Battery Care

Battery Care

WARNING: Lithium Ion and lithium polymer cells and battery packs may get hot, explode, or ignite and cause serious injury if exposed to abuse conditions. Be sure to follow these safety warnings:

Do not install the battery backward, so the polarity is reversed.
Do not connect the positive terminal and negative terminal of the battery to each other with any metal object (such as wire).
Do not carry or store the battery with necklaces, hairpins, or other metal objects.
Do not pierce the battery with nails, strike the battery with a hammer, step on the battery, or otherwise subject it to strong impacts or shocks.
Do not solder directly onto the battery.
Do not expose the battery to water or salt water, or allow the battery to get wet.
Do not disassemble or modify the battery. The battery contains safety and protection devices, which, if damaged, may cause the battery to generate heat, explode, or ignite.
Do not place the battery in or near fire, on stoves, or in other high temperature locations. Do not place the battery in direct sunlight, or use or store the battery inside cars in hot weather. Doing so may cause the battery to generate heat, explode, or ignite. Using the battery in this manner may also result in a loss of performance and a shortened life expectancy.
Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended. Discard used batteries according to manufacturer's instructions.

WARNING: Do not discharge the battery using any device except the specified device. When the battery is used in devices other than the specified device, it may damage the battery or reduce its life expectancy. If the device causes an abnormal current to flow, it may cause the battery to become hot, explode, or ignite and cause serious injury.

Maximizing Battery Life
The Lithium Ion battery used in the E7495A/B has a life span of approximately 300 charge cycles at room temperature, with normal charge and discharge rates. You can maximize the number of charge cycles with reasonable battery care:

Clean the battery contacts occasionally, using a pencil eraser or alcohol and a cotton swab. Make sure no residue from the eraser or cotton swab is left on the contact points.
Cycle each battery through a full charge and full discharge on a regular basis, preferably monthly. Even if you use external power most of the time, you will lengthen battery life by occasionally cycling through a full discharge/recharge cycle.
Do not leave a battery unused for an extended period. Batteries that remain idle eventually lose their ability to hold a charge.
Unplug the external battery charger (Option #820) when you're not using the test set.
Store batteries in a cool, dry location, away from metal objects and corrosive gases. Extended exposure to high humidity or temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) can impair battery performance and shorten battery life. Storage limits are -20 °C to 60 °C 80% RH.
Allow a battery to warm to room temperature before charging it. Temperature shock can damage the battery chemistry and in some cases cause a short circuit.
Always charge batteries at temperatures between 0 and 45 degrees Celsius (32 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Operate the test set on battery power between the temperatures of -10 and +50 degrees Celsius (-14 to +122 degrees Fahrenheit). Using the batteries at lower or higher temperatures can damage the batteries and reduce operating life. Cold temperatures affect battery chemistry, reducing charge capacity, especially below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Batteries are shipped with a minimum of 20% charge capacity to provide at least a 6-month shelf life at room temperature, before the battery electronics go into shutdown mode. When a battery has discharged down to a 7.1 volts, it goes into shutdown mode. When this occurs, the battery electronics self-disconnect, removing their electronic load from the cells. This provides approximately 1 year of room temperature storage before the cells self-discharge to the point beyond which they should not be recharged. Once a battery has reached shutdown mode the battery will undergo a self-test immediately upon being put into charge. The charger will then attempt to pre-charge the battery at a very low initial charge rate. If the voltage does not recover, the battery pack has been allowed to discharge beyond the point of safe recovery. The charge cycle will be terminated, and the battery pack needs to be replaced.
If the battery does recover from a shutdown mode, the fuel gauge accuracy will be reduced. Complete a battery recalibration as soon as possible to calibrate the fuel gauge.

Initial Charge Cycle
New batteries must be rapid-charged (typically to 80%), then trickle-charged (slowly charged to 100%) for 24 hours, before their first use and for the first two or three uses.
Because the batteries you receive with the E7495A/B are new, they have a minimal charge when you receive them. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if a battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery commonly will show a false full charge (voltage) as indicated on the test set or charger, and may not power up the test set upon first use. Before using a new battery, leave it charging for 24 hours.

Lithium Ion Battery Disposal
When you notice a large decrease in charge capacity after proper recharging, it's probably time to replace the battery.
Li-Ion batteries need to be disposed of properly. Contact your local waste management facility for information regarding environmentally sound collection, recycling, and disposal of the batteries. Regulations vary for different countries. Dispose of in accordance with local regulations.