The battery is the lifeline of an electric vehicle (EV). Getting the most out of an EV battery not only allows you to travel farther, but it also avoids the embarrassment of being stranded on the roadside for the lack of sufficient charge. All rechargeable batteries degrade over time. However, with proper maintenance, an EV battery can last longer than its usual lifetime.
Here’s how you can extend the life of your EV battery.
Never charge the maximum
Most EV users believe that charging the battery fully will allow a longer commute and an extended drive-time. However, for lithium-ion batteries, it is advisable to charge up to 80 percent instead of a full recharge. The balance 20 percent of uncharged cells allow the battery to have space for regenerative braking which converts the kinetic energy into usable energy.
Avoid quick charging
Quick charging of your EV battery is apparently a great way to save time, particularly when you are in a hurry. But the fact is, every time you put the battery on a fast charger, it reduces the unit’s lifetime. Normally recharging a lithium-ion battery for eight years usually takes away 20 percent of the battery’s life. Regular fast charging of the same capacity battery for eight years will leave 70 percent or less life. While in the long run, it may not seem to be a major difference, you can at least add some more years to the battery’s lifetime and delay the investment in replacing the unit.
Avoid full discharging
Fully discharging your EV battery before recharging reduces the overall life of the battery unit. Recharge the unit when you see that the charge has dropped to the 30 percent mark. Recharging the unit at this point won’t allow the charge to go down further, or stay low for a long time.
Check your speed
Cruising at a constant speed returns the best mileage for both conventional cars and EVs. While it is not always possible to maintain the same speed especially within the city, try to drive your EV slower if the traffic allows. This will conserve the energy drawn from the EV battery. Choosing a road that has less traffic and allows driving at a slower speed is a smarter alternative than taking your car for a sprint. It saves precious time in recharging which would have been otherwise lost if the battery drained out faster than expected.
Park in the shade
Many people have a habit of parking away from a store or office just to avoid the congested parking lots and the hot sun. While parking EVs, try to find a shady place to park the car. Besides keeping your car cool for the duration it’s kept idle, parking in the shade prevents the thermal management system running the entire time. It also prevents the battery from overheating. An EV battery loses charge when it’s overheated.
Plan for your vacation storage
Plan your EV battery recharge if you have a vacation coming up and won’t be requiring the car for a number of days. You may leave your car at the airport or your port of departure and drive it home when you return. If you take a cab from the airport while returning, you may leave your EV plugged in, setting the charge at around 50 percent. This will avoid overcharging the battery while you are away. The charge of an EV battery goes down with each passing day. Ensure that there’s enough charge left in the battery until the time of your return.
Time the charge
Many EV users put the battery on charge overnight. While this is the ideal way to recharge your EV battery, you must track the charging time to avoid overcharging issues. Lithium-ion batteries are considered to be the most stable when they hold around 50 percent charge. This, however, is not sufficient to move your car if you have a busy day ahead with a lot of traveling. Ensure that the recharging time is not too long and you don’t have to unplug the charger and take out the car immediately. Shut off the charging at least two hours before you plan to take the car out.
These are some of the ways through which you can extend the life of your EV battery. Share with us your thoughts on our social media.
Extend laptop battery life
- Check out this page on Dell.com! Email
Laptop technologies have really come a long way.
With advances in processor architecture and mobile-optimized technologies and software, you can experience a near-desktop experience for playing games, listening to and downloading music, and surfing the Internet — all without being leashed to the nearest outlet.
OK, you’ve come a long way. Now come just a little further.
But even with these built-in, mobile-optimized technologies, you may still have to plug in before you’re ready. To squeeze every last drop of power out of your laptop battery, follow these tips and tricks and you’ll stay mobile longer:
1. Charge the battery! Consider keeping it plugged in for 12 hours before you unplug.
Tip! Over time, you may find that you have to recharge your battery more often to get the expected level of performance. If that’s the case, it’s time to replace your battery. Look for lithium ion (Li-Ion) replacement batteries for the greatest longevity.
2. Switch on the optimized battery or power feature. You’ll find this option — sometimes referred to as max battery mode — in your laptop system’s built-in power management control panel. You can select the option to reduce the amount of time your inactive laptop stays on before powering itself down and going to sleep.
Tip! Turning off power-draining facilities like backlights can preserve quite a bit of battery life.
3. Check to see if your laptop has the optimum amount of RAM. You can do this by right mouse clicking on My Computer. The amount of RAM you have will appear under your System Information. RAM enables your system to run program instructions using the computer’s memory instead of its hard disk drive (HDD), where it stores data. Refreshing the RAM requires less power than spinning the hard drive, so having the correct amount of RAM means less drain on your laptop battery.
Tip! Consider 2 GB or more RAM for the best performance!
