Game Boy Advance SP battery life advice

[figgler]

Here's the deal - my main GBA SP is the generation 2 backlit Onyx version. Recently though I found a GBA SP 1st generation under-lit Onyx version, still sealed.

 

Ideally what I'd like to do is 'retire' my generation 2 model and use the under-lit one. This is mostly due to my paranoia of keeping the better system in perfect condition with no risk of loss, etc and using the less rare gen 1 as my main system

 

The issue for me comes down to battery life though, long-term. Flash forward to 20 years from now. Assuming my GBAs work still, will the batteries have failed in the generation 2 SP, since I stowed it away so long ago? What about the unopened SP? How long is that battery good for untocuhed vs. charged? I remember years ago people used to say never drain a rechargable all the way, and others say to never charge until needed, or always keep it plugged in, or even that it doesn't matter what you do.

I've never been clear on this so please chime in with GBA battery preservation tips, forethinking to 2029 and beyond.

[shadow460]

To presevre a lithium ion battery, drain it to roughly 40% of its charge and refrigerate it. Li-Ion batteries lose between 3% and 20% of their capacity annually. This is a function of time and temperature--usage has little to do with it (assuming it's used within a given temperature range).

The higher the temp, the more capacity the battery loses. Ditto for the charge level. Up to a point, loss can be reduced by storing the battery at lower temperatures without freezing it. the reason you don't fully discharge an Li-Ion cell, though, is to keep it from self discharging below the low threshold.

Li ion cells also self discharge, but not very fast. If left in storage for 20 years, even in the fridge, the battery's voltage will have dropped below the low threshold, and it will be unable to recharge anyway.

 

The advice about draining rechargeable batteries depends on the battery type. You never have to drain them all the way--they'll do that on their own.

Lead Acid cells must be stored at full charge. This may mean keeping them on the charger or recharging them periodically.

NiCd and NiMH cells need no preparation for storage. They are best stored fully discharged, and this will be achieved as they dissipate whatever charge they had prior to storage. Word of warning, though, if you take them out of storage, make sure you give them a full charge before use. no matter what kind of charger you have, this usually means leaving them on overnight even if the "charge" lights go out.

Li-Ion cells should be drained to about 40% and stored.

Short term storage is different, though. Lead acid and Li-Ion cells function best when kept fully charged, so if you're putting the device away for a day or two it should be kept on the charger.

NiCd cells are tough and can stay on the charger for several days at a time if desired.

NiMH cells cannot be overcharged. Most chargers for these will have a trickle charge mode that will keep the cells at about 90% capacity as long as the batteries are in place. As an added bonus, they can charge and maintain NiCd cells in the same manner.

 

I recommend storing any type of battery in a cool place. You don't have to refrigerate them, but don't try storing them in a hot attic or something.

 

Long story short, for short periods of a few days tops, plug in the charger. For long periods it depends on the chemistry.

 

Your best bet if you want to store one of the systems is to charge it up and play it once in a while. When you get through playing, don't charge it back up--just store it again.

Edited October 1, 2009 by shadow460

[nathanallan]

Batteries is a huge subject, what shadow has said is the nutshell version (totally agreed on almost all of it). I generally follow a 5-year rule on all rechargeables-- if you have it for 5 years, used or not, expect to have to replace it.

 

I could tell why, but in another nutshell, I have never had a battery last for longer than that under any circumstances. In 20 years those batteries imho will be long dead. Get an extended life pack for the one you use and hope for the best.

[shadow460]

I have two sets of rechargeables that are over five years old. One keeps the volatile memory powered up in a keyboard while it's en route to or from a performance. If they fail, a capacitor in the unit can keep power on the memory for about an hour. The other runs a Game Gear for a couple of hours at a time, and I have a kidney pack that's never been rebuilt which can also power the unit for quite a while. They're all NiCd, though.

 

DeWalt warranties their NiCd battery packs for two years. I had one rebuilt in 2006 and it's showing signs of wearing out. I firgure two to three years is about tops for any rechargeable cell, five if you're lucky and ten in very unusual cases. I've had my phat PSP for about two years, so it might be time to start looking at new batteries for it. If they lose too much capacity, their gel packs will be replaced.

[figgler]

So everyone's GBA SPs are dead in the next few years basically.

 

What if the battery is never used, as in a sealed NIB GB?

[Video]

It doesn't really matter. No matter how you store it, you can guarantee it will be dead in 20 years. If you use it lightly, it will laster loner than heavy useage will, and it should lastlonger than storing. However, I wouldn't count on it working over 5 years, I do have a few old alkaline rechargeables that still work from the 90's, but they are showing signs of wearing out too, being over 10 years old.

 

In the future, you'll have to buy, or build a custom pack for the GBASP (and anothng else that needs a special battery, though it's only 3.6 volt, so any 1.2volt cells can be used)

 

Yeah, even unused, the battery will die, in fact, not being used for the more modern batteries is actually harder on them in long term than being used is.

[chicknchock]

Hi I would like some advice in regards to this too... I to am storing old handhelds with internal batteries...

 

Would it be best to remove the battery from the device all together? Is it possible the battery could corrode or cause long term issues?

 

I don't suppose anyone will actually know as lithium ions haven't been around too long to be tested like this?

[Video]

I've never had a lithium battery explode/leak/corrode on me, that I can recall, I don't think I've ever had any rechargeable leak on me, just the alkaline types. Though if your going to store an item for more than a month, I'd say take the battery out just to be on the safe side.

 

Not just the battery but some systems may have caps and such that will remain on (waiting for the power button to be pressed or whate3ver) that could potentially get wear from not being used with a battery inside it, but then, some caps will wear out if they have no power for certain lengths of time. I don't know much about those though.