down to 1 to 2% then recharge the battery to 80-90% it will make your battery to last longer. Is that not true?
BiggKidd
Well-known member
That goes against everything I have learned about all battery chemistries in the last 40 years and 17 of those I've lived using batteries for primary power.
I've been living off grid since 08
I've been living off grid since 08
ok thanks. Like I said before I heard it. That why I asked the question.
BiggKidd
Well-known member
We are still learning all the time. In the near 100 years we've been using basic lead acid batteries we still learn to improve them and the ways we treat them.
Glenn Goodlett
Active member
I had the same type of question for my battery - read through the above document, but it was kind of vague as to what depleted level of the battery you should charge, and to what percentage - I think if I read correctly, optimally you should charge when you hit 30%, but I wonder if you really do lengthen the charging cycles by stopping at 30% and charging to about 80%
Seems a bit counter intuitive to using the capability to max out your riding miles
Seems a bit counter intuitive to using the capability to max out your riding miles
BiggKidd
Well-known member
LifePO4 are undoubtedly better but they are also heavier and larger which is why they are seldom seen on vehicles of any type except golf carts.
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Big Battery for a 48v
https://www.btrpower.com/products/4...thium-for-2000w-electric-bike-scooter-50a-bms
https://www.btrpower.com/products/4...thium-for-2000w-electric-bike-scooter-50a-bms
Chumley
Well-known member
Just to add, NiCd batteries need to be discharged regularly. Conductive whiskers grow in the substrate and short internally, losing capacity. Li batteries like to be stored around 60% charge, but do not need to be discharged fully.
https://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/dendrite/2006-cyganowski-presentation.pdf
Interesting paper (from nasa)
https://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/dendrite/2006-cyganowski-presentation.pdf
Interesting paper (from nasa)
BiggKidd
Well-known member
Does anyone / anything still use NiCd?
Joecrow
Member
Bosch E-bike batteries and other brands, apparently have a management system that balancies the cells (BMS) which is invoked at the last (100%) point of charging when all the leds are lit and when complete all the leds go out. Is it better to have the BMS run and the battery at 100% or not run and only charge to 80%?
BiggKidd
Well-known member
That's a great question. The answer is not so easy. Many of us who live via battery power regularly charge to around 80% and go to 100% occasionally or 6 to 12 times a year. Others like myself will often only charge to 100% when we are expecting extended bad weather, which is likely more than 12 times a year. BUT most of us also have active balancing BMS's which balance the cells at all times!
What I've noticed some doing is only charging their bikes / scooters to 80% on a regular basis and then to 100% as needed or once a month. I generally charge my bike's battery to 100% all the time because I like long rides or if I'm going for groceries I like to get there and back quickly and the faster you ride the faster the battery dies. My bike can go about 50 miles at 13mph and pedaling all the way or maybe 20 miles at 28-33mph. YMMV
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