ESA Certified Alarm Technician Practice Exam

High temperatures tend to do what to battery life?

1. Extend it

2. No effect

3. Increase it

4. Decrease it

The correct answer is: Decrease it

High temperatures tend to decrease battery life due to several factors related to chemistry and physical properties. At elevated temperatures, the chemical reactions within a battery occur at a faster rate, which can lead to an increase in self-discharge. This means the battery loses its stored energy more quickly even when not in use. Additionally, high heat can accelerate degradation of the battery components, which adversely affects overall performance and longevity. The increased temperature can also lead to more rapid evaporation of electrolyte fluids in batteries that use liquid electrolytes, further compromising their effectiveness. In many cases, consistently operating or charging batteries in high-temperature environments can lead to thermal runaway, a condition where the battery can overheat and potentially fail or even catch fire. Therefore, high temperatures are detrimental to battery life, making it critical to maintain batteries within their specified temperature ranges for optimal performance and durability.