When it comes to getting the most out of your lithium battery, knowing the ideal temperature range is often under-appreciated.
The first trick is knowing where to measure: the battery terminal itself. The copper bus bars connect each cell together, sending all the energy (and heat) through the terminal, making it the ideal location to determine how hot the battery actually is.
JY Lithium batteries are made with insulating pads that surround every cell, which prevents much of the heat from transferring, so the case is not the best location to determine the battery’s temperature.
Now that you know where to measure, here are a few factors to consider:
- Copper is a fantastic conductor of electricity, but also a great way to transfer heat from one point to another. This means your amplifiers are transmitting some of their heat back down the power cable to the amp.
- Some of us live in a hot environment. If it’s 110° outside, it’s considerably hotter in your car – even more so if your battery is in direct sunlight or next to several high-power amplifiers. If your battery is too hot to touch, it’s probably time to let the system cool down a little.
- If it’s under 40° F, let the system play at low levels for between 10-30 minutes to warm up.
The technical “sweet spot” for our batteries is 100 to 110 degrees. Ideally, you want to keep the battery under 125° to prevent overheating, which will affect the overall life of the battery.
If you measure temperatures between 140° and 165°, shut your system off. There will be some effect on the life of the battery, depending on how hot and how long it was at that temperature. The battery will be damaged, and may vent if temperatures are over 170°.
If you store the battery, keep it dry and out of direct sunlight. Temperatures should be between 60°-90° for as long as five years without charging.
Got more questions? Check out our other blog posts here, contact us by chat on Facebook or by email at contact@jypbatteries.com.