Smart Hub Battery Care: What to Know During Hot, Humid Weather

Some older BeHome smart home hub models include a small backup battery designed to keep the hub running temporarily during a power outage. Specifically, the E550 model includes a battery backup; newer BeHome hub models do not contain a battery.

If you have an E550 hub, like any device with a lithium battery, it works best under the right conditions. Summer heat, humidity, and long stretches of being unplugged are the most common factors that can stress a battery over time.

Why heat and humidity matter

Lithium batteries are sensitive to temperature. Charging is only recommended between 5°C and 45°C (41°F–113°F), and the battery should generally operate within -20°C to 60°C (-4°F–140°F). Heat sources, direct sunlight, and high humidity all push a battery outside its comfort zone, which over time can affect performance and, in rare cases, cause the battery to swell.

Being left unplugged for extended periods can also affect the backup battery. It's designed to stay topped off through regular power, not to sit idle for long stretches.

Where to place your hub

A few simple placement choices go a long way:

Keep it indoors, in a spot with good airflow not inside a sealed cabinet, drawer, or tight enclosure.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from windows that get strong afternoon sun.
Keep it away from heat sources, including furnaces, water heaters, ovens, microwaves, and laundry equipment.
Keep it away from moisture, including areas prone to water ingress or high humidity (like an uninsulated garage or laundry room).
Keep it visible and accessible, somewhere it can be easily checked and unplugged if ever needed, not buried behind furniture, soft goods, or storage.
Leave it plugged in. The backup battery is designed for continuous power, not for being disconnected for long periods.

What normal looks like

Under normal use, the battery does not swell beyond its compartment, and the hub's casing stays flat and intact. The battery itself has a design life of around 300 charge cycles at 80% capacity, but since this is a backup battery rather than one that cycles daily, that typically translates to several years of service. In practice, heat exposure and age tend to matter more than raw cycle count. Failure rates for this component are very low (under 0.03%).

Signs to watch for on an E550

It's worth knowing what an issue looks like, even though it's uncommon:

The case or battery compartment looks swollen, bulging, or misshapen
The hub feels unusually hot to the touch during normal operation
You notice an odor coming from the unit
There's visible leakage
The hub has trouble charging or holding backup power

What to do if you notice any of these signs

Stop using the hub. Don't press, bend, puncture, or attempt to open the battery or casing.
Unplug it from AC power, but only if you can do so safely.
If needed, move it to a temporary, isolated spot away from anything flammable — only if this can be done safely.
Don't throw it in regular trash or recycling. A damaged lithium battery needs to be handled as hazardous material, not disposed of normally.
Contact BeHome support at [support email/phone] and let us know what you're seeing. We'll guide you through next steps, which may include a prepaid return or directions to a local battery recycling point. Units with a damaged battery can't be shipped by standard air/parcel methods, so we'll make sure you have the right instructions.

The bottom line

A little airflow, some distance from heat and direct sun, and staying plugged in will keep your hub's battery healthy through the summer and beyond. As a reminder only the E550's come equipped with a battery backup.

If anything ever looks off, unplugging it and reaching out to us is all you need to do. We'll handle the rest.