Best way to store extra laptop battery for long period of time?

[MeepsterNotchy]

I just bought an expert battery for a Dell Inspiron 1525 and I was wondering what the best way to store it is (in what, where).

 

[weberdarren97]

Keep it outside of any containers and store it in an area that's a constant temperature below 75 Fahrenheit and below 40% relative humidity. If humidity is a problem, then consider getting a dehumidifier which are actually rather cheap and can be gotten at your local Lowes, Home Depot, etc. If it happened to come with anti-static packaging, then it's okay to keep it in that as long as you don't seal it shut or air tight.

It's best to store these types of batteries with a charge rather than without a charge. Also use it until it's low after taking it out of storage, as opposed to charging it then using it.

It's not okay to wrap it in anything that doesn't breathe. It's also not okay to have it close to any heat/air conditioning vents. Don't keep it on the floor (duh)

 

[Solandri]

If it's long-term storage (more than a few months), charge/discharge it to about 70% before storage. That results in the least degradation and slowest self-discharge rate. (Technically you could charge it to 100% and it'll gradually self-discharge to the 70% range. But holding a near-full charge that long can slightly degrade it.)

Never store a battery with a low or no charge. If a Li-ion battery self-discharges to below a certain voltage, there's a chance it could catch fire or explode when charged. So most chargers will simply refuse to recharge a battery whose voltage is too low, and you'll be left with an expensive paperweight.

By far the best solution is not to buy an extra battery until you actually need it. Don't buy one expecting to put it in the closet, so you can use it 2-3 years later when the original battery dies.