5 battery tips for your Mobile Gadgets
Mention the words “battery life.” The first gadget that comes to mind is probably the energy-consuming laptop computer — particularly if you’re on the go a lot.
If not, it should be. There never seems to be enough juice to run your portable PC, but if laptop PCs were the extent of your battery blues, you might not feel so, well, powerless.
But power problems plague other mobile devices. For example, a 2003 In-Stat/MDR survey found that long battery life ranked as the most important feature to business users when selecting a wireless handset. Users of personal digital assistants (PDAs) are just as concerned about a possible energy crisis.
So, what about mobile gadgets? How do you make sure your batteries last as long as possible? Here are four tips.
1. Follow instructions and use them right — right from the start.
“All batteries should be properly conditioned prior to first use,”.
“You must properly prepare the battery by following the first charge and use instructions.” And what if you don’t? O’Connor warns that failure to follow can shorten the life or runtime of your battery. “Follow the instructions to the letter and that battery will give you a lot more,”.
2. Don’t overcharge them.
When it comes to batteries for small devices such as PDAs, cell phones or Tablet PCs, the single biggest mistake users make is leaving them plugged in to the charger for lengthy periods after they’ve been fully recharged. “Leaving the batteries, at least those types associated with these devices, on charge for endless periods will reduce the overall life of the battery,”.
Battery chargers normally taper down when the battery is fully charged. “However, enduring weeks of even a ‘trickle charge’ creates heat buildup and will eventually cause premature battery failure,”. How do you avoid overcharging? Remove the charger right after the battery is fully charged.
3. Stay out of extreme temperatures.
The technology that powers you battery isn’t terribly complicated. But it’s important to understand a little bit about the chemistry behind batteries, and how that can affect your work. Specifically, temperatures can affect the performance of your battery. It’sbest to use (and especially charge) your batteries at room temperatures. Extreme conditions can drain your battery quickly. Also, avoid partial charges and use the battery until it is dead. Battery experts liken partial charges — and discharges — to eating a cup of lard every day. It significantly shortens your battery’s life. Considering that a lithium-ion battery can explode if it’s improperly used, it could also shorten your life.
4. Use them at regular intervals.
This is a problem that affects spare batteries, but it can also be a factor on a backup unit, such as a second cell phone. Batteries have to be used in order to get the most out of them. “If you have spares, cycle them at least once every six months — or evenbetter, every three months,”. “This will go a long way in keeping your batteries maintained to properly perform.”
5. Stay away from cheap-o replacements.
“Quality is very important when it comes to replacement batteries,”
Many lesser-known but cheaper brands cut corners when they make their batteries. That can affect the overall life expectancy and performance of the battery. Worse, the batteries may be defective because “most low-end batteries are refurbished or just not working with quality control,”.
My recommendation?
Go with a recognized brand and buy from a reputable source.
Now you know the tricks of the trade, work hard to preserve your battery’s life.
But let’s be honest: Keeping your batteries at peak performance is a lot like taking care of an infant. Lots of “dos” and “don’ts” to remember — change this, stay away from that, follow the directions, etc.
And if it gets too much, don’t worry, you can always go to the market and buy yourself another one.
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Posted on July 21st, 2009 at 12:18 am
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Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 2:07 am