nRF52840 DK Long-Term Storage: Is Re-Inserting the Plastic Battery Tab Sufficient?

[Rahav]

I run a large research lab using hundreds of nRF52840 DKs. These boards are periodically rotated between active experiments and storage. Because boards are pulled from storage at random, some units may remain stored for multiple consecutive years.

The boards arrive from Nordic with a plastic pull tab that insulates the CR2032 coin-cell battery from the onboard contact.

To maintain the boards’ longevity, could you please clarify whether it is sufficient to reinsert a plastic insulating tab into the CR2032 holder before returning a board to storage, or whether we should physically remove the battery from the DK?

Thank you for your guidance.

[Ressa]

Hello,

The board would be fine with either solutions (inserting a plastic tab to disconnect the battery from board or removing the battery). The battery may not hold its capacity and might not be usable after 4 to 5 years of storage. For the CR 2032 battery type, manufacturers typically declare four to five years of maximum recommended storage time. 
Battery lifetime estimation • Matter over Thread: Power consumption and battery life • Technical Documentation

[Rahav]

Thank you for the answer. I'll use the tab and replace the battery with a new one every 4 to 5 years.