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Long Term Storage

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Putting the beacon away for months or a year: the preparation, the cell decision, and the revival procedure.

Long Term Storage

A beacon stored for a year is a project, not a device. The difference between a pleasant revival and a disappointing one is decided the day you put it away.

The preparation

  1. Clean and inspect (see Cleaning and Inspection).
  2. Update the firmware to the current release (see Release Process).
  3. Back up the configuration (see Config Backup).
  4. Set the cell to storage charge (see Battery Storage).
  5. Store cool and dry, antenna detached or protected.

The cell decision

OptionProsCons
Cell installed at 50%Ready-ish after a top-upSelf-discharge over months
Cell removed, stored separatelyBest cell healthBeacon is a shell until you return
Fresh cell on revivalSimplestThe old cell’s fate is unknown

The honest recommendation: cell out, stored at 50%, and a fresh charge cycle on revival.

The revival procedure

  1. Charge the cell fully (see Charging and Cell Care).
  2. Install, power on, watch the boot log (see Serial Monitor Guide).
  3. Run the full bench test (see Two Beacon Bench Test).
  4. If the config was wiped by the storage period, restore the backup.
  5. GPS: expect a cold start (see GPS Warm vs Cold Start).

The calendar

Put a note in your calendar: 6 months after storage, do the quarterly cell check (see Battery Storage). A beacon forgotten for two years with a dead cell inside is a battery recycling problem, not a revival.