You just charged your device, but it’s already running low. You used to get 6 hours out of a charge and now you’re only getting 90 minutes. These situations are common in our daily lives. However, before you discard those batteries, let’s learn how to check their condition.
There are two common indicators that your rechargeable batteries need replacing:
- The battery has been used extensively over a few years, and it’s lasting a fraction of the time that it used to.
- It’s taking significantly longer times to fully charge.
Rechargeable batteries are most commonly worn out by three things: number of charging cycles, heat, and age.
You should expect 500-1000 recharge cycles out of any given battery before you’ll see noticeable degradation. Once you’re hit this many cycles, you can reasonably assume that the battery is at the end of its life. And, rechargeable batteries work best when kept around 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit (20-25 degrees Celsius). Keep them out of direct sunlight when charging.
However, there are some indicators that might suggest the battery and the device might not have great contact.
- The charge never completes or takes a much larger amount of time (2 to 3 times longer than the normal charging time).
- When the battery drains quickly, but it’s only been used (recharged) a few times.
In these cases, the best course of action is to clean the battery terminals and the charger connectors. A microfiber cleaning cloth will work, and isoproyl rubbing alcohol is typically safe for cleaning electronics without leaving behind moisture and other residue.
It is worth noting, though, your phone’s battery is also affected by how you use your phone. Things like the apps you install, the stuff you collect, the number of ads you’re exposed to on websites, the number of notifications you received, whether you are using WiFi or data all effect how much strain is put on the phone’s battery. The more you ask your phone to do, naturally will cause it to deplete faster.