You’re lying if you say that you’ve never dealt with weak battery problems. I am so technologically impaired that I have to carry along a battery pack with me when I know I’ll be out for a while. My phone’s battery health is terrible (an understatement)! So when the University of Michigan came up with a new study that helps improve your battery health and how!
According to senior author Greg Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, it is important to care about the health of your device’s battery,
“Additionally, there are significant financial incentives for users to avoid adverse conditions, as the cost of lithium-ion batteries can range from 5% to over 50% of a product’s cost.”
Thus, these 6 practices can make the lithium-ion batteries in your devices last longer, researchers say.
1. Minimise exposure to high temperatures while in use/storage
According to the study,
Elevated temperatures can accelerate degradation of almost every battery component and can lead to significant safety risks, including fire or explosion. If a laptop or cellphone is noticeably hot while it’s charging, unplug it.
2. Minimise exposure to low temperatures while charging
Extremely cold temperatures can reduce the charge acceptance, hence messing with the technicalities in your device. So, ensure that the battery is charging whilst on a moderate temperature.
3. Minimise time spent at 100% charge and 0% charge
The researchers claim that neither extremes are good, they state,
Minimize the amount of time the battery spends at either 100% or 0% charge. Both extremely high and low “states of charge” stress batteries. Consider using a partial charge that restores the battery to 80% SoC, instead of 100%. If that’s not possible, then unplug the device as soon as it reaches 100%.
Did you know: Samsung and LG recommend that their phones should be recharged when they reach a 20% state of charge. Nokia and Sony suggest potential damage if the device is left charging after reaching 100%.
4. Avoid using fast charging unless needed
On charging your device by using fast chargers,
Using “fast chargers” is convenient but will degrade a lithium-ion battery more quickly than standard charging.
5. Avoid discharging devices more quickly than needed
Apparently, discharging your battery too quickly can also result in battery degradation.
For cellphones and laptops, lowering screen brightness, turning off location services, and quitting high-power-use applications can help slow the discharge rate.
6. Avoid use/storage in high moisture environments
Moisture can really mess up with the technical side of the battery, resulting in poor performance and degrading efficiency!
So, what change will you make today in terms of charging your battery?
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