Monday, July 7, 2008
Get Your Cell Phone Battery to Last Longer!
A cell phone without power is worth nothing, that's why it's important to ensure that your battery lasts for as long as your phone is connected to service. Of course, there are cell phone batteries available for almost any model, however I am sure anyone out there would rather choose to have their original batter to last, than need to go searching for a replacement battery.
So lets discuss today what steps need to be done in order to get the most out of your original battery and get it to last as long as you have your cell phone in use.
Let the Battery Fully Charge Before it's First Use.
This step is probably the most known, however due to it being very important we will put it first. New batteries should be fully charged before their first use to get maximum capacity. If your cell phone has Nickel based batteries you should initially charge them for 16 hours and then run through 2 to 4 full charge-full discharge cycles. With Lithium Batteries, get them charged for about 5-6 hours. Make sure ignore the phone telling you that the battery is full, as this is not accurate before the battery has undergone the initial charge.
Always Charge Your Phone Correctly.
Most new cell phones have lithium-ion batteries, while the older ones usually have nickel based batteries. (Read the label on the back of the battery or in the technical specifications of your owner's manual to determine your battery type)
Nickel-based batteries (NiCd and NiMH) have a phenomenon known as "memory effect." This means that if you charge the battery only partially, eventually the battery forgets that it can have a full charge. For cell-phones with nickel batteries make sure to discharge them completely once every two to three weeks, this will prolong the battery life. (If you feel that your nickel-based battery is "suffering" from the "memory effect", it can be reconditioned. In order to recondition the battery completely discharge it, then completely recharged (several times). This will help the battery regain it's duration.
Lithium-ion batteries are completely different when it comes to charging. Lithium-ion batteries do not have the same memory effect. However, many devices that use lithium batteries have a meter that shows the user how much power has been left. Lithium-ions oxidize in the battery, thus shortening its life. After a certain period of time, the battery exhibits slightly different electronic properties, which the device can only detect when the battery is completely discharged. This type of problem is known as a virtual memory effect and it's "symptoms" are when you notice your battery meter shows a high charge, then suddenly drops to low charge when the battery is almost dead. To prevent this from occurring, every thirty charging cycles, you should discharge lithium ion batteries until the phone gives a low battery warning, then fully recharge it. (DO NOT fully discharge a lithium-ion battery! Lithium-ion batteries' life is shortened every time you fully discharge them. Instead, charge them when the battery meter shows one bar left.) This battery reconditioning ensures that the battery meter on your lithium ion cellphone stays accurate. The virtual memory effect however does not affect the battery capacity as in the nickel based batteries.
Batteries Should Be Kept Cool at All Times.
Batteries last longest if they are used near room temperature. Avoid leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight, and don’t carry your phone in your pocket, where your body heat will raise its temperature, instead get yourself a cell phone holster. Also make sure to check the battery while it’s charging, see if it feels hot. If it seems excessively hot, your charger may be malfunctioning. Remember, that nothing wears on a battery like extended exposure to high temperatures.
Keep Your Battery Clean.
Make sure to clean the metal contacts on the battery and on the phone. Over time, contacts accumulate dirt. The best way to clean them is by using a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. This will maximize the efficiency of energy transfer.
So lets discuss today what steps need to be done in order to get the most out of your original battery and get it to last as long as you have your cell phone in use.
Let the Battery Fully Charge Before it's First Use.
This step is probably the most known, however due to it being very important we will put it first. New batteries should be fully charged before their first use to get maximum capacity. If your cell phone has Nickel based batteries you should initially charge them for 16 hours and then run through 2 to 4 full charge-full discharge cycles. With Lithium Batteries, get them charged for about 5-6 hours. Make sure ignore the phone telling you that the battery is full, as this is not accurate before the battery has undergone the initial charge.
Always Charge Your Phone Correctly.
Most new cell phones have lithium-ion batteries, while the older ones usually have nickel based batteries. (Read the label on the back of the battery or in the technical specifications of your owner's manual to determine your battery type)
Nickel-based batteries (NiCd and NiMH) have a phenomenon known as "memory effect." This means that if you charge the battery only partially, eventually the battery forgets that it can have a full charge. For cell-phones with nickel batteries make sure to discharge them completely once every two to three weeks, this will prolong the battery life. (If you feel that your nickel-based battery is "suffering" from the "memory effect", it can be reconditioned. In order to recondition the battery completely discharge it, then completely recharged (several times). This will help the battery regain it's duration.
