The winter weather might be beautiful, but it’s also taxing — especially on your batteries. Cold temperatures can lead to battery drains. We all know the nuisance of finding our phone dead when we return to our freezing vehicles.
How a Battery is Powered:
A battery’s electric current is generated when a connection is made between its positive and negative terminals. When the terminals are connected, it ignites a chemical reaction. This allows electrons to supply the current of the battery.
When batteries are exposed to cold temperatures:
The batteries’ chemical reactions are significantly lowered, making them slower. Additionally, under cool temperatures, the current produced is lower and the batteries eventually die out.
When it comes to car batteries, their ability to provide adequate power to start and operate a vehicle is greatly diminished in the cold. Automotive batteries are rated in Cold-Cranking Amperage, which refers to the amount of current that a battery delivers for 30 seconds at -18 degree Celsius without dropping to a specified cut-off voltage.
A fully charged lead-acid battery can withstand up to -50 degree Celsius. This ability is hampered if the battery is already at a low state of charge and it may freeze at -1 degree Celsius.
The solution:
Warm certain batteries prior to use – just don’t stick them in your microwave. Automotive batteries are better protected if vehicles are parked in the garage. When it comes to your phone and other technical devices, it’s best to keep them on you – or in your pocket.
Pay attention to your car batteries, particularly three years after installation. Your car will be difficult when you try to start it. This is a major sign that you need to act on. Other signs: dimming lights, and a strange noise. In cases of a dead car battery, you might want to reconsider jumper cables because they can do more damage than good. Opt for a jumper box.
Batteries that Sit Idle:
They slowly lose their charge because there is leakage between the terminals. Ironically, the cold is more helpful in preserving some unused, rechargeable batteries by slowing down the process of losing their charge. Some batteries go flat in around two weeks in normal temperatures, but can last more than twice as long as they are kept in the refrigerator.
In fact, higher temperatures negatively affect some kinds of batteries. Fires and explosions can occur if certain batteries are exposed to extreme heat. This is common in lithium-ion batteries found in phones and laptops.
Good and Bad Batteries in the Winter:
Alkaline batteries perform poorly in the winter because they have water-based electrolyte and cold temperatures lead to reduced chemical reactions that provide electrical power to the battery. Sometimes, alkaline batteries burst and leak in the cold weather.
Rechargeable batteries don’t perform that well either. That’s because they aren’t hardwired for extreme temperatures, and are typically operating at lower charges.
When it comes to superior batteries, the best is lithium-ion. They perform better in higher drain devices, and they can withstand drops in temperature more effectively than alkaline batteries.
