Battery Labeling

I debated where to begin this post, but the mods can move it if deemed appropriate. I bought an Xtar VC4S battery charger mostly because I wanted the mah grading function and one that would do 21700’s. I began grading my cells and realized it would be nice to keep track of them by capacity, so I came up with a simple system to create a small, cheap semi permanent label I could edit. I began by using the Avery brand white, gummed address labels that are 2” x 4”. I made a 3 line address block, and with 15 point type I can get 9 per label. They look like this: Owner: Ricky Spin 555 555-1234 9999 mah, but stacked like an envelope mailing address. The post formatting will not display in that manner. Times 3 across one label.
I figure it can’t hurt to have your name, number and capacity marked. I believe a finder might just unscrew the tailcap and might call if a name and number were staring back. Anyway, you can print these labels in just about any laser printer that has a single sheet feed. If you start printing at the bottom of the label page, you can just work your way to the top with newer labels as the lower ones are printed and peeled. I trim them with scissors and they stick pretty well without thickness issues.

Labeling sounds like a good idea. Looks more professional as compared to just scribbling with a marker. The problem I have with sticky labels is finding ones that stick good and won’t start to peel off on their own. Another cool idea is to compliment it with a spreadsheet using Excel and/or Numbers with battery data perhaps? Now you have one side where it’s all labeled with the info you want and the other side where you can fire up the spreadsheet and add/minus to it?

i use a little pocket size notebook to keep track of rechargeable cells by their designator and the number of times it has been charged by noting the date and charge level. i use an alphanumeric, Letter-number, sequence for designation and write that on the cells with a permanent marker. The notebook stays in the plastic bin where i keep all the cells.

All this could be done on a spreadsheet, and that might be good for a backup, but i’m old school and prefer the simple solution of paper and pencil.

And i really like your label idea to put the contact info to help them find their way home.

I totally get it about the peeling, but the Avery ones seem to last for years on other applications. Plus, being in a tube most of their life, not too much to affect them. They take toner well and the print doesn’t smear like so many other markers. Plus, printing is SO much nicer looking than my handwriting. (Think 5 year old, crayola) The only thing to ever change is the mah on a new label so once you have made a print run, you just need to start the next batch above that with my system. A single sheet of 2” X 4” labels (10) will do 90 batteries.

I use a fine point sharpie to rarely test a cell and label with date and result. Wipes off easily. If it has worn off, test it again. Not a good test, just a charger.

Then again I think it depends on how many batteries one has. I know many people here have over 50 batteries and keeping track of them can be a chore. I only have 25 batteries and I just use a Sharpie for now.

I have too many. Sharpie is great, I use a label maker on everything without fit tolerances. Darn things peel off going in and out.

Speaking of labels, I use to do a lot of CD/DVD labeling back in the day. I still have lots of Avery labels sitting in the cabinet.
I forgot to mention also that I use color either by marker or label to separate batteries also. Allows me to quickly glance over things and narrow things down a bit

For daily lights that have to be recharged frequently, I use a Brother P-touch label. The machines are inexpensive, but as printers and ink, the MFR’s cover their cost with the refills – so mistakes are expensive. The Dymo types have different label materials, some I would be able to peel off and re-use (Nylon IIRC). But any labeller that makes an alphabetical keyboard is not my style. Also, the symbols and mark-up are too convoluted, so I trashed the machine. It had a better display however.

Most of my lights have a dedicated battery. I have an info sheet stating such affixed to the inside cover of the storage box (nice wooden types). So not only cell but the cost (& store name), LED, temp, throw, and UI (& outputs). Also, have a spreadsheet of batteries so to backtrack which cell is in what light.

As someone mentioned, depends on the number of cells. But organization is best on the on start.

I used to use my Brother P-Touch. Makes great labels. Mine was the kind run by a PC. XP was the last OS Supported by mine - and a serial port connection. Harrumph.

Now I use whatever word processor/SS and print it out on normal paper.
I use the clear shrink wrap battery covers to secure it to the battery. Don’t do a full wrap, just enough to cover the label and a little more.
Most lights have enough room for the added thickness.
All the Best,
Jeff