Anyone who always goes to extremes when charging and discharging their smartphone will quickly be punished with a shorter battery life. But where exactly is the ideal situation between full and empty? The TÜV explains what users should pay attention to.
Lithium-ion batteries can be found in many places in the home: They are widespread from smartphones to notebooks to Bluetooth boxes. What many users do not know, however, is that their service life can be extended significantly through disciplined charging and discharging. This is indicated by the TÜV Süd.
In general, the energy dispensers should never be completely discharged, as this so-called deep discharge can lead to dangerous defects within the battery cells, explain the experts.
Smartphone batteries: full is not great at all
The same applies to charging: if possible, lithium batteries should never be fully charged. This usually happens with smartphones, for example, when they are plugged into the socket overnight.
A charge level between 30 and 70 percent is ideal for the battery. So you shouldn’t charge it to more than 70 percent. And if the battery level should have fallen below 30 percent, then it is good to immediately upload it again to 70 percent, advises the TÜV.
The good news: Some high-quality batteries and devices already have a so-called battery management system (BMS) that can control the charging and discharging behavior of the battery cells.
Protect your cell phone from heat and cold
A battery is not a raw egg, but it should be protected from extreme cold and heat as well as from moisture, moisture, bumps and falls. Because not only improper loading and unloading is harmful.
Damage to the battery cells caused by physical impact or extreme temperatures can also lead to short circuits and a thermal reaction. If the battery then inflates, there is a risk of explosion depending on the design and materials used, warn the experts.