Extending the life of your Batteries
Electronic devices are everywhere in today’s society. With them becoming such a huge part of our lives, maximizing their life span becomes important. Everyone wants to prolong the life of their batteries for their computers, smartphones, and tablets. But did you know that some common practices may be doing the exact opposite? Follow these simple steps to get the most out of your batteries.
Unplug your device
Leaving your devices plugged- in when they’re fully charged is detrimental to the battery’s life. Although inconvenient, try to remove the battery when it’ll be plugged- in for extended periods of time or keep the plug-in time at a minimum. While this is inconvenient for some and impossible for others, there is hope. Newer laptops will sometimes stop charging the battery before it reaches full capacity, increasing its life.
Keep it cool
Leaving your device in a hot car or in direct sunlight where it can heat up won’t extend the life of your battery at all. It puts extreme stress on the battery and causes permanent damage to it. Try to keep it below 86°F to maximize your battery’s effectiveness. Using a cooling pad for your laptop and refraining from using wireless charging for your phones will help to keep your devices cool.
Charge it just the right amount
The lithium- ion batteries used in most of today’s electronics don’t need to be drained and charged from 0 – 100% every time. Unless you need to calibrate the battery’s charge gauge, your battery will last longer if you keep it between 20 – 80%. While storing your device for longer periods of time, it is recommended that you charge it to 40% to extend its life.