Changes to Battery Durability Test Thresholds in Quality Standards

The Battery Durability Storage Test is critical for ensuring the use of high quality batteries. However, on review of the standards used in development of the test method and an assessment of initial results from product testing, the Lighting Global quality assurance team has decided to revise the passing thresholds to more closely align with existing standards.
This memo provides greater detail on the revised thresholds for the Battery Durability Storage Test.
As this adjustment of the passing thresholds requires a change to the Lighting Global Quality Standards, we are releasing a new version of the Standards.  Revisions in this version include:

  1. The passing threshold for the Battery Durability Storage Test is now defined as: “The average capacity loss of 6 samples must not exceed 25% and only one sample may have a capacity loss greater than 35% following the battery durability storage test as defined in IEC 62257-9-5 Annex BB.”
  2. The expected date of when performance information will be required to be reported on the packages has been extended to January 1st.  Lighting Global is still in the process of coordinating with GOGLA to determine appropriate requirements for performance reporting for pico-solar products.
  3. The table of battery protection voltages has been reformatted for greater clarity and a few changes have been made, as listed below:
    1. The “minimum allowable overcharge protection voltage” for sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries was raised from 2.25 V/cell to 2.35 V/cell.
    2. The “recommended overcharge protection voltage” for nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries was raised from 1.40 V/cell to 1.45 V/cell.
    3. The “maximum allowable overcharge protection voltage” for nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries was raised from 1.45 V/cell to 1.50 V/cell.