Ah, summer! Pool parties… picnics… family vacations. There is much to love about the warm-weather months—unless you are a battery. As the temperature goes from pleasantly warm to brutally hot, it can impact the health of your batteries. While people tend to think of extreme cold as a battery’s enemy, the reality is that high heat can cause more damage. As battery suppliers like Rapport tell our customers, it is important to pay special attention to battery health in the summer heat.
Of course, if the wholesale batteries you purchase from us are being used exclusively in an air-conditioned environment, there is no cause for concern. But, batteries and battery packs that are used outdoors are at risk. This is especially true of batteries that are in devices that are left in enclosed, unattended vehicles, where the temperature can soar rapidly.
How Wholesale Batteries are Affected by High Temperatures
High temperatures can affect batteries in a number of ways. In some cases, the result may be decreased battery life. As a rule of thumb, each 15 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature reduces the life of a sealed lead acid battery by approximately 50 percent.
In other instances, a battery may be physically damaged by the heat. If that is the case, the battery’s full capacity can never be restored. If exposed to extremely high temperatures for too long, some batteries can rupture or explode.
Tips for Protecting Your Batteries from Summer Heat
Summer heat is inevitable in most locations; battery damage doesn’t have to be. Below are proven tips for protecting your batteries from high temperatures.
- Perform preventative maintenance. Different types of batteries require different kinds of care. For batteries that require maintenance, a well-maintained battery is better able to withstand high temperatures. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for battery maintenance.
- Avoid exposing devices to direct sunlight for extended periods. The sun in Rapport’s home state of Colorado is particularly intense. But direct sunlight in any location and at any elevation is not good for most devices and the batteries that power them. If possible, keep devices shaded.
- Don’t leave devices in an enclosed, unattended vehicle. The temperature inside a car can climb 40 degrees in an hour even when the outside temperature is only 70 degrees. As more time passes, the temperature can easily reach 150 degrees or more. Avoid leaving battery-operated devices in vehicles if possible.
- Consider removing the batteries. If you must leave a device in the car, consider removing the batteries and carrying the batteries with you.
- Run the device if it has built-in cooling. Some devices, like laptop computers, have internal fans that help keep them cool. In some cases, it may be helpful to start the device periodically so the cooling system can operate.
- Put the batteries in a cooler. It sounds a little odd, but as long as they are fully protected from moisture, putting batteries “on ice” is much better than exposing them to extremely high temperatures.
Maximize Your Battery ROI
Whether your investment in powering devices for your business is large, small, or somewhere in between, Return on Investment (ROI) is important. Failing to protect your wholesale batteries from the heat can be costly, both in terms of decreased performance and replacement costs. Plus, if you ship compromised batteries to your customers, the damage to your reputation can have long-term effects. So, as the weather heats up, keep battery health in mind.
Our full-service facility outside of Denver can provide your company with wholesale batteries and custom battery packs quickly and cost-effectively. Contact Rapport, Inc. today to get answers to all of your questions about batteries!
