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Discussion board help and admin topics => Half Baked Ideas => Topic started by: jadaro2600 on January 07, 2009, 09:03:39 PM

Title: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: jadaro2600 on January 07, 2009, 09:03:39 PM
What's up with that? ...does this actually make them last longer?
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: TinselKoala on January 07, 2009, 10:14:16 PM
Sure. The longer you keep them in the fridge without using them, the longer they last.

Just kidding.

I really don't know. But I'm pretty sure it does make them colder.
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: jadaro2600 on January 07, 2009, 10:24:27 PM
I found an old battery powered race track in the attic; it had 4 cold D cells in it that were in perfect condition.  They've been up there for 4 years now and they're still good - so they've seen two hot and two cold years in the attic.  After they acclimatized for a day, the readings were the same when i tested them.

Nothing amazing happening here; but your right, those not in use won't get any worse - but it would take a 15 year long test to prove that kind of idea.

I'm putting a dead battery in the fridge to see what happens...taking readings, watching paint dry, etc.
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: TinselKoala on January 07, 2009, 10:28:31 PM
Well, lots of people do keep them there. I don't usually.
I do know that batteries must be warm to work well. When we used to fly sailplanes really high, we would have electric socks and gloves to keep our hands warm at altitude, and another set of electric socks around the batteries to keep them warm enough to power the electric socks.

Does that qualify as "closing the loop?"
I guess not...
:-[
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: jadaro2600 on January 07, 2009, 11:08:04 PM
Refrigerating the battery for 20 minutes resulted in a net increase in voltage by a whopping 0.002 volts...which after warming back to room temp, showed NO change in voltage. :P

Also, there seems to be a small discrepancy.
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: Michelinho on January 08, 2009, 03:12:22 AM
Hi,

Pile alcaline is french for alkaline battery.

Take care,

Michel
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: Bulbz on January 08, 2009, 03:49:23 AM
I'm not sure if this is bullshit or not, but I was once told that charging a NiCad while keeping it cold, is supposed to help it charge better. He then said that the battery will perform better at normal temperatures.
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: hoptoad on January 08, 2009, 04:18:16 AM
Quote from: Bulbz on January 08, 2009, 03:49:23 AM
I'm not sure if this is bullshit or not, but I was once told that charging a NiCad while keeping it cold, is supposed to help it charge better. He then said that the battery will perform better at normal temperatures.

No it's not bullshit. In fact, it is true of all chemical batteries. It is a widely known, and well established principle, that a cold battery accepts (gains) electron charge more readily than a warm battery. The reverse principle is also true: a warm battery delivers (loses) electron charge more readily than a cold battery.

Anybody who lives in a cool climate, and has owned a car long enough for the battery to start losing it's capacity, will likely to have experienced this principle first hand. That common problem of not being able to start the car first thing in the cold morning, and then "magically", a couple of hours and rising temperature degrees later,....Walaaaah! - it starts!

Cheers

Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: Bulbz on January 08, 2009, 06:55:27 AM
Quote from: hoptoad on January 08, 2009, 04:18:16 AM
No it's not bullshit. In fact, it is true of all chemical batteries. It is a widely known, and well established principle, that a cold battery accepts (gains) electron charge more readily than a warm battery. The reverse principle is also true: a warm battery delivers (loses) electron charge more readily than a cold battery.

Anybody who lives in a cool climate, and has owned a car long enough for the battery to start losing it's capacity, will likely to have experienced this principle first hand. That common problem of not being able to start the car first thing in the cold morning, and then "magically", a couple of hours and rising temperature degrees later,....Walaaaah! - it starts!

Cheers





Thanks for varifying that Bud  8)
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: jadaro2600 on January 08, 2009, 08:55:40 AM
A french battery?

I also found it's bigger brother, a 1.25 volt D cell NiCd - I was wondering what type of current had to flow through one to recharge it?

Bossman, it says on it.

Does someone have a link to the charging characteristics of the modern rechargeable batteries?

Additionally,  I find it odd that, after browsing, that no one uses those C-cell sized rechargeable batteries from the RC car electric motor industry ( and everyone seems to have an oscilloscope and a function generator :P )
Title: Re: Batteries in your fridge
Post by: Creativity on January 08, 2009, 04:42:29 PM
following simple chemistry ( ;) ) i would conclude that many of chemical reactions are slowed down in lower temperatures(molecules move slower and have less chance to collide at the energy suitable for reaction to occur).So this can alos hold for the reactions that cause the battery to degradate.

I hold only my camera batteries in fridge:)