How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries

[Smokey]

Almost every mobile devices these days use Lithium-based Batteries, so this article demonstrate how to prolong life of these batteries.

I always thought to prolong battery life (and some manufacture support the notion), one have to let battery completely discharge once in a while to retain battery’s “memory” in its range of charging and discharging state.

But apparently that notion is a false as it actually shorten the life of battery.

This article is from Battery University where they test batteries in the lab.

According to test result, typical Li-ion batteries for smart phones have life cycle of 250 charge/discharge before its power output get below 75% of its optimum output. Here they test 11 batteries to find measure its life cycle charging and discharging:



Here some recommendation as to increase life cycle of batteries:

1. Never let batteries get fully charged, and never let battery get fully discharge. This is called Depth of Discharge (DoD) and shorter DoD is, the longer the battery will last. So if all possible, avoid full discharges and charge the battery more often between uses. And on the same token, avoid full state-of-charge.

2. If your device is on the grid (like AC adpatore), remov the battery for longer battery life. When on the grid, battery is always at full charge which will shorten its life.

3. Avoid high temparyre like leaving your celphone n the car in hot days.

4. Charge slowly which mean using charger that have lower current capacity.

How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

[Feanor]

Thanks, Smokey, good info.

I had the impression that the full-discharge-before-recharge thing was mostly for nickel-cadmium batteries, but it's good to hear that confirmed and get the additional advice