Exploring the Influence of Temperature on Battery Charging

December 19, 2023 Matt Pang

Did you know that temperatures play a critical role in battery charging? The efficiency of your battery’s charge and discharge cycles, its output capacity, and even its overall lifespan can be significantly influenced by the temperature. Whether it’s the sweltering heat of summer or the freezing cold of winter, each degree can make a difference.

How do cold and heat affect my battery?

Batteries perform best at an ideal temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature rises, batteries tend to lose charge more quickly due to increased self-discharge. On the other hand, cooler temperatures slow down this self-discharge process, but at the cost of reducing the battery’s output capacity.

For instance, at the freezing point (0 degrees Fahrenheit), a battery’s capacity drops to half of what it would be at the nominal temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, a battery that has been depleted to 80% of its capacity is susceptible to freezing and bursting at 18 degrees Fahrenheit.


How does the temperature affect battery charging?

Charging a battery to its full capacity in cold conditions requires a higher voltage. It’s crucial that the charging voltage adapts to the surrounding temperature of the battery to not only guarantee a complete charge, but also to prevent the risk of overcharging when the temperatures are high.

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For more information on IOTA AC/DC power products, visit www.iotaengineering.com or contact us at mktg@iotaengineering.com

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