How to Care For Lithium Batteries

Introduction

Lithium batteries are ubiquitous today. They are the most commonly used energy storage devices on numerous different types of electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and other electric devices. There are several reasons why this type of battery technology is the most preferred one to power a wide range of electric devices. They have a high energy density, great battery capacity, no memory effect and have little to zero maintenance required. Many people tend to use these batteries but they don’t know how to take care of them. How do you take care of your lithium battery? Learning how to take care of lithium batteries cannot only prolong the battery life but also protect your device from potential damage.

You don’t want to ruin your laptop battery by not taking good care of it. We all agree that we love a good relationship with our laptop battery. The little things we do to our lithium batteries daily can either make or break them. We need to do to them that which will make them. In this article, you will learn how to take care of your lithium battery to get the most out of it. Read on to discover more.

How do you take care of a new lithium battery?

Here are a few ways to take care of a new lithium battery:

1. Charge your new lithium battery?

We’ve at one point in our lives heard that we should charge our new lithium batteries for over 12 hours. Well, the truth is that it is not necessary. When you purchase a device that is powered by a lithium battery many sellers usually tell us that we must charge the batteries for 12 hours before using. This is very unnecessary. Unlike other battery technologies like Ni-CD or Ni-MH, lithium-ion batteries are activated before leaving the factory. That means that they are usually charged to a certain level. Li-ion batteries have a low self-discharge rate, and so it is unnecessary to charge them for 12 hours when new. These batteries are ready for use and they can reach their optimal capacity after 3 or 5 cycles.

2. Always use the recommended chargers

When we purchase a device that is powered by a lithium-ion battery, we do realize that they come with their own chargers. These are the original and genuine chargers that should be used to charge your battery. On certain occasions, the use of inappropriate chargers has led to the battery overheating and even explosion. The use of bad chargers on your lithium battery has consequences. You don’t want to experience these consequences as they can cause damage to your device and can even be fatal. Therefore, when choosing a charger, always go for the original one. If you can’t find one then go for a high-quality charger that is equipped with an overcharge protection function. Low-quality chargers can lead to shorter run times, premature battery failure, or even an explosion.

3. Avoid overcharging

Overcharging your lithium-ion battery should be avoided at all costs. It can increase the battery internal temperature, which is bad for your lithium battery. Overcharging leads to overheating and even swelling, especially if there is no overcharge protection function. If that happens your battery can catch fire or even explode. That can lead to property damage or personal injury. It is not always recommended to fully charge your battery. Charging up to 80% is actually enough. Also, you should avoid using low-quality chargers as they can lead to overcharging and thus overheating.

4. Do not use your battery in extreme temperatures

Extreme temperatures can either be too high or too low. Lithium batteries have optimal working and storage temperatures. Continually using them in extreme temperature environments can negatively affect battery life and useful cycles.

Lithium batteries are long-lasting, but they can only take so much heat. For instance, if you are charging your battery and it starts to get overly warm, perhaps because the environment is too hot, then you should shut the device down and remove the battery if possible. You should allow it to cool down or you can move to another place with a lower temperature.

Additionally, you should avoid placing your device or battery anywhere it might become hot. That includes your car on a hot summer day, beneath a window that gets direct sunlight or near any heater. Also, do not use your lithium-ion battery in a freezing environment. Unusual conditions such as these can cause a lot of damage to a battery in a short period of time, and you may not even realize it immediately.

5. Avoid long periods without using your battery?

Batteries should not be left unused for long periods. If your lithium battery will be left unused for three months or more, partially recharge them, between 30-70% of capacity depending on the planned storage time. After recharging the battery should be stored in a cool dry environment to prevent battery damage. When you are ready to use it again, you should take the device out of storage, allow it to warm to room temperature and charge it up again.

6. Avoid touching metal contacts

Lithium-ion batteries’ contacts should be kept clean for optimal performance and they should not touch metal when the batteries are being carried around. When the contacts touch metal objects, a short circuit can happen which could damage the battery or potentially cause a fire or an explosion.

Do you frequently overcharge your lithium battery?

Overcharging your lithium-ion battery is absolutely a wrong idea. Overcharging your battery has consequences. Most of the time, overcharging happens when you are using the wrong charger which is not equipped with an overcharge protection function.

Overcharging leads to an increase in the battery’s interior temperature, which is bad for the lithium ion battery. The high temperature can cause a fire or an explosion which can cause damage to your device and other property or personal injury. Frequently overcharging, reduces the battery life and it can even become permanently damaged.

Today, lithium-ion battery technology has really improved. Devices come equipped with overcharge protection function which cuts off charge to the battery when it is fully charged. That’s why people can leave their cellphones charging overnight. You should always use an appropriate charger to prevent damage to your battery

Do you care for the charging temperature environments of lithium battery??

You should definitely care for the charging temperature environments of lithium batteries. Do not charge your battery at extreme temperatures, which are too high or too low (freezing temperature). If you are charging your battery and it starts to get overly warm, you should unplug and let it cool down or move to a place with lower temperatures. Letting your battery cool down will maximize the battery’s lifespan.

Also, you should avoid freezing temperatures. Too much cold can kill the battery permanently or reduce its lifespan.

Conclusion

It is important to learn how to take care of your lithium battery as it can help you get the most out of it for many cycles. Always use the appropriate charger, avoid frequently overcharging it and avoid using your battery in extreme temperatures. If your battery will be left unused for a few months, partially charge it to between 30 and 70%. These practices will help extend your lithium battery life.