4. Remove the battery and clean the metal contacts. Wipe them with alcohol, ideally every two months, to ensure that the power transfer between the laptop and its battery is as efficient as possible. Allow the battery to dry thoroughly before replacing it!
5. Unplug any laptop accessories you aren’t using. Even if they’re not in use, accessories drain power from the battery.
Tips!
- Turn your wireless local area network (WLAN) switch off if you don’t need a wireless connection — a button or LED on your laptop usually lights up to indicate wireless activities.
- Use your laptop in the best possible lighting conditions. In brighter conditions, you won’t need to set your laptop screen to maximize brightness so you can save additional battery life.
6. Defragment the hard drive so your system operates as efficiently as possible. The built-in defragmenting utility included with Windows®*-based operating systems decreases the time your system must spend searching for files by rearranging file fragments, so they are closer together on the hard drive. Less time searching means less spinning for the hard drive and less use of battery power.
Tip! Defragment your hard drive at least every two months!
Follow these battery-saving tips and tricks and you’ll be well on your way to staying unleashed longer!
Car batteries are an essential part of an automobile. From getting your car started to charging your phone on-the-go, batteries provide the zap your vehicle needs to keep rolling. That’s why it’s so important to know when to start considering a car battery change, as well as what you can do to extend its lifespan.
The Average Car Battery Life
On average, car batteries last between 2 and 5 years. One of the most important factors that affects how long a car battery will last is the weather. A running engine under the hood is already producing high levels of heat. Throw in a scorching hot day and you have a severe drain on your car battery, which can lead to an increased chance of a dead battery if you don’t take proper summer driving precautions.
Warm weather can cause fluid in car batteries to evaporate, damaging the internal structure of the battery[1]. That’s why average battery life is shorter in warmer climates.[1] So when estimating how long your car battery life will last, consider the climate you will do most of your driving in.
Regardless of the temperature you drive in, properly taking care of your car battery can help keep it running. Check out the seven tips below on extending the life of your car battery:
1. Limit Short Rides
Quick car rides prevent your car’s battery from fully charging. Maintain your car’s battery power by driving it frequently and for extended periods.[2] If you don’t use your car often, consider investing in a portable car battery charger. These portable chargers can jump start your battery without another vehicle in case you’re ever stranded.
2. Keep Your Battery Tightly Fastened
A battery that’s not securely fastened could vibrate, potentially resulting in internal damage and short circuits.[2] Have your battery terminal checked regularly – especially if you frequently drive on bumpy roads – to ensure it is tightly and properly positioned in the mounting bracket.
3. Turn Off All the Lights When You Exit
Accidentally keeping your headlights and car door lights on can put a heavy toll on your vehicle’s battery.[2] To keep yourself from forgetting, post a note on your dashboard, attach a sticker reminder on your car remote or park in a direction where you must walk past your headlights to get to your destination.
4. Control the Corrosion
Battery terminals corrode over time but keeping them clean from buildup is a great way to extend the life of your car battery. Scrub the terminals with a toothbrush dipped in a baking soda and water mixture. Then, using a spray bottle with cold water, rinse the mixture off and follow up with a thorough drying with a clean cloth.[2]
5. Test Your Battery Often
Knowing the condition of your car battery matters when you want to maximize its life. Test your battery’s output voltage level with a car battery tester to keep track of how well you’re maintaining it and if you’re due for a new one.[3]
6. Don’t Use Electronics While Idling
Turn off functions like the radio or air conditioner when your engine isn’t running to put less wear and tear on your battery power. Extended periods of idling also can wear a battery down.
7. Care for Your Whole Car
Your car is comprised of many parts working together. Making sure you are taking your car in for routine tune ups, as well as properly storing your vehicle are also simple ways to ensure your battery’s lifespan can reach its full capacity. The battery is just one component of a well-running car, so make sure to properly maintain all parts of your car to extend its life and the life of your battery.
No matter how well you maintain your car battery, you can’t always foresee when it may die. Learn more about roadside assistance and how it can help you in the event of an emergency.
Over time, a rechargeable battery will lose its capacity to hold a charge and will no longer work. This happens because of overcharging, allowing it to get too hot or too cold, and for many more reasons. You may think that since it cannot be charged, you should just recycle it and buy a new battery. Instead, follow these four steps to revive your battery with a small dose of high amplitude and low voltage hits.
Step 1 – Checking Battery Levels
First, check the equipment that recharges your battery to ensure that it is not the cause of the battery’s issue. If your equipment checks out then you will need to use a multimeter to check the charge of the battery itself. In most cases, the reading will show that the voltage is much lower than what it says on the screen. If you have a spare battery of the same make, you can use this as a measure to know how much power the dead one should have after you have revived it.
Step 2 – Check Equipment Levels
Test out your welder on the multimeter to make sure the DC power is running and also to check whether the gun is positive or negative. Sometimes welder can have AC with a backward polarity, so you’ll need to turn the knob on your welder until your multimeter tells you that you are making around thirty volts.
