Have you ever wondered how to keep lithium batteries warm in cold weather?
Lithium batteries are excellent for all weather and can be used year-round. They’re also great for extreme temperatures, including cold weather and hot weather.
The key to using lithium batteries in cold weather is keeping them warm. There are several ways to do this, including using an external, portable battery heater.
Using an external, stationary battery warmer. Or using battery blankets when starting or driving your vehicle.
The best way to keep lithium batteries warm during cold weather is to make sure they retain their full charge. They have to retain their full charge while keeping the current draw to a minimum.
Does Cold Affect Lithium Batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most popular types of rechargeable batteries on the market. They’re not immune to cold temperatures.
Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to cold.
If you are storing a vehicle in cold weather, you should either remove the batteries or monitor their voltage at least once a week.
Using a battery blanket can help if you want to keep the battery in place.
So, How Does Cold Affect Lithium Batteries?
Cold temperatures are not good for lithium-ion batteries.
Their power output drops much more than other types of batteries, and they can be irreparably damaged by excessive discharge.
Lithium-ion batteries do not like the cold, so if you will be storing your car that has this type of battery in a cold climate, it’s best to disconnect the battery.
Lithium-ion batteries can be damaged by excessive discharge and will irreparably damage themselves if they are left uncharged for long periods.
If you plan on storing your vehicle over the winter months.
Tip: Make sure to check on its electrical system at least once per week.
How To Avoid Damaging Your Car’s Battery
First, make sure that you don’t touch the terminals with a metal object like a key.
This could cause a short circuit and damage your vehicle’s electrical system, as well as possibly cause a fire if you’ve gone through this before.
Then when storing the blanket after use, fold it over itself, so no air gets into any openings between layers. Then place it under something secure like cardboard.
How To Keep Lithium Batteries Warm In Cold Weather
Lithium batteries can withstand high temperatures without any problems.
So they make perfect devices to use in the summertime or on the beach when you want to take your phone with you everywhere you go.
However, lithium batteries aren’t as good at protecting themselves against extreme cold. In fact, they can even freeze if left inside your car during wintertime.
If you’re planning on storing your batteries at home, it’s best to keep them in a place that is not exposed to the elements.
A good place to do this is in a battery box or other storage container that has been specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries.
If you don’t have access to an insulated storage unit. However, there are still ways of keeping your batteries warm when they aren’t in use. For example:
Store them inside your garage or shed (in a heated area). You could also consider using heaters on top of large plastic bins filled with small tanks full of water.
Tip: This helps keep everything nice and cozy during wintertime.
Ways To Keep Lithium Batteries Warm In Cold Weather
Option #1: Using Battery Blankets
To keep your car’s battery warm, use battery blankets when starting or driving your vehicle.
These are made of suede and plastic, with an adhesive backing that sticks to the batteries.
They’re designed to absorb heat from the batteries and prevent them from becoming too cold in extreme weather conditions.
These are designed specifically for use in cold weather. And they typically come with instructions on how to use them properly.
Tip: A blanket is a soft, removable cover that can be placed around the battery to keep it warm.
Option #2: Use An External, Portable Battery Heater
If you need to keep your batteries warm and safe, an external battery heater is a convenient option.
These devices are designed to be attached to the outside of your vehicle so that they can provide heat all day long.
Most models come with an AC/DC adapter and an indicator light that lets you know when your battery is ready for use.
Note: You can also use these devices as emergency backups in case of power outages or other emergencies.
Option #3: Using An External Stationary Battery Warmer
One of the best ways to keep your lithium batteries warm is to use an external battery warmer.
External battery warmers are designed specifically for this purpose, and they come in several different styles:
The most common type of external battery warmer is a small box that sits on top of your vehicle’s engine block.
This type of device keeps the entire engine bay at a constant temperature (about 15 degrees Celsius). This means it can also help prevent condensation from forming inside your car’s cabin.
Another popular option is taking advantage of an existing thermostat to provide additional heat for your lithium batteries.
You’ll need to measure where exactly you want to mount this thermostat.
Some people prefer placing theirs under their seats or near their feet. And then secure its bracketing system with screws so that it stays stable during operation.
Tips To Keep Your Batteries Warm During Winter
Winter is coming, and with it, the freezing temperatures. It’s important to understand how your battery works and how to keep batteries warm in winter.
There are many different types of batteries and many different ways to keep them warm in the winter. Do whatever works for you and your needs.
Whether you live in an area where snowfall is common or if you rely on your vehicle during winter months, following these tips will help keep your battery alive and well:
Tip #1: Make Sure Your Battery Is Charged
To keep your battery charged, you should make sure it’s fully charged before winter.
This will allow you to use it even when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit).
If a battery is not fully charged, charging may be interrupted and not complete until temperatures rise again.
The best way to charge a car battery is with solar power or an external charger.
With this method, there are no wires connecting your car’s electrical system. It instead relies only on solar panels and direct sunlight.
Tip #2: Turn Off The Battery And Keep It In Place
Turn off the battery, remove it, and put it in an insulated container until you need it to do work.
Make sure you don’t leave any lights on inside your vehicle and do not run the engine or use any accessories such as air conditioning.
If possible, avoid leaving a radio playing at all because this can cause a short circuit in some cases and result in an explosion of sorts.
That is not good when you want to keep warm.
Tip #3: Keep Fans Off As Well
They’ll just blow more heat out instead of helping to keep things warm. Cut a large piece of cardboard and place it over the battery.
If you have a battery that needs to be kept warm, try cutting a large piece of cardboard and placing it over the battery.
This will help keep your battery warm and stop any moisture from leaking out.
Be sure to make sure that your cardboard is large enough so that it completely covers your battery.
And don’t forget about the sharp edges! It’s important not to cut yourself on these sharp edges because they could lead to infection or injury.
Note: You can also cover up this part with blankets or tarps if there isn't enough room for you to put down a whole piece of cardboard right away.
Tip #4: Wrap The Whole Hood With A Tarp Or Drop Cloth
This will keep any moisture from reaching your batteries, but it’s not enough to keep them warm if you don’t cover the terminals with tape.
Tip #5: Don’t Let Your Battery Die!
To keep your battery warm, don’t let it die. You may have heard that batteries can freeze in cold weather.
This is true, but it’s not the only reason you should keep your battery warm in winter. Your battery life will be reduced by the cold.
When temperatures drop significantly, your car’s battery also becomes less efficient at storing and releasing energy.
And this makes it harder for your car to start up when you need it most.
Don’t leave your battery out in the cold. If you’re going to use your battery and then put it away.
Make sure that you do so immediately after you’ve finished working with it.
Otherwise, it will freeze up and become unusable.
If left unattended for too long, this can damage both the cells inside of your battery pack as well as any electronics connected to them.
Conclusion
The last thing to remember on how to keep lithium batteries warm in cold weather is that lithium batteries are not like traditional lead-acid systems.
They will always be at risk of overheating and should always be kept warm.
However, the four tips above can help you minimize your risk. And provide peace of mind knowing that your battery will be ready when needed.
