You must be very happy with your recent purchase of Milwaukee batteries. And rightfully so, they are one the best in terms of power, performance, and capacity!
But like with any good battery, in order to maximize battery life, you need to store them properly. However, the majority of people are unaware of how to do so.
You will have a thorough understanding of all Milwaukee battery storage fundamentals by reading this text. We’ve jotted down 4 important tips to prolong your battery’s life.
So, how to store Milwaukee batteries?
Milwaukee batteries should be kept in a dry, cold, and out of moisture. Ideally, they should be stored at 40-50% charge to maintain electron balance in the battery. Milwaukee batteries should be stored away from direct sunlight or heat at temperatures below 122°F.
But this is merely an abridged version of the entire concept. If you want to learn more about the procedure, keep reading. I’ve produced an article that goes over the entire method in depth.
So, what do you have to lose? Let’s get right to work!
How To Store Milwaukee Batteries?
Storing lithium-ion batteries like the Milwaukee batteries is part of its maintenance. This keeps the electrons inside the battery in a stable condition which prolongs the battery’s life.
Milwaukee batteries are used in several power tools. A power tool can’t function properly if it uses batteries that have lost their capacity. Problems in Husqvarna 562xp are caused due to batteries not being able to provide adequate power.
So, now that we’ve established how important proper storing techniques are.
Let’s take a look at 4 important methods to do just that!
Warning 1: Storing The Batteries Away From Direct Sunlight Or Heat
It’s vital that you store your Milwaukee batteries in a dry and cool place. Keep in mind that these batteries don’t like being exposed to direct sunshine or heat.
Some people like to store their batteries close to their windows. In this case, that is a big NO. Especially during the harsh Summer.
We have a parameter that often helps users. The storage place shouldn’t have temperatures exceeding 50°C or in other words, 120°F.
Storing the battery under direct sunlight or heat permanently causes capacity loss. This can cause your Milwaukee batteries to show reduced performance overall.
So, if you want your battery to keep functioning optimally, ensure temperatures are under 50°C.
Warning 2: Storing The Batteries Away From Moisture
Another crucial consideration is that batteries must be kept dry at all times. Moisture causes irreversible damage to the Milwaukee batteries.
Rain or water must not come into contact with the batteries. Under any conditions, they must be made moist.
A common mistake people make is cleaning the battery packs with oil or other solvents. This makes the plastic casing brittle and eventually, it cracks. This leaves the user susceptible to injuries.
In short, it’s recommended not to store batteries like the Milwaukee M18 in damp places. Why?
Because this moisture can corrode the terminals of the batteries. Therefore, in order to maintain its performance, store it away from moisture.
Warning 3: Storing The Batteries Away From Freezing Temperatures
If you’re living in cold countries, this factor is very important for you. Milwaukee batteries are not designed to handle freezing temperatures well.
In Milwaukee’s instruction manual, they recommend that the batteries be stored in a cool place. But, by a cool place, they do not mean cold to the point of freezing.
The freezing temperature normally damages the battery’s cells. Apart from this, batteries with cold temperatures also discharge faster. Extreme colds can also crack the cells of your battery. So overall, this is detrimental in every way.
That’s why it’s always best to store them near room temperature. If your garages or sheds get too cold, consider bringing your batteries inside. But do ensure that these places are decently insulated.
However, if your battery pack does get cold, don’t panic. There’s an easy fix to this.
What you need to do is put these batteries in a tool. But, only use the tool in ‘light application’ mode. This won’t drastically use up your battery power.
Initially, it may buzz for a good minute. But when the buzzing stops, your batteries are now back to optimal temperature. Now, you can use the tool normally.
Warning 4: Determining The Optimal Charge For Storage
Power tool users have a common query. This is how much charge should the batteries have when storing them.
The ideal charge for Milwaukee lithium-ion battery storage is 40-60%. This effectively establishes an electron equilibrium between the positive and negative ends.
When a battery is fully charged, it only charges one side. The battery then wants to go to an equilibrium state. Over time this reduces the battery’s power, capacity, and life. Now, that’s certainly not good for us.
