Why do People Keep Battery in the Sun?

Written by: Muoka Chibuzor

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Sometimes, we see people do things and we think it’s just normal but there may be more to it than meets the eye. When we decide to go on a tour and visit various homes in Nigeria, you might be surprised to see people placing batteries on their Window pavements or in places usually exposed to sunlight, for the sun rays to fall on it, maybe the battery lacks vitamin D? Haha who knows?

When you see people bring out the batteries in their devices and place them in the Sun, and then you ask why? You might hear the funniest answer that it's charging as in recharging.

But we all know that batteries have been used in various ways. For example, we have car batteries, phone batteries, Torch batteries, headset batteries, laptop batteries etc.

Some of them are Rechargeable (can be charged via electricity) while others are non-rechargeable (cannot be charged and should be replaced when it’s down). But most times the most susceptible to the “Sun Charging Ideology” are the Non-rechargeable batteries or Primary batteries.

Primary batteries are used once, then discarded. They have the advantage of convenience and cost less per battery, with the downside of costing more over the long term. 

A very good example of a non-rechargeable battery in Nigeria is the “Tiger Head Brand” or "Duracell" battery. It’s of various sizes and it’s used in various devices including TV remotes, Torch, Wall clocks, Toys etc.

Let’s be a little more scientific, Batteries are Electro – chemical devices, meaning that they convert chemical energy to electrical energy. 

They also contain electrons which help in energy transfer within the battery. Usually, they have two terminals the positive and negative end.

We should know that if we expose our batteries to extreme weather conditions, whether too hot or too cold, there will be an effect of which is mostly negative due to the extreme weather conditions.

We should also know that a little increase in temperature makes the electrons within the battery excited but a decrease in temperature inhibits electrons.

Reasons why people keep Non-rechargeable batteries in the sun for days:

1) They believe that the sun affects the chemical substances within the battery and thereby increasing its longevity.

Advice: Once in two weeks you should bring it out and keep the battery in the sun, but it should not be left in the sun for hours, an hour is okay. It should be brief, just enough to get the electron excited.

2) Maybe the battery got wet and thus needs drying.

Advice: Firstly clean the battery thoroughly with a dry cloth and the keep it in the sun to dry. The amount of sunlight should also be moderated to ensure the battery doesn’t get spoiled totally. If it was in the water for long, it would be better to purchase another battery.

3) The battery now emits liquid substances.

Advice: You should know that the liquid substance that comes out of the battery is an indication that, the battery should be discarded to avoid health hazards. If you touch such batteries and you don’t wash your hands, you might end up poisoning yourself. Also, check the area where the battery is placed in your device to know if its air locked because the lack of air in the battery case will cause toxic liquid emission. And those liquids can spoil your device.

4) They see other people doing it.

Advice: Sun drying of your battery should be for some good reasons, to avoid ending up with a dead battery.

5) Lack of money to purchase new batteries.

Advice: it's better you keep your device in a good condition than putting back dead battery cells into your device. They can rust your device terminals and leave you in regrets.

Keeping dead batteries in the sun cannot make them alive unless you replace the chemicals within them. So save yourself the stress and save money to purchase new battery cells.

Conclusion-

If you expose your battery to extreme weather such as excessive sunlight, all in the name of getting them to become super active or to rekindle a dying battery, it may make your battery to stop working totally, bulge, bubble, melt, damage your device when you insert it back, smoke, create sparks, create flames, expand, contract and or even blow up in very extreme cases. 

On the aspect of health, it can cause poisoning or cancer due to the toxic nature of the chemical emissions.

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