Best way to store a spare Li-ion pack (TH-F6A)?

[Grant]

After several discussions here I got my first ham radio, a TH-F6A, and a pocket repeater directory and it’s been great, plus I’ve been using it as a scanner. However, I’ve had an interesting issue pop up.

I have the AA adapter pack for emergencies, but I recently was able to get a spare Li-ion pack for it. I’ve never yet depleted by existing pack but I figure it couldn’t hurt as, at the very least, transmitting power with AA’s is lower.

What is the best way to store the extra pack, though? Should I leave it in the package, or charge it first? This is all new to me, I’m more used to Ni-MH. If I do need to be on the move a lot (which will happen with my job later) I will just have them both charged, but for now, I'd just like to keep it good till I actually will used it.

Thanks for the help.

[KJ4VOV]

Some Li-ion types are susceptible to "bricking" (ie: dead and useless) if the voltage is allowed to drop too low. I've got a pair of 18650's sitting here on my desk that happened to after they got charged, left in the charger and the charger got unplugged. So for my personal gear I now make it a habit to cycle through my battery packs, thus ensuring they go through fairly regular charge/discharge cycles.

[Grant]

So, strangely, I'd actually be better off just using, charging, and swapping the two around than storing one it seems.

On the bright side that means I'm always guaranteed two good batteries.

[Jeriah]

This is off topic and inane, but did anyone else look at the thread title and think, "It's called a pride."?

[KJ4VOV]

So, strangely, I'd actually be better off just using, charging, and swapping the two around than storing one it seems.

On the bright side that means I'm always guaranteed two good batteries.

Yup, and if you need more info on batteries I've found this site to be very helpful: http://www.batteryuniversity.com