Emergency/Exit Lights - will batteries freeze?

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bjp_ne_elec

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We're up in NE and we just had one of those ice storms we're accustomed to getting this time of year. Thought struck me regarding the batteries in the Exit & Emergency light units. We had some buildings without power for almost a week. If the temperature got down to freezing, would it damage the battery? I checked the Lithonia site, and they don't seem to list storage temperatures for the units - just optimal operating temperatures for the unit.

I've seen both Nickel-Cadnium and Lead-Cadnium batteries listed for use in several emergency units, but can't seem to find what would be normally listed as "storage tempertaure".
 
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bjp_ne_elec said:
I've seen both Nickel-Cadnium and Lead-Cadnium batteries listed for use in several emergency units, but can't seem to find what would be normally listed as "storage tempertaure".
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I am not sure about those tpe batteries but the old standard batteries we always put in the freezer to store them. It supposedly extended their shelf life. Maybe it's an old wife's tale, I am not sure.

Edited-- extend dhould be prolong. Thanks bjp
 
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Dennis - the wife's tale as we had it in upstate NY was that you would prolong their life if you kept them in the fridge. I think I read somewhere that it was truly a wife's tale - but I don't recall the source of that info.
 
bjp_ne_elec said:
Dennis - the wife's tale as we had it in upstate NY was that you would prolong their life if you kept them in the fridge. I think I read somewhere that it was truly a wife's tale - but I don't recall the source of that info.
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That's is what I actually meant. I made a bad choice of word. I willl edit
 
My understanding is that a charged battery will not freeze, at least as far as wet cells are concerned. I'm not sure about gel-cells, but I imagine the same would apply.

Of course, a battery will discharge when the power is lost, and the heat is lost, at least to the extent that a low-voltage cut-off circuit stops further discharging.
 
we even saw infomercials that actually freeze these (car) batteries inside blocks of ice. and they start nicely, if you could get to their terminals...
 
On the average the Lead Calcium temp range should be between 60-90F and NiCad 32-100F. Cold doesn't really have any damaging effects other than it will not work when below the recommended temps. Heat is by far worse on them than cold.
 
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