7 common mistakes that damage your phone, computer or tablet battery
Knowing what damages a lithium-ion battery is the first step to understanding how to extend the battery life of your expensive devices. So if you’re struggling with battery life issues on your devices, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are seven very common mistakes that shorten the life of your device:
1- Leaving the device in extreme temperatures: The optimum air temperature for a lithium-ion battery is between 0-35 degrees Celsius. Extremely hot environments can cause the mobile phone to heat up enough to force it to shut down, for example. In this case, your phone will temporarily shut down and you will not be able to charge it. This is because the charging process of lithium-ion batteries generates heat, and an overheated battery can fail or worse, explode. It is recommended to keep the device in an insulated pocket or bag to maintain a consistent and more moderate temperature. The device should also not be exposed to direct heat
2-Leaving Bluetooth and GPS, and sometimes Wi-Fi, on: Services like Bluetooth and GPS drain your battery, but they don’t pose a major threat to long-term battery life. In general, it’s recommended to turn off Bluetooth if you’re not actively using it. GPS is also something that will drain your battery if it’s on 24/7.
3- Overcharging the device: Most laptops, tablets, and smartphones released in the last two years have smart charging modes that turn off power usage after optimal charging, but not every device has these features. If you’re not sure if your device has a battery shut-down feature to prevent overcharging, the general rule of thumb is to disconnect it from the charger as soon as your battery is fully charged. Leaving your phone or laptop on the charger for too long every now and then won’t ruin the battery, but you should make sure you’re not overcharging your devices on a daily basis.
4. Letting your battery drain too often: Experts recommend charging your phone when it’s between 15-20 percent. The popular advice for older smartphones was to let them completely shut down before charging them, but that’s not the case with modern lithium-ion smartphones, tablets, and laptop batteries. These days, with all the advances in lithium-ion technology over the past decade, it’s best to start charging your phone around 20 percent. It’s worth remembering that a battery that’s completely drained deteriorates faster.
5. Leaving the device plugged in all day: Leaving a lithium-ion battery plugged in all day can quickly shorten the life of the battery, eventually requiring it to be plugged in at all times. Modern lithium-ion batteries are designed to prevent overcharging, but leaving the battery fully charged in older laptops can cause the laptop to overheat and damage the case that houses the battery.
Just like overcharging, it’s recommended to keep a battery at around 20-80 percent of its capacity to maximize its longevity. It’s better to store a device at a lower charge than to plug it in every time you’re done using it. Leaving a device on charge overnight is fine in most cases, but it’s recommended to let the battery drain to at least 20 percent during the day before plugging it back in.
6. Leaving the battery dead for too long: Another downside to leaving your battery plugged in all day is not charging it at all. According to Apple, a battery that is stored for a long time after being completely discharged can enter a state called a “deep discharge state,” which reduces the overall battery capacity. Even if you have a device that is not used often, it is recommended to charge it from time to time to preserve the battery life over time.
7. Use some cheap chargers: There are countless chargers available these days, especially when it comes to third-party options for laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Many third-party chargers are not designed to meet the same USB-C standards. Typically, an 18W or higher USB Type-C charger will power a smartphone, but you need to make sure that any USB Type-C charging cable you buy is Power Delivery (PD) compatible.
Make sure that the charger you purchase is a GaN-compatible charger. GaN is a hardware standard that helps protect your devices from power surges, overcharging, and other electrical problems.
How do lithium-ion batteries work?
Lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in smartphones, tablets, and laptops, have a two-layer structure. The first layer is made of lithium cobalt oxide and is covered by a second layer of graphite. When lithium cobalt oxide interacts with graphite, lithium ions move, reacting to the graphite and creating energy. When you charge a lithium-ion battery, the opposite effect occurs, with lithium ions moving in the opposite direction, from the lithium cobalt oxide to the graphite layer.
There’s a lot of outdated information and myths floating around the internet about lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion batteries are incredibly durable, they can degrade faster or slower over time depending on a number of factors.
