General battery safety note
Danger
Improper handling or misuse of the battery can lead to overheating, leakage, or even explosion, which potentially causes severe harm. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to the following safety information:Do not incinerate.
- Do not disassemble.
- Do not expose to high temperatures (140 °F / 60 °C).
- Do not impact, pierce, or crush the battery.
- Dispose of properly.
- Use only with designated devices.
- Store and transport with covered terminals, avoiding contact with conductive materials.
Caution
- Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type.
- Risk of fire disaster if the battery is dropped from a height.
- Risk of fire disaster if the battery is exposed to direct sunlight.
- Risk of overheating if the battery is exposed to humidity.
- To use the correct battery, always refer to the product's instruction manual.
- Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Specific battery safety note
Coin cell
Danger
- Keep coin batteries out of reach of small children. If swallowed, they can cause severe burns, dissolve tissues in the body, and even lead to death. If a child is about to swallow a battery, take it out of their mouth immediately, contact a doctor immediately, and follow their instructions.
- Always prevent the (+) positive and (−) negative poles from short-circuiting. Use tape, a tray, or other methods to isolate them.
- Store batteries in a well-ventilated area away from direct light. Avoid storing them in areas with extreme temperatures.
- Do not store batteries near source of heat or nozzle of hot air. Store them in a dry place with low humidity and moderate temperature. If the battery is placed in a humid environment, moisture will adversely affect the electrical performance of a battery.
- Do not mix the different type of batteries, new and old batteries of the same type, or different manufacturers of the same type of batteries.
- Do not use batteries for unspecified purposes.
- Avoid direct soldering to batteries. The heat can cause leakage, overheating, and rupture, leading to a fire hazard.
- Do not place batteries on metal cases, metal plates or antistatic materials.
- Do not attach batteries with insulating tape to your skin, as this can cause skin allergies.
- Do not charge lithium metal coin cell batteries.
Battery pack
Danger
- If a battery leaks, avoid contact with the liquid. It can cause skin and eye irritation.
- Observe the plus (+) and minus (−) markings on both the battery and the product to ensure correct use. Never connect the (+) and (−) terminals of batteries together using electrically conductive materials (such as electrical wire or chain), including lead wires.
- Do not transport or store batteries with their terminals uncovered or connected to a metal necklace or other electrically conductive material. Always use a protective case when carrying or storing batteries.
- Charge batteries only under the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
- Keep batteries out of reach of children. Supervise children when they are using batteries. This is especially important for small batteries.
- Disassembling batteries can cause internal or external short circuits, expose battery materials to air, and lead to chemical reactions. This can result in heat generation, explosion, and fire. Additionally, it can cause dangerous fluid splashing.
- Do not use batteries in any product other than those specified by manufacturer.
- Do not apply water, seawater, or other oxidizing reagents to batteries, as this can cause rust and heat generation. Rust can damage the gas release vent, potentially leading to an explosion.
- Do not overcharge batteries beyond the predetermined charging period specified by the battery charger's instructions or indicator. If the batteries are not fully charged after the predetermined charging period, stop the charging process. Overcharging can cause leakage of battery fluid, heat generation, and explosion. Handle recharged batteries carefully as they may be hot.
- Do not remove the outer tube from a battery or damage it. This can expose the battery to a short circuit and may cause leakage of battery fluid, heat generation, explosion, and fire.
- If a battery leaks fluid, changes color, changes shape, or shows any other signs of damage, do not use it. This could cause heat generation, explosion, and fire.
- Do not use or store batteries at high temperatures, such as in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or near a heater. This can cause leakage of battery fluid, impair performance, and shorten the battery's life.
- Do not remove a battery from its original packaging until required for use.
- Do not subject batteries to mechanical shock.
First-aid measures
Caution
If exposure to internal materials within battery cell due to damaged outer metal casing, the following actions are recommended:
- Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. Get medical attention if you feel unwell.
- Skin contact: Immediately flush skin with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing and shoes before reuse. Get medical aid.
- Eye contact: Rinse cautiously with water for 15–20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical attention.
- Ingestion: Swallowing a battery can damage the respiratory tract, cause chemical burns to the stomach, and in serious cases, lead to permanent damage. Wash out mouth thoroughly. Do not make the victim vomit, unless instructed by medical personnel. Seek medical attention immediately.
