I'm not sure how long I have owned thermal stuff...maybe six, seven, eight years? It's been a little while, yet only very recently I discovered that manufacturers may recommend certain practices in regards to batteries. Pulsar, for instance, does.

I've always just gone ahead and charged batteries all the way up at the end of a hunt, then topped them off immediately before the next hunt. It was only a couple of days ago that I bothered to read the manuals on Pulsar APS-2 and APS-3 battery packs. The manuals suggest long term storage at 50 to 80% charge. I would expect the other pulsar battery models to be the same (but I did not check, and it's better you find out for yourself anyway). "Long term storage" may mean different things to different people, but I often go three weeks or more between hunts and sometimes much longer (unfortunately).

Just how much difference it makes in terms of battery efficiency and battery life, I could only guess and won't. At $100 a pop I do think it's worth knowing what the recommendations are, though.

Rechargeable batteries have 'memory'. Best to run them down to 10%, then recharge. Lithium have the least memory so just 'topping' them off isn't too bad. If they don't seem to have a long operating time, run them down and recharge.

Really? What's this "memory" all about? How does that happen?

NiCads were real bad about it. Discharge to 50 % several times and now the battery 'thinks' 50% is empty. Lithium still has memory but not nearly as bad. Other problem (multicell batteries) if one goes to zero, a charged series connected can reverse charge the low one, burning it out. Most devices now turn off before batt is 'dead' so preferred method is run til it shuts down and then charge.

I asked you about the nature of "charge memory."

Charge memory is caused by the continued formation of crystal structure in the electrolyte which reduces the surface area of the electrolyte particles, reducing the effective amount of electrolyte taking part in the chemical activity which produces electrical current.

Put the keyboard away and use the mouse.

I tend to wear out 18650s from the outside before the lose their charge capability or that I notice a serious poor run life.

Sorry R&R, didn't know you wanted to talk chemistry. Yup, just look it up in wiki, you might be correct.

yeah... we are talking about lithium ion batteries. Tesla says that for best battery life to always run the batteries between 20% and 80%. If you are about to take a long trip it's ok to charge to 100%. One reason they say it is because between 20% and 80% a good lithium ion battery with the proper charger will charge very fast. They are slow to charge below 20%. When charging beyond 80% they charge much slower as the batteries turn a lot of the charging current into heat. Tesla's have air conditioners for their battery banks for that reason.

But here is the deal. Your laptop battery plays by the same rules. So does your cellphone battery. So does your rechargeable flashlight (as long as it has lithium ion batteries). If your laptop battery works then there is no need to look at all the limitations. Same thing for cell phones and flashlights and the million other things that have lithium ion batteries in them.

So IMHO... if you are not going to use it (anything with a lithium ion battery) for a year then try to store between 50 and 80%. But if you ignore all the "rules" and treat it like your cell phone or laptop everything will be fine. Just don't worry about it. It really is an amazing technology.

Certainly far better than the old NiCad technology!

It's funny that you mentioned phones. Less than two weeks ago my Android phone suggested I protect the battery and extend its life by setting the charge limit to 85%, which I activated and then gave the matter no further thought.

I think what I'll do henceforth is charge all my Pulsar batteries to 100% just before a hunt and try to make sure every one of them gets run down to about 70-80% by the last day. I used to charge them up to 100% before putting everything away but that practice ends now. The danged things ain't cheap!





If I wanted anything from you I'd let you know. Don't hold your breath.

I won't. Screen name was chosen after reading some of the remarks on the board - not nearly as smart as some of youse guys.