Rechargeable Batteries

The service life of rechargeable batteries cannot be generalized because it depends on:

• Proper use of the battery
• Care and storage of the battery
• The number of charge cycles (a charge cycle is a full charge from 0% to 100%)
• Natural aging of the lithium-ion cells over time

For example, STIHL batteries in the AP battery system can be fully recharged up to 1200 times.

* assuming 220 work days
** assuming the battery is always used, maintained and stored correctly

The quoted voltage alone says nothing about the power of the batteries or the battery products.

Power is defined as the product of voltage and current:
Power = Voltage x Amperage --> W = V x A

The interaction between voltage and current and the technical implementation of the overall system are the points that determine the performance of a battery product.

In the case of hand-held battery products, a compact build and weight are crucial for operator convenience. From a technical point of view there are certain restrictions when it comes to making products compact:

• One goes for a high voltage (e.g. 80V) and can technically use only low electrical currents because the number of components and the weight would otherwise increase.
• On the other hand, one confines oneself to a still meaningful high voltage (36V), which allows high electrical currents technically and can limit the number of components and the weight.

STIHL, like many other established manufacturers of battery products, decided in favor of a system with a maximum voltage of 36V. This high voltage, which is still technically meaningful and allows high electrical currents to be used, guarantees high performance and future sustainability of the battery products.
Battery products are compact, lightweight and more robust due to the use of fewer electrical components.

Furthermore, STIHL offers an efficient, high-performance overall system of matched components:

• The intelligent motor control guarantees constant high power over the entire running time.
• The energy supply to the electric motor is actively controlled in response to the type of application. Full power is always made available for extreme applications. However, power is automatically reduced if it is not necessary for the current application. In this way the energy in the battery is used optimally and the runtime on a single charge extended.
• Efficient batteries in compact design and available in different versions (with high energy content or low weight) ensure a long runtime and operator convenience.
• Cutting attachments designed to match the battery product, e.g. the ¼" P saw chain, guarantee optimum performance in every application.

Ultimately, it is always the energy content of the battery and the efficiency and implementation of the overall system that define the runtime and performance. For this reason systems with 56V or 80V have no advantages over the STIHL battery system with 36V.

Current and voltage monitoring

• Reducing motor RPM if the cutting attachment is blocked

Temperature monitoring

• Signal and automatic shutdown in case of too high a temperature

Voltage monitoring of individual cells

• No overcharging possible during charging
• No exhaustive discharge possible during operation

For the charge times of STIHL batteries and STIHL battery products with built-in batteries visit www.stihl.com/charging-times.

The specifications 80% and 100% refer to the battery’s state of charge. The corresponding charge time indicates how many minutes it takes for a flat battery to reach that state of charge.

About one third of the charge time is required for the last 20%. The reason for this is that the battery cannot be recharged up to 100% at a constant high charging current.
The charging current drops continuously towards the end in order to protect the cells and retain their performance over many charge cycles. Therefore, a relatively long period is required to charge the last percentage of capacity.

It is possible to work with STIHL battery products and use full power even if the battery is not fully charged.

The battery can be charged at any time regardless of its state of charge, e.g. during a work break. There is no memory effect, i.e. the battery can be taken out of the charger even before it is fully charged.

• Charge the battery in a dry and enclosed location at an ambient temperature between +5°C and +40°C.

The use of a quick charger has no detrimental effect on the useful life of the battery.

The battery and charger are intelligently connected during the entire charge process. Both components jointly determine the optimum charge process and are monitored by the battery management system. This avoids the cells in the battery being damaged by excessively high charge currents and temperatures.

The temperature of the battery and charger increases during the charge process.

The temperature is monitored over the entire charge process. If the temperature rises above a certain limit, the charge process is automatically interrupted until the temperature drops to the approved level. The charge process is then continued automatically. This avoids the battery and charger overheating.

The AL 300 and AL 500 chargers are equipped with a fan which is switched on and off automatically to actively cool the charger and battery during the charge process. The fan runs continuously on first generation chargers.

