CPAP "Battery Maintenance 101" Questions

[plr66]

We are fortunate to have a number of people on our forum who are quite knowledgeable about electricity/battery/power subjects. I would really appreciate some clear instructions about how to optimally maintain my Respironics battery and my Everest 2 battery for the extended periods of time during which they are never used. I've had my Respironics battery for about 4 months now, and charged it fully when I first received it, but have not had need to use it yet--so it sits in the closet. I charged my Everest2 battery as instructed when I received it new last month, and had it attached to the unit while plugged into the wall every night, the entire time I was overseas. Now it is destined to sit in the closet until a next trip....which could be a very long time with the economy as it is.....

So what specifically should be the routine with these two types of batteries, to keep them from dying early, and to keep them functioning at their best for the longest time over the long-haul? I have always had confusion about whether one is supposed to wait until rechargeable batteries drain down before re-charging, or whether the batteries should be routinely re-charged, or constantly re-charged.

[Linus]

Do you know what type of battery it is? Is it a seal lead acid battery?
If it is, keep it fully charged. This also assumes that your charger is the type that will trickle charge after it is passes 80% capacity. Do not discharge to battery below 11.3 volts (assuming it is a 12 volt battery). Lead acid batteries are not best suited for deep discharge.

I have a car that I do not drive often, and this is how I maintain the battery. My generator is the same way, I keep the battery on a charger at all times.

If the battery is a Lithium ion battery, the number of charges it goes through will age the battery. The best way to store a battery like this is in a cool environment (10 C) at 50% capacity. This is not realistic if the battery is to be a backup for a power failure. In this case store it at 100%. New Lithium ion batteries should not be discharged below 50% capacity for the first 10-15 charges. After the break in period they can be discharged fully if needed. This assumes that the battery has a battery management circuit (BMS) that terminates the current before the voltage drops below the critical voltage. If there is no BMS (rare), chances are you may ruin the battery if you do not keep close tabs on the voltage level.

Nickel Metal Halide batteries can be charged often, but like Lithium ion, the number of charges takes its toll. It can be stored at 100% capacity.

[Patrick A]

I have the Respironics battery pack I do keep it charge. I keep it in our RV I do bring it home several times a year and use it for several days. Then I charge it overnight.

[csekar]

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