Batteries are a very important feature of most alternative power systems. The energy is stored in the batteries for use at a later time. The battery is a silent worker that delivers energy until it quits of exhaustion and old age. It is more prone to failure than most other parts in a system. Much is expected but little is given in return. With a shorter lifespan than the host device, battery replacement becomes an issue, and the lifespan of a battery is not necessarily fixed by the manufacturer. It is dependent on a number of factors, including its type, chemical changes in the battery, age, conditions under which it is used and how it is generally used.
Why do they die?
Naturally, batteries wear out with age and use. However, it is therefore necessary for battery users to understand battery life and the factors that determine the lifespan of a battery so they can effectively manage performance. Keeping in mind the high cost of batteries and the short period that the manufacturer’s warranty covers the battery (Warranty periods for batteries last for just twelve months.), it is important to know the best battery choice for your power needs and how to effectively manage performance.
What affects a battery's life?
Batteries have three distinct measures of life namely:
Run-time
Shelf life
Cycle life
Run Time
Run time refers to how long a battery or battery pack will run on a single use. This is not fixed for any battery and it also depends on the appliance on which the battery is run, but users can find a clue in the depth of discharge for each battery.
Shelf Life
Battery Shelf Life is the time an inactive battery can be stored before it becomes unusable. It is usually considered as having only 80% of its initial capacity. The conditions under which a battery is stored either by the dealer or the user will determine its shelf life and in turn, eventual lifespan.
Cycle Life
This is one of the key cell performance parameters and gives an indication of the expected working lifetime of the cell. To be able to define cycle life, we have to first define what a battery cycle is.