How to extend the life of your Inogen battery

Why Inogen batteries wear out

Every Inogen One battery contains lithium-ion cells. In general, these lose capacity with each charge cycle and with calendar age. You cannot stop this process, but you can avoid the conditions that speed it up. The biggest factors are heat, very low or very high charge levels kept for a long time, and poor charging equipment.

1. Keep the battery away from heat

Heat is the main enemy of Li-ion cells. Higher temperatures typically accelerate capacity loss, even when the battery is not being used.

• Do not leave the battery or the concentrator in a hot car, especially in summer.
• Keep it away from radiators, heaters and direct sunlight.
• Charge it in a room at normal temperature, not on a sunny windowsill.
• If the battery feels very hot, stop using it and let it cool down. If it keeps getting very hot, stop using it altogether and contact us.

2. Avoid deep discharge when you can

Running a Li-ion battery completely flat again and again puts more stress on the cells. When it is practical, recharge before the battery is fully empty. Leaving a battery completely discharged for a long time is particularly harmful and can make it impossible to charge again.

This does not mean you should interrupt your use of oxygen to protect the battery. It simply means: when you have the choice, top up earlier rather than later.

3. Store spare batteries at partial charge

If you have a spare battery that you do not use every day, how you store it matters:

• Store it at about 40–60% charge, not full and not empty.
• Keep it in a cool, dry place.
• Recharge it every few months so it does not slowly drain to empty.
• Avoid storing it at 100% charge in a warm place.

Before a trip or a long day out, charge the stored battery fully so you have its full runtime available.

4. Use the original Inogen charger and power supply

Use the original Inogen charger or power supply designed for your concentrator. Unknown chargers may not match the battery's charging requirements. The good news if you have your battery rebuilt: the original BMS and connectors are kept, so your original charger keeps working.

5. Keep the contacts clean and undamaged

Poor contact between the battery and the concentrator or charger can cause charging problems or interruptions. Check the contacts from time to time. They should be clean, dry and not bent. Do not insert metal objects into the connector and do not let the battery terminals touch keys or coins in a bag.

6. Plan for long storage

If you will not use the concentrator for several weeks, for example while using a stationary unit at home, store the battery as described above: partial charge, cool place, a recharge every few months. Do not leave it inside a concentrator stored in a hot place.

Quick checklist

Do	Avoid
Store at about 40–60% charge	Storing fully empty or at 100% in heat
Keep in a cool, dry place	Leaving in a hot car or near heaters
Recharge stored batteries every few months	Forgetting a spare battery for a year
Use the original Inogen charger	Unknown or mismatched chargers
Keep contacts clean	Loose batteries touching metal objects

When care is no longer enough

Even a well-treated battery wears out eventually. If runtime has clearly dropped, read how long an Inogen battery lasts to recognise the signs. A worn battery can be rebuilt with new cells in its original housing; see Inogen battery rebuild cost for prices.

Never use a battery that is swollen, cracked, leaking, smells burnt or gets very hot. Stop using it, do not open it, and contact us or take it to a battery collection point.

Ask us about your Inogen battery →