Battery Solutions for Temperature & Humidity Sensors (IoT)

Temperature and humidity sensors are the “nerve endings” of modern IoT systems, widely used in smart homes, smart agriculture, cold-chain logistics, warehouses, HVAC, and industrial monitoring. These compact devices demand ultra-low power consumption, multi-year service life and stable wireless communication, while keeping maintenance close to zero.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

🌍 Industry Background: Why Sensor Batteries Matter

Most temperature and humidity sensors are installed in places that are hard to reach or widely dispersed: ceiling ducts, cold rooms, greenhouses, containers, utility rooms or distributed field nodes. Once deployed, customers expect them to operate reliably for 2–10 years without frequent battery replacement.

To meet these expectations, high-performance lithium batteries have become the mainstream choice for IoT sensor power, including:

Primary ER lithium batteries for ultra-low power nodes
Rechargeable Li-ion battery packs for frequent wireless communication
LiFePO₄ batteries for harsh outdoor and high-temperature environments

🚧 Pain Points of Temperature & Humidity Sensor Power

1️⃣ Small Size, But Multi-Year Lifespan

Most temperature and humidity sensors are coin-sized or matchbox-sized, yet they must run for years. This creates a contradiction: very limited battery volume, but a requirement for very long lifetime. If the battery selection is not optimized, the sensor may fail far earlier than expected.

2️⃣ Harsh & Variable Environments

Typical deployment environments include:

Cold storage and refrigerated trucks (low temperature, high humidity)
Greenhouses and farms (temperature swings, condensation, dust)
Warehouses and basements (damp, poorly ventilated)
Server rooms and data centers (elevated temperature, continuous operation)

The battery must maintain stable capacity and voltage under these conditions, otherwise sensor readings become unreliable or devices shut down unexpectedly.

3️⃣ Need for Stable Pulse Discharge

Although sensors stay in ultra-low-power sleep mode most of the time, every wireless transmission generates a current pulse of 70–130mA for LoRa, NB-IoT, Zigbee, Wi-Fi or BLE. If the battery cannot provide a stable pulse, the device may reset, lose connection, or fail to send data.

4️⃣ High Maintenance Cost if Lifetime Is Short

Once hundreds or thousands of sensors are installed, maintenance cost becomes critical. Climbing ladders in warehouses, entering cold rooms, or visiting remote sites just to replace batteries is time-consuming and expensive. A well-designed IoT battery solution can dramatically reduce total cost of ownership.

✅ PKNERGY Battery Solution Value for IoT Sensors

Based on different deployment scenarios, PKNERGY provides three main types of temperature & humidity sensor battery solutions to help IoT manufacturers balance lifetime, size and cost.

🔋 A. ER Primary Lithium Batteries — 5–10 Years Ultra-Long Life

For extremely low-power sensors that send data infrequently (for example every few minutes or hours), primary ER lithium batteries are the first choice.

Recommended models: ER14250 / ER14505 / ER18505 / ER26500

Nominal voltage: 3.6V
Very high capacity in compact size
Ultra-low annual self-discharge <1%, ideal for 5–10 year projects
Excellent performance in low-temperature environments

These ER cells are particularly suitable for:

Warehouse temperature & humidity loggers
Data loggers in cold-chain transportation
Smart building sensors with low reporting frequency

With proper power management, one ER battery can power a sensor for the entire project lifetime, achieving a true “install and forget” experience.

🔁 B. Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries — For High Pulse Communication

For sensors that transmit data frequently, or that support firmware upgrades, rechargeable Li-ion battery packs provide stronger pulse discharge and more flexible energy use.

Typical specification:

Voltage: 3.7V nominal
Capacity: 400–1200mAh (customizable)
Discharge rate: stable 1C continuous
Supports LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, Wi-Fi, BLE, Zigbee and other communication modules

These packs can be paired with solar panels, energy harvesting modules, or USB charging to create rechargeable IoT nodes, reducing battery waste and improving sustainability.

PKNERGY can customize Li-ion battery packs for IoT sensors including PCM/BMS, connectors and mechanical housing, ensuring safe, stable and efficient operation throughout the lifecycle.

🌡 C. LiFePO₄ Batteries — For Harsh & Outdoor Environments

For outdoor devices and industrial applications where safety and cycle life are critical, PKNERGY recommends LiFePO₄ battery solutions.

Best suited for:

Outdoor agricultural monitoring and weather stations
Roadside, tunnel or bridge environment sensors
High-temperature / high-humidity industrial environments

Advantages of LiFePO₄:

Inherently safer chemistry with excellent thermal stability
Very long cycle life for continuous charge/discharge scenarios
Good performance at high temperature and in humid environments

When combined with solar or other energy harvesting, LiFePO₄ batteries can power remote monitoring systems for many years with minimal human intervention.

📊 Technical Insights: Typical Sensor Power Profile

A typical temperature & humidity sensor’s power profile looks like this::contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Sleep mode: 1–5 μA — device spends >99% of time here
Measurement mode: 5–20 mA — sensor wakes, samples data
Wireless pulse: 70–130 mA — sends data via radio (LoRa / NB-IoT / Zigbee / Wi-Fi / BLE)

Therefore, the battery must satisfy several key requirements:

Stable pulse discharge: handle repeated communication peaks without voltage drop
Excellent self-discharge performance: retain capacity over many years of standby
Wide operating temperature range: suitable for cold storage, outdoors and mechanical rooms
High reliability: ensure long-term deployment without frequent service calls

PKNERGY engineers can work with your R&D team to analyze your device’s actual current curve and select or design the most suitable IoT battery pack, including ER, Li-ion, or LiFePO₄ chemistry.

🏭 Typical Application Scenarios

PKNERGY’s IoT battery solutions for temperature & humidity sensors are widely used in:

Smart greenhouses and agricultural monitoring
Cold-chain transportation and cold storage facilities
Warehouses, logistics centers and storage rooms
Data centers, telecom rooms and server facilities
Smart home systems and HVAC control
Industrial environment monitoring and safety systems

🔚 Conclusion: Reduce Maintenance, Improve Reliability

Temperature and humidity sensors place strict demands on battery performance — combining long lifespan, high safety and stable pulse output. A well-matched battery solution is the foundation of a reliable IoT system.

With deep experience in custom lithium battery packs, PKNERGY provides ER, Li-ion and LiFePO₄ solutions tailored to your device’s power profile, communication mode and deployment environment. This helps you:

Extend sensor lifetime to 5–10 years in the field
Reduce site visits and maintenance labor
Improve data reliability and end-user satisfaction

Whether you are designing a new temperature & humidity sensor, or upgrading an existing product line, PKNERGY can provide a fast, professional and reliable battery solution.

📩 Ready to Customize Your IoT Sensor Battery?

👉 Contact PKNERGY today to customize your temperature & humidity sensor battery solution.

📞 Contact Cassie | PKNERGY Energy Co., Ltd.

Cassie | PKNERGY Energy Co., Ltd.
Email: sale4@pknergy.com
WhatsApp/Tel: +86 13974604556
Website: www.pknergy.com & www.pknergypower.com