Lithium-ion batteries are completely different when it comes to charging. Lithium-ion batteries do not have the same memory effect. However, many devices that use lithium batteries have a meter that shows the user how much power has been left. Lithium-ions oxidize in the battery, thus shortening its life. After a certain period of time, the battery exhibits slightly different electronic properties, which the device can only detect when the battery is completely discharged. This type of problem is known as a virtual memory effect and it's "symptoms" are when you notice your battery meter shows a high charge, then suddenly drops to low charge when the battery is almost dead. To prevent this from occurring, every thirty charging cycles, you should discharge lithium ion batteries until the phone gives a low battery warning, then fully recharge it. (DO NOT fully discharge a lithium-ion battery! Lithium-ion batteries' life is shortened every time you fully discharge them. Instead, charge them when the battery meter shows one bar left.) This battery reconditioning ensures that the battery meter on your lithium ion cellphone stays accurate. The virtual memory effect however does not affect the battery capacity as in the nickel based batteries.
Batteries Should Be Kept Cool at All Times.
Batteries last longest if they are used near room temperature. Avoid leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight, and don’t carry your phone in your pocket, where your body heat will raise its temperature, instead get yourself a cell phone holster. Also make sure to check the battery while it’s charging, see if it feels hot. If it seems excessively hot, your charger may be malfunctioning. Remember, that nothing wears on a battery like extended exposure to high temperatures.
Keep Your Battery Clean.
Make sure to clean the metal contacts on the battery and on the phone. Over time, contacts accumulate dirt. The best way to clean them is by using a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. This will maximize the efficiency of energy transfer.
Labels: Cell Phone Batteries, Save Cell Phone Battery Power
Sunday, July 6, 2008
How to Reduce the Need to Charge Your Phone?
People today are using their cell phone in place of their land-line phone. Many people will talk on their cell phone while being in their home or office. The reason for this is probably the conveniences involved, which includes; not being locked to your office or home through out the conversation and also due to the many cell phone accessories available to make you conversation easy and enjoyable on your cell phone, while there aren't many accessories available for land-line phones.
Using the cell phone even while being in your home or office does not pose any significant problem, besides that you might just use up your battery power and won't have your cell phone available when your really need it.
So let's discuss today what needs to be taken in consideration in order to make the battery last longer between charges.
Shut It When You Don't Need It.
If you are not planning on answering the phone while you're sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. This is probably the most effective and simplest way of conserving your cell phone's battery power. Make sure to do the same if you are in the subway or in remote area with no reception, constant search for service depletes the battery fairly quickly. The same should be done in a roaming area.
If you are not planning on answering the phone while you're sleeping or after business hours, just turn it off. This is probably the most effective and simplest way of conserving your cell phone's battery power. Make sure to do the same if you are in the subway or in remote area with no reception, constant search for service depletes the battery fairly quickly. The same should be done in a roaming area.
Make Sure to Have Good Reception.
The best way to ensure longer battery life is to make sure you have a great signal when you use your phone. If you don't have a great signal, get a cell phone booster which will amplify the signal to provide near perfect reception anywhere you go. Simply stop searching for a signal. Cell Phones are programmed to constantly look for a better connection in an area with poor or no signal, using up all your power.
Decrease the Use of Your Phone's Back Light.
The back light is what makes the phone easier to read in bright light or outside. However, the light also uses battery power. If you can get by without it, simply turn off your phone's back light, you will notice that your battery lasts longer. If you have to use the back light, shorten the amount of time that the back light is lit. Most phones will let you set the amount of time to leave the back light on.
Shut your Vibrator and Get Your Phone Ringer On.
Switch the vibrate function on your phone to off , and use the ringer instead. The vibrate function uses up a lot of cell phone battery power. (Now you know why people keep there ringer on in public places, sometimes annoying the surrounding people.)
Avoid Using Unnecessary Features.
If your are not using your Bluetooth, turn it off. Same goes for WI-FI and GPS. If your phone has these features built in, Keep them off when you don't need it.
If your are not using your Bluetooth, turn it off. Same goes for WI-FI and GPS. If your phone has these features built in, Keep them off when you don't need it.
If you see that all the above steps still does not help getting your battery to last through out the day, you might just want to consider getting your self a spare cell phone battery.
Labels: Save Cell Phone Battery Power
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