# Haven't used my GPS's battery in a year -- is it still okay?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087 "2008-08-06T21:35:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087/1 "2008-08-06T21:35:21Z")

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So I bought a GPS about a year ago, charged it up, then never used it since. I know that Lithion-Ion batteries should be used now and then, so I’m wondering how my battery’s condition might be after a year of non-use?

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087/2 "2008-08-06T23:16:15Z")

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Switch it on and see what the charge level is.

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**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087/3 "2008-08-06T23:29:38Z")

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Well, I mean, I know it works – I turned it on. But has the battery life or capacity been compromised for its year-long slumber?

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-used-my-gpss-battery-in-a-year-is-it-still-okay/459087/4 "2008-08-07T02:16:06Z")

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It might be OK, but if you run it down a bit and recharge and repeat a few times you’ll get an idea of the battery life. Compare that to the advertised numbers.