Batteries play a big part in portable printing, barcode terminals and cordless scanners. Recently, I sat down with an expert from Global Technology Systems, a company who supply batteries to some of the world’s largest companies to use in their Zebra and Honeywell devices.  I didn’t realise there was so much to learn about batteries.  Here are some ideas on how to properly care for your barcode scanner batteries to keep them in top condition.

What You Need To Know About Batteries

• Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries are more advanced than Nickel Cadnium (NiCad) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) batteries and don’t need to be fully discharged before re-charging.
• Li-ion batteries don’t suffer battery memory as NiCad batteries do. This means that Li-ion batteries will keep more of their charge longer.
• The lifespan of a Li-ion battery is 500 charge cycles. The battery life decreases as the charge cycle increases.
• If unused, a Li-ion battery will lose as much as 5%  of its charge a month.
• Li-ion batteries start degrading as soon as they’re made. They will only last two or three years from the date of manufacture whether you use them or not.
• Li-Ion batteries degrade faster in high temperatures.
• Lithium Ion Polymer (Lipo) batteries are lighter and more durable but aren’t quite as energy dense as their Li-ion predecessors. Lipo batteries are regularly seen in drones and phones.
• Quality batteries are date-stamped with manufacturing dates and serial numbers.
• Electronics with back-up batteries must be full-charged to keep the battery in good condition.

Barcode Scanner Batteries: Charging Tips

• When using a Li-ion battery for the first time, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on charging.  If the instructions tell you to charge your device overnight, charge it overnight.
• Charge your battery at room temperature between 4ºC – 32ºC.

Battery Life Checklist:

Follow this check-list to maximise your device’s battery life

• Set your LCD display back-light to the lowest readable level. Set it to auto-dim after 15 seconds of idle time.
• Audible sounds use valuable battery power. Do you need them?  Turn them off or set the audible volume to its lowest practical level.
• Do you have 4G capability?  Turn it off if you’ve got Wifi access.
• The batteries I’m buying have a serial no and date stamp on them
• Turn off Wifi if you’re always using 4G.
• Label your batteries.  Try and use the same batteries in the same mobile device (try not to mix them up).
• Change your battery as promptly as possible when you see the low power alert on your LCD screen display.
• Keep a charged spare battery pack on hand.
• Check your batteries for leaks, cracks, swelling and other signs of damage every few months.
• Never use defective or damaged batteries – they contain flammable liquids.
• Replace your batteries annually if you’re a heavy user (24/7 user).  Every 18 months if you’re a less intensive user (i.e. 8 hours shifts).  Contact us for a quote for replacement barcode scanner batteries
• Cleaning your battery contacts with a pencil eraser every few months means they will charge properly.

The future of batteries

Batteries that charge quickly, are lightweight and small and that have a long cycle life are the future.  They’re needed for electric vehicles and solar storage.  Whilst barcode scanner batteries aren’t likely to be in the forefront of most researchers minds, portable computing is very important and we’ll see this technology arriving soon to a scanner near you.  This is what universities and laboratories the world over are working on:

Graphene batteries

The wonder material that’s been in the news for the past few years is graphene.  This carbon based material can be used in batteries, providing a battery that charges 30 times faster than lithium Ion, discharges many times faster (this is quite useful when a car needs to draw upon massive power to accelerate) and is five times more energy dense than Li-ions.

We’re likely to see graphene make it’s way into batteries in the near future.  In November 2017 Samsung researchers have announced batteries that use graphene to charge five times faster than Li-ion batteries. They’ve also developed a method for making graphene more cost effectively than before, a technology that will see more uses for graphene – no doubt.

Na-Ion batteries

Those of you who remember school chemistry will recognise Na as Sodium.  French researchers have created a battery similar in performance to Lithium Ion, but with a life span of 2,000 charge cycles – four times better than Li-Ion.

