The Long Nap
1. The Dormant Battery
Ever wondered what happens when a lithium battery is left sitting around, uncharged, for a really, really long time? Like, say, two years? Well, let's just say it's not exactly a spa vacation for the poor little power source. Lithium batteries are the workhorses of our modern lives, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. But they're also a bittemperamental. Ignore them for too long, and they might just decide to stage a silent protest.
So, picture this: Your old phone, tucked away in a drawer, its battery slowly draining. Or maybe a power bank you havent touched since that camping trip two summers ago. Whats going on inside those tiny, sealed compartments? It's a slow, almost imperceptible, decline. Like a houseplant left without water, the battery is slowly withering away, its ability to hold a charge diminishing.
The main culprit here is self-discharge. All batteries, regardless of their type, lose some of their charge over time, even when they're not in use. Lithium batteries are generally better than older battery technologies in this regard, but they aren't immune. Over two years, that self-discharge can lead to a significant drop in voltage.
And here's where things get a little dicey. If a lithium battery discharges too deeply — that is, if its voltage drops below a certain threshold — some rather unpleasant chemical reactions can occur. Think of it like letting your car's gas tank run completely dry; it's not great for the engine.
