How long can I store my tags for?

The capacity of a silver (Ag) cell starts to decline as soon as it is soldered to. Therefore, any small tag should be used as quickly as possible, to ensure that you still have the estimated battery life. If the tags are kept for longer than 6 months, even if you have not activated the tag at all, then it is advisable to replace the battery. Unfortunately it is not possible to check the capacity remaining in the cell without using it. Cells are designed to maintain the voltage until just before they finish, so measuring voltage does not measure capacity.

If you can not get the tags refurbished, then it is best to use the tags as quickly as possible, but be aware that the tags may not last as long as predicted.

Larger lithium celled tags (e.g. with 10-28, 1/2AA etc.) can usually be stored for more than a year – as long as they are properly turned off.