Cell Phone Batteries

Cell Phone Battery Practices

Because cell phones didn't have the energy consumption of a laptop until now batteries were only a side issue. They still haven't quite got there yet, but many models now enable video, mp3 and so on, and such media requires much, much more power than needed before. This means that an economic and long lasting source of power is needed and in the smallest space available.

The most common battery cell used in mobile phones today is called the Lithium ion battery or Li-ion. The biggest factor in their use is that they can be shaped however one needs it to be. This enables cell phone companies to thin down the size, allowing for smaller and smaller phones. There is also a technology called lithium ion polymer battery which is superior because it gives a longer life and degradation. Let's look at some tips for using these batteries as they differ quite noticeably from nickel-cadmium batteries.

They should be charged as often as you like and as full as you like if you use them often. This is convenient for me as I like to plug in my phone every night when I go to sleep, if I don't I always find that it will loose all power when needed most. Constant battery management was not something I liked keeping track of, so Li-ion batteries really are a breath of fresh air. Let's look at some of the practices you should be following and some that you shouldn't partake in (or stop doing).

You should never fully deplete a battery as this decreases its lifespan. Always make sure you still have some power left inside it, if possible, switch off your phone when it starts beeping, plug it in when you can and then switch it back on. If you by accident deplete it totally don't worry, nothing tragic will happen, just try to watch this as best you can.

Placing the batteries in a cool refrigerator will reduce the aging process although take care not to freeze it That would be going below -40, which is probably inaccessible to most people (not working in freezer houses) so the average freezer is quite safe. If you live in Siberia or Alaska just put it outside, but watch the temperature though.

Never expose the battery to high temperatures, but more importantly always guard it from direct sunlight. You may think that this is said of many electronic equipment, so why is this special? Well an incident at a conference showed why. A laptop (using the same batteries as a mobile phone) burst into flame and exploded, were it in someones lap it could have caused serious problems. This recent example is the cause of Dell's recall of a high number of laptops.