Prieto Batteries

The Prieto Battery company is a US based research company working on a revolutionary 3D Li-Ion technology that promises five time better energy density, faster charging and a longer life – all made more cheaply than existing Li-Ion batteries – with the added benefit of using a cleaner, more environmentally friendly manufacturing process.  Formed in 2009, they’re yet to make a breakthrough – so keep an eye on their website for future updates: www.prietobattery.com.

Solid state batteries

The university of Texas’ Prof John Goodenough (the father of the Litium Ion battery) and separately, scientists at MIT, working with Samsung, have been developing solid-state batteries – an improvement on current lithium-ion efforts. These batteries seek to be safer, longer lasting and more energy dense.

Current lithium-ion batteries contain amounts of an electrolyte liquid. It’s this liquid that can be flammable and which limits the life of the battery.

MIT reports their new batteries could be charged for hundreds of thousands of cycles before degrading. They could also provide a 20 to 30 per cent improvement in power density – a breakthrough for electric vehicles and drones especially as they’re not flammable.

Further help

We provide all the main brands of barcode scanner batteries, along with high quality compatible batteries, at considerable savings. If you need further advice or costs of replacement batteries, email us at info@expertlabels.co.uk

You’re surrounded by barcodes.  From the clothes on your back, your electronics in your pocket and to the courier parcel posted through your door – barcodes are everywhere.  With the barcode taking such an important, yet un-noticed role in your life – here’s a fun quiz to see how much you really know about this unsung hero of the last forty years:

Let’s look at eight ways to make your asset labelling a success so that you can build a future proof way of asset identification.

1. What assets do I need to keep track of?

Does everything need to be labelled? Work through from the most valuable and at risk items such as cameras and computers before moving down to air conditioning units or furniture.  Prioritise the highest value, most at risk items.

2. What type of asset labelling do I use?

If your assets are not subject to weather or wear and tear then a paper label may do the job. However, if it’s likely to be  rubbed or spend any time outdoors in the sun or rain, then a waterproof, scratch-resistant label is essential.  Scratch resistant label materials start with plastic and move on up to etched aluminium tags.  A metal tag can cost £1 each, so you need to be sure that the benefit you’ll get from tracking these assets is worth the investment.

3. What do I print on my labels?

Once you’ve decided on the label you’re using, decide what gets printed on it. Asset labels, at the very minimum, need an identification code which you can trace back to a list of assets. If you’re printing labels you’d be wasting a big opportunity if you didn’t include a barcode. Barcodes will speed up the process of managing your assets and improve accuracy.

4. What barcode should I use?

Traditional 1D barcodes (which are what you see on groceries) are a first start.   1D codes are like a numberplate on a car. A car registration plate tells you nothing about the car it simply refers you back to database which stores the information.  Using a 1D barcode provides a fast way of scanning a code which you use to refer back to your list, but a 2D code is much more powerful.

2D codes fall into couple of categories– the QR code which is very flexible and can be read by any smartphone with the proper app installed.

Other 2D codes have increased security and may be smaller in size than a QR code.

5. Should I use a 1D code or a 2D code on my assets?

Where 2-D codes are useful is where you want to store information about the asset on the label. Using a 2D barcode you can store paragraphs of information about an asset – it’s make and model, serial number,  date of purchase, purchase cost etc.  If your assets are located in rural settings without guaranteed mobile phone coverage this can be a useful  for engineers to access important (but limited) information about the asset they are working on.

However there are more benefits to be had where you have mobile phone coverage.  2D codes can encode a URL so you can scan your code, go to an asset webpage and see all the asset information you need.  You’re able to share and update asset information on site. You can record information such as who serviced it, when it was serviced and what was done to it.

6. Where do I locate the label on my asset?

Labels are affected by the weather and handling. Whilst labels are available that can last more than 10 years, they are more expensive. If at all possible locate your label on your assets in such a place that’s not in bright sunlight. Sunlight is the biggest cause of damage to your labels outdoors.

