How to Care for Your Device's Battery

More devices are being made with batteries that cannot be removed and changed easily.  While this has allowed for even thinner devices, it also means facing a costly repair bill or a much more complicated DIY job when the battery starts to go bad.  Therefore, it is best to try to extend your battery's life as long as possible.  Here are some tips to care for your battery:

1) Keep It Cool - Extreme cold temperatures are not great for your batteries, but unless you are planning a move to northern Siberia, they probably don't pose a great risk.  On the other hand, heat can destroy your battery quickly.  Leaving your computer outside or in a hot car for long periods of time can destroy your battery quickly.

However, your computer's components also produce heat.  It is usually recommended to remove your battery and go to wall power before doing any tasks that require intensive processing power (such as high-end gaming, video editing, etc.).  However, you cannot remove a battery that is built inside of the computer.  In this case, your best option is to use a cooling pad and make sure that there is plenty of ventilation.

2) Plug and Unplug - There is no definitive answer on whether or not it is better to leave your computer plugged in or let it run on battery power as much as possible, but the best solution is to do some of both.  If you regularly run it off the battery, use it while plugged in occasionally.  If you are normally connected to the wall, unplug it occasionally.

3) Store It Right - If you will not be using the laptop for a longer period of time, let the battery run down a little before you shut it off.  Generally, it is recommended to store your computer with between 50% and 75% power.

4) Keep It Charged - Tests have shown that two 50% discharges keep your battery in better condition than a full discharge.  If you have the opportunity to plug your computer in after it has dropped below 50%, then it is best to take that chance to plug in.

However, many manufacturers recommend that you do a full discharge occasionally to ensure that the reports it provides remain accurate.