On top of that, sometimes storing your batteries in full charge comes with a few risks. Many users have reported that storing the batteries with a full charge, caused it to short.
There’s actually an explanation for this. When stored at full charge, the metals in the batteries can form tendrils. These sneak up over the insulator causing the short. A short-circuited battery can cause damage to the product, injuries, and even a fire.
So, in order to properly preserve your battery’s life and performance, store them at a 40-60% charge. This rule is best for batteries that will sit idle for a prolonged period of time.
Now, to properly charge your batteries, you need an authentic charger. Check out our recommendations for buying a Milwaukee charger.
These chargers will fill up your batteries in the quickest time. They also come with an onboard fuel gauge.
And that should cover all the essentials you need to know to store your Milwaukee batteries. If you follow these steps, be assured you’ll maximize your battery’s life, power, and capacity.
Many people often know these steps, but choose to ignore them. For example, they would store them haphazardly under direct sunlight or at full charge. So remember, the key is to not be lazy and to take good care of your batteries.
Power tools and manual tools both require these batteries. So, you may be interested to know if Dewalt hand tools are worth it.
Over time this saves you a lot more maintaining the batteries than buying new ones. Best of luck!
Warning 5: Separate Old And New Batteries
To ensure the safe storage of your Milwaukee batteries, it is essential to separate old and new batteries.
Firstly, voltage disparity can occur when old and new batteries are combined. Over time, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge, resulting in a decrease in voltage. Batteries with significantly different voltage levels can damage a device.
Also, the self-discharge rates of batteries differ based on their age. Older batteries tend to self-discharge at a faster rate than newer ones. When stored together, the self-discharge process of the older batteries can drain the charge of the newer ones.
By separating old and new batteries during storage, you can mitigate these risks and ensure that your Milwaukee batteries remain in good condition. Consider keeping them in separate containers or compartments. It’s better to label them to avoid confusion. It’s also a good idea to arrange your batteries based on their age.
Warning 6: Keep Them Away From Metal Objects
If you want your Milwaukee batteries to stay safe, keep them away from conductive materials such as tools, coins, keys, and other metal objects. Keep these items at a distance to minimize the risk of accidental contact and damage.
Besides keeping your Milwaukee batteries away from metal objects, use protective containers designed for battery storage to keep them safe. These Milwaukee batteries provide additional protection against potential hazards by preventing direct contact with metal objects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Does leaving the battery on a charger overnight overload it?
The simple answer is no. This is a very common misconception. The batteries are not overloaded when they are left on a charger. In fact, charging stops when the battery hits 100%. When the battery self-discharges 15% of its capacity, the charger trickles new juice into the battery. This cycle continues overnight.
How to keep lithium-ion batteries healthy?
There are a couple of maintenance tips for maintaining stable battery life. So, firstly try to maintain partial-discharge cycles. Try to avoid harsh discharges. Next, don’t charge your batteries to a full 100%. Next, ensure your storage place has a controlled temperature. This is so you can limit the temperatures.
Can batteries be stored in a garage?
Yes, batteries can actually be stored in a garage. Garages are known as a good storage place given that it provides controlled temperatures and humidity. Garages can get cold often, which is fine. Power tools and batteries don’t suffer too much from cold places like the garage or shed. But if it reaches freezing temperatures, store it elsewhere.
EndNote
And with that, we’ve reached the end of our discussion. That’s all I have on ‘how to store Milwaukee batteries?’.
I hope this article has provided some insights regarding the health of Milwaukee battery storage practices. If you found this article interesting, do browse through the others.
Until then, take care of yourself, and of course, your Milwaukee batteries.
Robert S. Dehner is an experienced content writer at Power Tool Institute. He has a wealth of experience in the field and is committed to providing you with up-to-date information and advice on the effective and safe use of power tools.
Thank you I’m a snowbird and will be away for 4 to 5 months not using the batteries and the same back home. I just change all my power tools to the Milwaukee Fuel tool line. I really want them to last for as long as possible.
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