Maybe lots of people do this regardless of age. Not sure. But, I noticed that older people like to store all their batteries in the fridge. No I am not talking car batteries - AA, AAA, C, D, etc. Does cooling a battery somehow make it last longer?
Why do older people store batteries in the fridge?
- Thread starter gittyup
- Start date
- Oct 28, 1999
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Yeh, I've seen people do that too. The think that if they put them in the fride, they will keep their charge longer than if they just had them sitting on a shelf in the closet.
I've seen no scientific evidence agreeing with them though
I've seen no scientific evidence agreeing with them though
I have never heard of anyone doing this. Maybe it's not that they're old, just weird. Extreme temps in either direction are bad for batteries.
In a way.. yes. Keeping the battery in the fridge prevents the battery from draining. Thus, you may store the batteries longer in the fridge than in a room temperature place if you are not using them.
Would also like to add that this is with the older (technology wise) batteries. That's why only the older folks do this. They don't know the newer improved batteries do not require you to do so to extend the shelf life of a battery. Basically, the idea behind storing batteries in the fridge is to slow down the chemical reaction in the batteries. That in turn extends the shelf life of a battery when it's not in use.
Would also like to add that this is with the older (technology wise) batteries. That's why only the older folks do this. They don't know the newer improved batteries do not require you to do so to extend the shelf life of a battery. Basically, the idea behind storing batteries in the fridge is to slow down the chemical reaction in the batteries. That in turn extends the shelf life of a battery when it's not in use.
I'd heard that before but, after having left a laptop a car trunk during a cold night, I'll never believe it. The laptop battery was toast.
Heard this on the radio the other day.
If you boil a dead battery,it will get roughly 80% of its life back.
The person never mention how long to boil them for,
my guess would half a minute or so
If you boil a dead battery,it will get roughly 80% of its life back.
The person never mention how long to boil them for,
my guess would half a minute or so
RedRooster
Diamond Member
- Sep 14, 2000
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If you put a dead alkaline battery in the freezer for a couple hours, when you take it out and let it thaw it will have a little life left. I've done it, and it does work. Any other kind of rechargable battery(NiMH, LiIon, etc.) will get wrecked when this is done, but a plain old alkaline works well.
<< No, they don't do it to make them drain slower. People put batteries in the fridge to semi-recharge them when they're about half empty. After several hours, they will be almost as strong as new. These can be done several times with the same battery, and it does significantly prolong it's life. >>
That is true.. you can get some new life out of the older alkaline batteries that way. But how do you explain them putting in brand new batteries in the fridge? Not to recharge them for sure... duh!
gittyup -- << Why do older people store batteries in the fridge? >>
For the same reason younger people do -- to keep them fresh, longer. Batteries use an electro-chemical reaction. Check any first year chemistry text, and you'll find that most chemical reactions work faster at higher temperatures. Refrigerating fresh batteries does work.
OTOH, putting the older people, themselves, in the fridge won't help preserve them very much.
For the same reason younger people do -- to keep them fresh, longer. Batteries use an electro-chemical reaction. Check any first year chemistry text, and you'll find that most chemical reactions work faster at higher temperatures. Refrigerating fresh batteries does work.
OTOH, putting the older people, themselves, in the fridge won't help preserve them very much.
kami
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 17,627
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<< For the same reason younger people do -- to keep them fresh, longer. Batteries use an electro-chemical reaction. Check any first year chemistry text, and you'll find that most chemical reactions work faster at higher temperatures. Refrigerating fresh batteries does work. >>
But this is only for alkalines correct?
If I use my digital camera (Ni-MH batteries) in cold weather it lasts about 1/3 to 1/2 the time it does in warmer weather!
olds
Elite Member
- Mar 3, 2000
- 50,101
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To save you folks the extreme mental effort of clicking oldsmoboat's link, here's the text (kami take note):
Alkaline batteries stored at "room temperature" self discharge at a rate of less than two percent per year. So refrigerating or freezing them can only prolong their charge by a tiny amount. Hardly worth the effort of chilling them. However, if alkaline batteries are stored at higher temperatures they will start to lose capacity much quicker. At 85 degrees F they only lose about 5% per year, but at 100 degrees they lose 25% per year. So if you live in a very hot climate or are storing your batteries in a very hot location, it may be worthwhile for you to store your alkaline batteries in a refrigerator instead.
