A battery’s life generally depends on various factors such as the type of the battery, the total usage, temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions. Other major factors that contribute to a battery’s life are how they are used, how they are recharged and discharged, how well they are maintained, and how they are stored. Another significant factor is the number of life cycles or discharge.
There are many types of batteries such as carbon-zinc, silver oxide, alkaline, lithium batteries. The life expectancy of each type is different from the others. A carbon-zinc battery is an old fashioned battery with about 3.5 years of battery life. The only benefit of these batteries is their low cost. The life of alkaline batteries is much better than carbon-zinc cells. Their life period is above 10 years, but they are little costlier than carbon-zinc batteries. Similar is the case with the lithium rechargeable batteries which have a battery life of 10 plus years. Silver oxide batteries are small in size, and are mainly used in cameras and calculators. These cells also have a shelf life of over 10 years and they show better performance even at low temperatures.
On the other hand, rechargeable batteries have less storage capacity, approximately half of alkaline cells. These batteries are mainly made of nickel and cadmium (NiCds) and nickel-metal-hydrides (NiMH). They also drain much faster by themselves and tend to perform less under low temperatures. The life of a rechargeable battery depends on its usage. The battery dies out after a gradual decrease in its capacity.
Overcharging is yet another factor that affects battery life. Overcharging can result in overheating thereby producing a leakage or overflow of charge. You can estimate battery life by dividing the capacity (ampere rating of the battery in milliamp hours) by the total battery current. To ensure longer battery life, taking good care of a battery is essential. Timely maintenance increases the life span of a battery.
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