Batteries are rarely talked about – until they’re drained – then we’ll tell everyone as we beg desperately for a charger, hoping to get enough juice to last the day. The truth is, they’re a miracle of engineering that gets taken for granted when full and cursed when flat. If it feels like your battery is running out faster, you might be right. But it’s not because of ‘battery memory’ and needing to be cycled (that’s an older battery type called NiMh), it’s because the modern LITHIUM-ION batteries in phones and laptops just simply wear out over time. Fortunately, extending your battery life is easier than you think! Which of the following GOOD battery habits do you have?
Tablets,Notebooks and Laptops are much the same regarding batteries.
There are many types of Lithium batteries with different requirements for charging, storage and environent. Your device manufacturer takes a lot of these with the design of the device and choice of battery.
Generally:
- Leaving your laptop plugged in all the time: Lithium batteries give the best longevity if charged from ~45% to ~85%. there are settings in windows to give your battery its best life.
- Watch for overheating and swelling: If overheating occurs remove your laptop battery if it is removable otherwise take it off the charger and let cool. If this occurs or if the case is distorted from a sweling battery consider taking the laptop to a service agent.
- Leave your phone plugged in all night: Just like your laptop, your charger knows to stop when the battery is full. Those chargers do generate heat though, so make sure you have enough airflow around both charger and phone, do not sleep with it under your pillow, or the laptop.
- Charge batteries before storing: If you have backup batteries, make sure to give them a half or better charge before storing. They’ll naturally discharge over time, so this gives them a better chance to still be viable when you need them. Lithium batteries are designed to turn off if the charge gets too low this is a safety feature. If this happens they may o longer be able to be charged.
- Keep your cool: We know to avoid water with our phones, but we’re less careful about exposing it to heat. This includes leaving it in your car all day, placing it on top of your PC, or even in a sunny spot by the window. Wireless and rapid chargers can also be an issue, as the amount of heat they generate will affect your battery. Also Lithium batteries do no like getting too cold so if the temperature is below 0 then keep them in a protected place.
How did you go? Is keeping your lithium-ion battery happy easier than you thought? Your battery will wear out over time, but you may push that day years into the future if you remember to keep it charged and keep it cool but not frozen.