NiMH and NiCd batteries self discharge at a MUCH faster rate than alkaline batteries. In fact, at "room temperature" (20 degrees C) NiMH and NiCD batteries will self discharge a few percent PER DAY. Storing them at lower temperatures will slow their self discharge rate dramatically. NiMH batteries stored at freezing will retain over 90% of their charge for full month. So it might make sense to store them in a freezer. If you do, it's best to bring them back to room temperature before using them. Even if you don't freeze your NiMH batteries after charging them, you should store them in a cool place to minimize their self discharge.
BTW, I live in So. California, where it often gets above 85 degrees F, and I do store my batteries in the fridge.
Alkaline batteries stored at "room temperature" self discharge at a rate of less than two percent per year. So refrigerating or freezing them can only prolong their charge by a tiny amount. Hardly worth the effort of chilling them. However, if alkaline batteries are stored at higher temperatures they will start to lose capacity much quicker. At 85 degrees F they only lose about 5% per year, but at 100 degrees they lose 25% per year. So if you live in a very hot climate or are storing your batteries in a very hot location, it may be worthwhile for you to store your alkaline batteries in a refrigerator instead.
NiMH and NiCd batteries self discharge at a MUCH faster rate than alkaline batteries. In fact, at "room temperature" (20 degrees C) NiMH and NiCD batteries will self discharge a few percent PER DAY. Storing them at lower temperatures will slow their self discharge rate dramatically. NiMH batteries stored at freezing will retain over 90% of their charge for full month. So it might make sense to store them in a freezer. If you do, it's best to bring them back to room temperature before using them. Even if you don't freeze your NiMH batteries after charging them, you should store them in a cool place to minimize their self discharge.
BTW, I live in So. California, where it often gets above 85 degrees F, and I do store my batteries in the fridge.
People do the same thing with unexposed film. They don't seem to realize that it doesn't really help anything until after the film's been exposed. Also, unless you're gonig to take pictures and then leave the film lying around for months or years, it's not going to make any difference that you could see after taking the film to the ever-so-skilled photo experts at the drugstore.
I do it.. I have a spare laptop battery in the crisper right now of my spare fridge. I thought that I heard somewhere where is actually helps preserve the batteries when you're not using them.
Sal
Sal
<< People do the same thing with unexposed film. They don't seem to realize that it doesn't really help anything until after the film's been exposed. >>
Sorry fred it does help unexposed film though. It keeps it from "expiring" as quickly.
kodak recommeds it
another link
Really it does help though. And anyone who values their pictures doesn't go to the drugstore or walmart for processing
<<
<< People do the same thing with unexposed film. They don't seem to realize that it doesn't really help anything until after the film's been exposed. >>
Sorry fred it does help unexposed film though. It keeps it from "expiring" as quickly.
kodak recommeds it
another link
>>
well, I had a photography teacher who worked with Ansel Adams that explained it like this: Once you expose the film, the reaction caused by the light has started. Keeping the film cool will keep this reaction from continuing (ie - the exposed area will "spread" slowly) as quickly. He said that before the film is exposed, there's no exposed areas to spread, so whether the film was refrigerated or not didn't really make a significant difference. Of course, we were working with black and white film, and it may be different for color film (what you posted).
<< Really it does help though. And anyone who values their pictures doesn't go to the drugstore or walmart for processing
>>Everyone I've ever met who keeps film in the freezer does take thier film to the drugstore, though.
<< Maybe lots of people do this regardless of age. Not sure. But, I noticed that older people like to store all their batteries in the fridge. No I am not talking car batteries - AA, AAA, C, D, etc. Does cooling a battery somehow make it last longer? >>
They are trying to make the electruc 'juice' stay fresh
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