Battery Life Myths: What’s True and What’s Not

Introduction

We use many devices daily, such as phones, laptops, vehicles, etc. All these devices are dependent on batteries. The battery life is a major component in running many devices. When we talk about batteries, many questions come to mind like, when a battery is fully charged? And for how long should it be plugged in? What precautions should we take while using a battery with low charging or during charging? There are many myths and misconceptions about batteries, and in this article, we will certainly explore those misconceptions or confusions.

The knowledge we search online or hear is only sometimes authentic or reliable because many misconceptions are attached. Even online information is also sometimes misrepresented. Such false information can mislead the users, and most of the information is based on one’s personal opinion or experience, which does not apply to everyone. Following or practising such misinformation can harm the battery’s life and affect its performance.

By keeping all these facts in mind, it is important to address some confusions and beliefs that most battery users hold so they can follow best practices to increase the battery’s life. These practices can make the battery run for a long time, and it will enhance its performance as well.

The full cycle fallacy: Why you shouldn’t charge your battery to 100% and drain it to 0%

One of the most widely spread misconceptions is that if a battery is charged to its full capacity and then drained to 0, it can work effectively for the long term. Now we will discuss how this practice was useful for the old battery, which followed a certain technology. Still, now there can be seen so much advancement in batteries, and with moderate technology, this does not apply to modern batteries anymore. New batteries, for example, lithium-ion batteries, need to be charged and discharged in shallow cycles. 

People who follow the old way of charging and discharging are causing more stress to the battery’s life. With this, there are a few things to be noted as well; for example, high temperature and overcharging are needed to be ignored. The best practice is to keep the battery between 20% and 80%. This can make a great difference in the efficiency and long life of the battery.

The No-Use Rule: Why You Can Use Your Device While Charging It

It is believed that using any device while charging can overheat the device and even explode. But again, it is just a myth because modern devices have special controllers that regulate the overheating and power flow and do not cause any damage. Many people also assume that using a device while charging can affect the timing of the battery and its execution and functionality, which is, again, wrong. There is nothing that exists. However, some guidelines are advised to follow to keep the battery life and its performance in healthy shape. It is recommended not to do heavy tasks on devices while charging, for example, gaming, streaming, or other tasks.

Another important thing is to use a compatible charger and charging technique for your device. Using low-quality accessories can damage the performance and life span of the battery. The foremost thing to remember and practice is good ventilation for the device. One should not use devices under a blanket because it can heat them. Covering it with a pillow or blanket can trap the heat and ultimately heat the device. If you follow these steps, then there is no harm in using your device while charging.

The Background Killer: Why You Don’t Need To Close Your Background Apps To Save Battery

Another misconception is that background apps consume a lot of energy and battery, and removing all the background apps can make the device work properly. Again, it is just a myth and even harmful for the devices to do so. Moderate batteries have innate functionality that controls each app’s power and memory usage, so closing the background apps and running them manually can become a load for the device because closing and opening the app can consume more energy. Adjusting battery consumption by limiting the apps’ settings for once and all is advised. This can improve the battery timing without making it heavier.

The Overnight Charge: Why You Don’t Have to Unplug Your Device Before Going to Bed

There is a misconception that leaving our gadgets on charging overnight may result in battery damage, overcharging or even an explosion of the battery. But it has been debunked as it was true for obsolete technologies. Still, modern chargers are capable of preventing over-charging and controlling power flow devices. As long as high-quality and compatible charging devices are used, there is no risk of devices being damaged by leaving chargers plugged in overnight. Different tricks like using a timer, low power mode or smart plugs can also prevent damage. To avoid overheating, in any case, the devices should be removed and devices should be placed on a flat surface.

The Battery Memory: Why You Don’t Have To Worry About Your Battery Losing Its Capacity

Many people do not discharge the battery before recharging it because they believe it will affect the life of the battery, which is not true. This is known as the memory effect. This memory effect belongs to the old nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries. But this only applies to moderate batteries because most batteries are lithium-ion batteries, and they even increase their efficiency following shallow cycles. If a battery is charged to its full capacity and later drained to its end limit, it causes more harm and stress to the health of the battery. It is advised to follow some instructions to maintain the health and performance of the battery. One of the tricks is maintaining the battery by keeping a measurement to run down the battery to its low and then charging it to its full capacity. Moreover, one should change the battery timely when required and ensure it is disposed of and recycled properly. Following such steps, the battery can maintain good health for longer.

FAQs

Final analysis

It is true that most of the myths against batteries are wrong and fabricated to some extent. These myths are based on improper information. These misconceptions can harm batteries’ performance and life cycle because many users still believe these myths and follow the guidelines applied to old batteries. Modern batteries differ from the old ones in structure, performance, and ability. So it is always advised to be up to date with any new battery information and follow the best and authentic guidelines to avoid any difficulty.