Battery Life

The operational duration of battery-powered tags before replacement or recharging is required. Typical lifespans range from months to 7+ years depending on transmission frequency, power, sensor operations, and environmental conditions. Industrial applications balance battery life against functionality. Features like sleep modes and adaptive transmission rates help optimize battery life.

Duration that active tags operate before requiring battery replacement or recharging.

Industrial RTLS tag battery life depends on: transmission frequency (1 second intervals: 1-2 years, 5 second intervals: 3-5 years, 10 second intervals: 5-7 years), transmission power (higher power reduces life 20-40%), sensor usage (accelerometer impact minimal, GPS significantly reduces life), environmental temperature (high temps reduce life 30-50%), and battery capacity (850mAh typical for 3-year life, 1500mAh for 5+ years). Coin cell batteries (CR2032, CR2477) common in compact tags, AA/AAA lithium primary batteries in larger tags, and rechargeable lithium-ion in premium applications. Battery depletion typically shows gradual reduction in range before failure.

Best practice: implement low-battery alerts when 15-20% capacity remains, providing 2-4 week replacement window. Total cost of ownership must account for battery replacement labor - facilities with 1000+ tags may require 1-3 staff days monthly for battery maintenance at 3-year replacement cycles.