Everything You Need To Know About Lithium Ion Batteries

As battery powered lawn and garden equipment becomes more popular, Joe gets lots of questions about compatibility, battery life, charging cycles and voltage. Snow Joe + Sun Joe have over 20 cordless tools that work with the same ion battery platform, giving you the ultimate versatility in tool selection to get the job finished. We’re answering your most frequently asked questions to debunk any myths you may have heard, and help you make the right choice when choosing your next cordless tool and extra batteries.

How Do Lithium Ion Batteries Work?

A battery, in the broadest terms, is simply a chemical experiment happening in a metal canister.  Chemicals inside the battery slowly break down and fuse together to make other chemicals, producing a stream of positively charged particles, called ions,  and negatively charged electrons. The only downside is, this chemical reaction can happen only once and in only one direction, which is why ordinary batteries typically can't be recharged. Different chemicals are used in rechargeable batteries and they split apart through different reactions. The big difference is that the chemical reactions in a rechargeable battery are reversible. When the battery is discharging, the reactions go one way and the battery gives out power. When the battery is charging, the reactions go in the opposite direction and the battery absorbs power.

What Makes Lithium Ion Batteries Superior to Other Technology?

Lithium-ion batteries have become more and more common because they have a number of important advantages over competing technologies:

• They're much lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries of the same size due to their lithium and carbon composition. Lithium is also a highly reactive element, meaning that it can store a lot of energy
• They have no memory effect, which means that you do not have to completely discharge them before recharging
• Lithium-ion batteries can handle hundreds of charge/discharge cycles

What Is The Difference Between 20V + 40V Batteries?

40V battery operated tools have more power than 20V batteries, and their battery life is longer. Snow Joe + Sun Joe tools only operate off 40V batteries. 40V batteries are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who use their tools often and for longer periods of time. The cheaper 20V batteries are commonly used for handheld power tools, and do not output enough power to handle most lawn and garden chores. Although larger voltage batteries are being introduced to the market, they are specific to their brand and not for use with Snow Joe tools. The new Snow Joe iON24SB-XR, the world's first  two-stage cordless snow blower, uses two 40V batteries for a combined output of 80V.

 

What Does AH Mean?

Ah is the abbreviation for ampere-hour or amp hour, the total amount of charge a battery can deliver in one hour. A cordless tool which uses 1.0A of current will drain a 1.0Ah battery in one hour (depending on how vigorously the tool is used). This means that a 2.0Ah battery can power the same tool longer than a 1.0Ah battery can, and a 4.0Ah battery will deliver double the run time a 2.0Ah. Snow Joe cordless tools operate off a 40V battery pack, with varying Ah of 2, 2.5, 4 and 5 for you to choose from. Remember that average run time can be affected by the task you are completing. For example, using a Sun Joe cordless pole chain saw, like the iON8PS2 or iON8PS2-LT,  with a 40V 4.0Ah battery such as the iBAT40 would provide an average run time of 50 minutes. However if you are trimming very thick branches, run time may decrease because of the extra exertion and power the tool requires.

Do Lithium Ion Batteries Develop A Memory? Do They Need To Be Recharged After Each Use?

No. Snow Joe Lithium Ion batteries do not develop a memory. The fuel gauge indicator lights on all Snow Joe EcoSharp batteries will also let you easily monitor your battery’s charge capacity while it is in use. When it is time to charge, simply slide the battery into its dedicated charger. The Snow Joe iCHRG40-DPC allows you decrease charging time and to refuel 2 batteries at once, instead of one.

Just like your cell-phone battery, Snow Joe battery packs have no memory effect, so there is no need to drain the battery or wait for full charge before use. All Snow Joe battery models holds their charge well in storage and will retain up to 65% charge for six months.

Can You Use A Different Brand’s Batteries In Your Snow Joe or Sun Joe Tool?

No. Snow Joe + Sun Joe sells cordless tool models both with batteries and without, so once you’ve bought your first tool that includes batteries, you can use them with all your other cordless Snow Joe + Sun Joe equipment.

How Long Will The Battery Take To Charge?

Snow Joe + Sun Joe batteries charge completely in just 2.5-3 hours.

When Is It Time To Replace The Battery?

A Lithium Ion battery’s lifespan is typically 2-3 years, depending on charging and discharging cycles. A typical Lithium Ion battery can be charged and discharged 2,000 times. However, there are a few tricks to prolong the life of your lithium ion battery:

• Refrain from leaving your battery on the charger after it has reached a full charge
• Store your battery in temperatures between 50-65 degrees
• Do not store a dead battery or leave your battery with less than 65% charge for more than 3 months at a time -  the lithium will begin to die, which causes an irreversible loss of charging capacity

 

Snow Joe batteries all come with a 90 day warranty, and ETL approved and Energy Star certified.