STIHL batteries do not require servicing.
A dirty battery housing should be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Check the following points when storing the battery:

• Battery is out of the reach of children
• Battery is clean and dry
• Battery is in an enclosed location
• Battery is stored separately from the product and charger
• Battery is in non-conductive packaging
• Temperature range for AK, AP, AR batteries: -10°C to +50°C
• Temperature range for products with built-in battery: 0°C to +50°C
• Temperature range for battery in HSA 25: 0°C to +40°C

STIHL recommends that the battery or product with a built-in battery be stored with a charge between 40% and 60% (2 green LEDs glow) if it is not used for more than 1 month. This avoids exhaustive discharge during storage over a period of several years. In addition, the natural aging of the lithium-ion cells is minimized and that has a positive effect on battery life.

Yes, the battery can theoretically suffer from exhaustive discharge during storage. The self discharge rate is about 1% to 3% per year.

STIHL recommends that the battery or product with a built-in battery be stored with a charge between 40% and 60% (2 green LEDs glow) if it is not used for more than 1 month. This avoids exhaustive discharge during storage over a period of several years. In addition, the natural aging of the lithium-ion cells is minimized and that has a positive effect on battery life.

The battery does not need to be recharged during storage if it is used regularly.
Even a flat battery can be stored for several months without being damage by exhaustive discharge.

STIHL recommends that the battery or product with a built-in battery be stored with a charge between 40% and 60% (2 green LEDs glow) if it is not used for more than 1 month. This avoids exhaustive discharge during storage over a period of several years. In addition, the natural aging of the lithium-ion cells is minimized and that has a positive effect on battery life.

For the runtimes of STIHL battery products visit:
www.stihl.com/static/stihl-accu-advisor/index.html

The batteries have different energy contents. This is determined by the number of cells used, the voltage of the individual cells and the available charge of the individual cell. The higher the energy content of a battery, the longer the runtime of the battery product.

For this reason a battery product with a STIHL AR battery can be operated for much longer than with a STIHL AP battery.

Batteries may be used within the following temperature range:

• STIHL AK , AP, AR batteries -10 °C to +50 °C
• Products with built-in battery: 0 °C to +50 °C
• Battery of HSA 25: 0 °C to +40 °C

Salty air can have detrimental effect on the life of the battery and the battery product. The effects can differ according to the length of usage and the salt content in the air.

In order to counteract corrosion of the electrical contacts, store the battery and battery product as follows:

• Store the battery and battery product in a clean and dry condition
• Store the battery and battery product in an enclosed location
• Store the battery separately from the battery product and charger in non-conductive packaging

STIHL battery products are distinguished by the following features:

• They are easy to start
• They are quiet and can also be used in noise-sensitive areas
• They are lightweight
• They produce no emissions
• There is no need to handle fuel
• Battery products are robust and require little maintenance
• The modular system enables one battery to be used for several battery products
• Normally, hearing protection is not necessary during operation
• As a rule, the vibrations that occur and the loads on the user during operation are low.

* Observe information in instruction manual for battery product.

The purchase price of a battery product, including a battery and charger, is often higher than the cost of a comparable petrol product. However, one has to take into account that the running costs are much lower since no fuel or spark plugs are required for operation.

Assuming proper use, the high performance, longlife batteries ensure that the break even point is definitely reached during the product’s life. The question as to exactly when this point is reached depends on a number of factors, e.g. the battery product, the type of usage, user behavior, the costs of fuel and the cutting attachments used.

Buying additional battery products in the same STIHL battery system improve the calculation still further because the costs for battery and charger are saved. The modular concept allows batteries that have already been purchased, and the charger, to be used for all other products in the same battery system.

STIHL offers a broad range of battery products in different price categories – from the attractively priced STIHL lithium-ion battery system for use in small gardens and around the house to the STIHL PRO battery system for professional users.

In principle, all STIHL batteries and STIHL battery products are manufactured to a high quality and ideally rated for the respective usage scenarios and target groups.

After the initial purchase, the purchase of further products in the same batery system becomes even more attractive. The modular concept allows batteries that have already been purchased, and the charger, to be used for all other products in the same battery system. Compared to petrol products, there are no costs for fuel or spark plugs.

Warranty terms are country-specific and can be obtained from your Local STIHL representative.

Information on disposal is available from STIHL servicing dealers.

• Dispose of batteries in accordance with local regulations and environmental requirements.