A battery powered device is configured to allow the device to be stored for extended periods of time with a lithium battery installed and operable. An electronic switch is coupled between the battery and processing logic of the device and is biased off to block all current flow to the processing logic while the device is in a storage state. A user may perform a simple action to overcome the bias such that the electronic switch is turned on and allows current to flow to the processing logic in an operational state. Later, the user may perform another simple action to restore the bias such that the electronic switch is turned off to return the device to the storage state in which essentially no current is drained from the battery.