Charging Lithium Batteries Cold or Room-Temp?

Is it better to charge lithium batteries while cold or at room-temperature?

For instance, when I get home from ice fishing, I let the batteries for the flashers and the electric auger warm up to room temperature inside the house before connecting them to the charger.

Is this necessary, or could I just plug them in while they’re still ice cold from the lake?

Thanks, Joe

Won’t matter. If anything it would be an undetectable difference even if you charged them the entire time while cold.

It does actually matter, charging lithium batteries at freezing or very cold temps or too hot temps can cause damage to the cells.

Lithium batteries have an optimal charging temp and the technology built into some of batteries or chargers won’t allow the battery to charge until a certain temp is met.

For instance Milwaukee M18 XC lithium batteries won’t charge if it’s too cold or too hot (charging in between at 32F-104F).

If you put the battery on the charger the led will blink red that means not charging. Once the cells are warm enough or cool enough the led will show a constant red lift indicating charging is happening.

I contacted Strike Master and they have discontinued selling the lithium Ice Force battery.

I do have the Electra 12000 and I can only drill about 3 holes with a SLA battery, when very cold, and 30″+ of ice. If the temps are above 20+ degrees and ice is under 24″, then I can drill about 20 holes.

I am wondering if those that have the lithium battery are getting more holes at the colder or warmer temps and at what ice thickness.

FlyBoys99 wrote:

I contacted Strike Master and they have discontinued selling the lithium Ice Force battery.

I do have the Electra 12000 and I can only drill about 3 holes with a SLA battery, when very cold, and 30″+ of ice. If the temps are above 20+ degrees and ice is under 24″, then I can drill about 20 holes.

I am wondering if those that have the lithium battery are getting more holes at the colder or warmer temps and at what ice thickness.

I have ion x with the 5 amp hour lithium battery. Coldest I’ve had it out was -4. Drilled over 60 holes in 14″ of ice. Left the battery out in the elements all day and battery showed 2/3 charge yet. Most holes I’ve drilled on one day was 78 and battery still showed 2/3 charge through 16″ of ice. No complaints here on the lithium battery holding up in cold temps.