2006Batteries/Power forum
Battery cycle counting and mixing batteries with different ages and capacities
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A battery cycle is defined as a complete charge from empty to full
- Charging a partially depleted battery counts as a partial cycle proportional to the amount of charge added
- Mixing newer and older batteries in the same set is acceptable because the weaker battery will discharge more slowly than the stronger one
- A battery pack is only as strong as its weakest cell
- When two battery packs work together, the stronger pack attempts to compensate for the weaker one
- Premium lithium-ion battery cells can be designed for 900-1200 charge-discharge cycles under ideal conditions
- Battery performance degrades over time even when stored, and using batteries regularly is better for their long-term health than storage
Depends on
- The performance data for 900-1200 cycles applies specifically to premium cells from established manufacturers using high-quality manufacturing techniques
- Information about storage performance is based on general guidance rather than specific test data
- The advice about mixing different capacity batteries comes from a technician's assessment for a specific use case and may not apply universally
- The discussion mentions both lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries without always distinguishing between them