Secondly, with electronic device assets such as cameras, handheld scanners or laptop computers, the biggest cause of damage to these labels is wear and tear. Constant handling will damage the barcodes and rub off the text. The challenge now is to put the label in such a place that will not be touched, but is accessible enough to be able to read.  Over laminate film, that resembles Sellotape, can do a good job protecting labels from abrasion – ask us about it. Remember; it’s not necessarily hands damaging the label, it’s putting the asset into it’s case which could damage it.

7. Test, and test again.

Pilot your asset labelling system before you put labels on everything.  Test how well the labels remain attached and readable.  Test that the barcodes are able to deliver the information you need them to.

8. Where do I get asset labels?

You’re in the right place.  We can provide you with samples of all kinds of label materials for testing.  We can advise on which handheld barcode terminals or software would be best to read your assets with and we are able to print the labels for you or provide the printer and software you’ll need.  Contact us and take the first step to tracking your valuable assets.

Finally, asset labelling is the easy bit.  Getting everyone to follow the new system is the difficult bit.  If you’d like help with implementing your asset tracking system – email us at info@expertlabels.co.uk.  We’ve set up asset management systems all around the world and would love to help.

Useful Links

If you need to print your own labels – read our intro to thermal printers page.

Help to decide: print your own or pre-printed labels

Waterproof labels

With around 7% of the world trade affected by tampering or counterfeiting each year, it should come as no surprise that security labels have become the answer to keeping products and valuable assets safe after they leave your warehouse or business.  Let Expert Labels help protect your products and assets.

Tamper-proof and tamper evident labels are just a few security products which are used by a whole host of companies to protect their goods.

With a wide range of security labels to choose from, it is important to pick a label which suits your products best.

At Expert Labels we have a pool of knowledge to draw from which can advise you to choose the appropriate security label.  Call or email us to see what suits your products best.

Here’s a few security labels which will help keep your products secure.

Tamper Evident Security Labels

As the name suggests, tamper evident labels are used to detect whether a label has been removed or tampered with. When the label is removed, it leaves behind a residue which has the word “void” written on it.

The word void indicates that the seal has been broken, but many companies like to customise the residue by adding their name or logo. Contact us and choose your own logo or text.

These products are typically used as an effective visual security aid and have value in loss prevention, brand protection and quality assurance.

Tamper evident labels can be used on a lot of different surfaces including cardboard, polyester and even glass.

However, what you must consider is if you are using the packaging more than once. If so, you want a tamper label which will allow you to clean off the residue so the packaging can be used again.

Tamper labels are an excellent product for identification but you must consider what surface you will be labelling.

Easy Break Labels Or Security Cuts

Usually made from paper, easy break labels are a low cost and effective solution for keeping your products secure.

Security cut labels are normal labels but made with a special die that cuts an intricate pattern of cuts onto the label.  They’re easy to apply but once they’re stuck, they’re nearly impossible to move in one piece from one item to another.  Staff can see in a moment that the labels have been moved from one item to another.

These cutter type labels are quite pricey, but the materials used to make them like paper and plastic aren’t that expensive.

They are commonly used by retailers to stop shoppers moving discount labels from one product to another. However , the reason they are used on so many products is because after the initial investment in a complex cutter, on going labels can be made inexpensively.

Ultra-destruct labels

Another type of security label is made from ‘ultra-destruct’ material.  Once applied, these stickers break apart as you try to remove them.  It’s almost impossible to remove all the label, making is impossible to remove the label and stick it to something else.  Used as a seal – you can’t open the seal without the label breaking.

Next Steps

Contact us and describe your situation.  Let us advise you on the best label to suit your situation.  Understand the cost of complex cutters make small production runs (fewer than 5,000 labels for example) expensive.  Special label materials like the void labels or ultra destructable labels are usually supplied in minimum quantities and again can make production runs expensive if they are small.  You might be in luck however and find we have surplus materials that can be used.

Resources

Read more about security labels on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_tape

Security labels: http://expertlabels.co.uk/applications/security-labels/

Updated: 29 Apr 2020