There are 4 main types of batteries available for airsoft guns. These are as follows.
Always read the instructions on your gun/equipment and the battery information before using.
RECHARGEABLE ALKALINE
These are your bog standard batteries you will use all over the home in remote controls, clocks and such.
Some of the low-range airsoft guns will use them and you can either use single use or rechargeable types.
With these batteries you should avoid overcharging them and when you do charge them, keep to a decent room temperature and not in a hot room or in direct sunlight.
These batteries lose low amounts of charge when not in use, so ideally they should be charged several hours before intended use.
To maintain the lifespan of these battery types, they should be charged every six to nine months to maintain the quality of the battery, when not in use.
NI-CAD - NICKEL-CADMIUM
These batteries are not that common these days as more people seem to be moving towards NiMH or LiPo batteries. They tend to have a higher specific power and cycle life than NiMH batteries. However they have a higher toxicity due to the cadmium content and thus, considered environmentally unfriendly.
Ideally, these need to be stores discharged and should be cool before charging them.
Overcharging them will lead to deterioration in the performance of the battery and should be fully discharged before charging it again to maintain good quality and longevity.
On the other hand, over-discharging can also damage them, so they should be checked every month or so if they are not going to be used for long periods of time.
Always store Ni-Cad batteries in a cool and dry location with low humidity and no corrosive gases.
NIMH - NICKEL-METAL HYDRIDE
These are one of the most common battery types used in airsoft today.
Again, these should avoid any possible overcharging. Repeated overcharging will lead to severe deterioration in overall battery life and especially performance. NiMH batteries should be charged after being fully discharged and not left in a discharged state for long periods of time.
If they are going to be stored. They should be stored in a cool, dry place with no risks of corrosive gasses and should be checked and charged every six months.
LIPO - LITHIUM-ION POLYMER
These are the kings of airsoft batteries. They are smaller, varied shapes and offer a higher capacity and over consistent output and longer charges. However, there are some drawbacks and they can be a bit volatile and hard to maintain for some.
These batteries hate high-temperature. Too much heat will damage them, so playing a game in blistering summer head will have its risks.
They also have risks of meltdowns. This is why so many people store them separately in a sealed, fire retarded package when storing or transporting them.
LiPo batteries also require special chargers, designed for them to maintain the cells and keep balanced charging. You should also never leave a LiPo alone when charging as if a meltdown occurs, they can swell and catch fire.
When storing a LiPo battery, they should be stored in a cool, dry place and somewhere you can check easily. Over-discharging them will lead to irreversible damage. It is worth noting that most battery suppliers recommend storing them with a 50% - 70% charge and check the voltage monthly when storing for long periods of time.
Battery Disposal
When it comes to disposing of batteries in Japan, it is not as simple as throwing it in the trash.
All batteries except for LiPo batteries must be taken to a battery bin (usually found at electronic stores, recycle centres, home centres, hardware stores/building material stores, and some supermarkets will have a bin for depositing them.
LiPo batteries on the other hand cannot be disposed of so simply and require discharging first. A service you usually you need to pay for.
However, fortunately there is a way to safely discharge them and dispose of them for free yourself.
This method has been featured on various websites, but we recommend that you have it disposed of professionally to be safe.
You can connect the wires to a bulb to drain the battery, but this does not make the battery inert.
Once discharged, take out the battery and check the voltage.
Discharge is complete if the voltage is 0V using a voltage tester . Finally, wrap vinyl tape around the terminals to insulate them.
Dispose of the lipo battery according to municipal rules
Basically, discharged batteries are treated as non-burnable garbage, but the classification differs depending on the municipality, so be sure to check in advance.
Note: The above method using salt water is a simple method, but there are plenty of risks, so please do it under the guidance of an expert. Basically, we recommend appropriate disposal using proper disposal services.
If you could include specific places that take lipos! That'd be super helpful! The only other way I dispose lipos is following the instructions of my city disposal guide, eg. that certain days of the week they take batteries ect.