Firefighting measures
Caution
- Suitable extinguishing media: Use extinguishing measures such as water or water mist, dry sand, fire blanket, carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, chemical powder fire extinguishing medium and fire foam that are appropriate to local circumstances and the surrounding environment.
- Unsuitable extinguishing media: Use of water spray to fight a fire may be inefficient.
- Specific hazards arising from the chemical: The product is or contains a sensitizer. It may cause skin sensitization.
- Hazardous combustion products: Acid or harmful fumes are emitted during fire.
- Protective equipment and precautions for firefighters: As in any fire, wear self-contained breathing apparatus, protective gloves, protective glasses designed to protect against liquid splashes, and full protective gear.
Handling and storage
Precautions for safe handling
- Do not expose batteries to excessive physical shock or vibration.
- Avoid short-circuiting the battery. Prolonged short circuits can cause rapid energy loss and generate enough heat to burn skin. Sources of short circuits include jumbled batteries in bulk containers, coins, metal jewelry, metal-covered tables, or metal belts used for assembly of batteries in devices. To minimize the risk of short-circuiting, use a protective case to cover the terminals when transporting or storing the battery.
- Do not disassemble or deform the battery. If a cell within the battery ruptures, avoid contact with water.
- Do not store batteries near source of heat or nozzle of hot air.
- Do not store the battery with water, seawater, strong acid, or strong oxidizer.
Condition for safe storage
Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries
- Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries should be stored with a charged capacity between 40 % and 60 % for optimal durability.
- Store the batteries in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Elevated temperatures can result in loss of battery performance, leakage, or rust.
The ideal storage temperature for lithium-based batteries, is +10 to +15 °C (50 to 59 °F). Temperatures dipping down at or close to 32 °F / 0 °C can slow-down the chemical reactions inside of the cell, resulting in a loss of battery capacity.
The optimum storage humidity for lithium batteries is between 20 and 80 %. High humidity can cause condensation between the terminals, leading to a short circuit. - Do not expose the batteries to open flames.
- After extended periods of storage, it may be necessary to charge and discharge the batteries several times to obtain maximum performance.
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries
- When storing nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, it's essential to consider the type of battery. Separate them by production time and manufacturer. This is because batteries from different manufacturers can cause damage, leak, or react with each other.
- If you purchase new secondary (rechargeable) batteries but don't use them immediately, leave them in their original packaging. This prevents the batteries from coming into contact with other metals, which could cause them to conduct electricity.
- The best conditions for storing NiMH batteries are to fully charge them (100 % charge). Avoid storing NiMH batteries with 0 % charge. Due to the self-discharge phenomenon of NiMH batteries, this can lead to over-discharge and damage the battery.
NiMH batteries should be recharged annually when stored for extended periods. Storage for more than 1.5 years can cause over-discharge and affect the battery's lifespan. - Extreme temperatures can also reduce the battery's charging capacity. When storing batteries, remember that the storage temperature should not be too high. Conventional NiMH batteries should be stored in the temperature range of -20 °C to +30 °C.
- High humidity is not ideal for storing electrochemical batteries. The ideal humidity level is 45 % to 85 %. Vapor-proof containers can help keep them out of high humidity environments.
Additional battery information
Typical coin cell parameter
Type | Capacity (mAh) | Mass (g) | Chemistry |
---|---|---|---|
CR2032 | 240 | 2.98 | Lithium Manganese Dioxide |
CR2450 | 620 | 6.4 | Lithium Manganese Dioxide |
CR1620 | 80 | 1.9 | Lithium Manganese Dioxide |
CR1632 | 140 | 2.5 | Lithium Manganese Dioxide |
BR1632 | 120 | 1.5 | Lithium Polycarbon Monofluoride |
BR1225 | 48 | 0.8 | Lithium Polycarbon Monofluoride |
Battery and WEEE recycling information
Used, broken, or mounted batteries, including coin cell batteries, must not be disposed of in household waste to avoid environmental harm. To ensure proper disposal, these batteries are legally required to be marked with a crossed-out wheeled bin symbol on the product, packaging, and manuals. This symbol indicates that they must be separately collected. For mounted batteries, similar legal requirement of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) applies. Local regulations for proper handling might apply. |