Step 3 – Zap Battery
This can be a very dangerous procedure because you are going to be using a high voltage of current in this step. Make sure you are wearing your safety goggles and insulated gloves and even hold a shield in front of the battery, before tapping the positive end of your welder to the plus terminal on your dead battery while holding the negative end of the battery’s minus. When you use this technique make sure you are not welding onto the battery as this would cause the stick to fuse itself onto the battery terminal with an excessive current going through the battery destroying it at once or could even cause it to explode.
Just tap the positive end of the welder to your battery and you should see some sparks if done correctly. What this does is force a huge amount of current into the cell which vaporizes the dendrite like shorting a fuse. You can also use this same technique on other batteries that might have corroded.
Step 4 – Test Battery
Now when the battery is replaced back into the application you are using you should see that the battery will be much better than it used to be.
However, using this technique on your battery also will have some consequences. The material you vaporized has now permeated the separator of the material which forms a resistor that can short the plates. The cell also cannot be shorted and will have a poor charge retainer. This technique should mostly be used in cases where you simply cannot buy replacements for the immediate future.
Smartphone users — casual and enthusiast alike — are forever in search of longer battery life. While fast charging keeps us topped up every day, the absence of replaceable batteries means eventually the lithium-ion cells enclosed in our phones are going to age and deteriorate.
If you’ve held onto a phone for a year or more, you’ve probably noticed the battery doesn’t seem to last as long as it did when it was brand new. Two years down the line and many phones struggle to make it through the day on a single charge. Holding onto a phone past three years can even spell trouble for system stability.
The best portable chargers and power banks: A buyer’s guide
Unfortunately, battery capacity inevitably declines with age. However, there are things you can do to prolong the life of your battery and handset. If you’ve ever wondered what the best way to charge your battery is, here are some scientifically proven tips for maximizing battery life.
Partial charging is the way to go
One particularly persistent battery myth is that you need to occasionally fully discharge and recharge to erase “battery memory.” This couldn’t be more wrong for lithium-ion batteries. It’s a leftover myth from lead-acid cells and it’s actually quite undesirable to charge your modern smartphone in this way.
5 best battery saver apps for Android and other ways too!
Partial charging is just fine for lithium-ion batteries and can actually have some positive benefits for cell longevity. To understand why it’s important to appreciate how a battery charges. When closer to empty, Li-ion batteries draw constant current and operate at a lower voltage. This voltage gradually increases as the cell charges up, leveling off at around a 70 percent charge before the current begins to fall until the capacity is full.
Partial charging is just fine for lithium-ion batteries and even has some positive benefits.
Importantly, operating at a low voltage is good for a battery’s lifespan, increasing the number of available charging cycles before you’ll start to see a major reduction in capacity. Roughly speaking, every 0.1V decrease in cell voltage doubles the cycle life, according to Battery University. Therefore, charging up your phone in that 30 to 80 percent range keeps the voltage lower and prolongs the battery lifespan.
65%. Yellow: Start of constant voltage. Red: Long period of high voltage charging for last 15%.
Battery University Lower battery voltages help prolong capacity over time. Green: lower voltage charging for first
65%. Yellow: Start of constant voltage. Red: Long period of high voltage charging for last 15%.
Furthermore, the “depth-of-discharge” has a similar effect on the total discharge cycles before battery capacity drops off. This refers to the amount the battery used up in between charges. Smaller discharges, in the region of 60 percent rather than 100 percent between refueling can double the lifespan of your battery, and only using 20 percent can double the life again.
Small but regular top-ups are much better for Li-ion batteries than long full charge cycles.
Using up just 20 percent of your battery between charges isn’t going to be practical for most people, but topping up when you’ve used about half will see a notable improvement in your battery life over the long term, especially if you avoid charging up to full each time too. The bottom line is that small regular top-ups are much better for Li-ion batteries than long full charge cycles.
Docks are convenient but you shouldn’t leave a device in one once it has hit 100% charge.
Avoid idle charging
Charging overnight or in a cradle during the day is a very common habit, but it’s not recommended for several reasons (the old “overcharging” myth isn’t one of them). First, continuous trickle charging of a full battery can cause plating of the metallic lithium, which reduces stability in the long term and can lead to system-wide malfunctions and reboots. Secondly, it leaves the battery at the higher stress voltage when at 100 percent, as we just mentioned above. Third, it creates excess heat caused by wasted power dissipation.
Continuing to charge when a phone is at 100% is a recipe for voltage and temperature stress.
Ideally, a device should stop charging when it reaches 100 percent battery capacity, only turning the charging circuit back on to top up the battery every now and again — or at the very least reducing the charging current to very small amounts.
I tested a few phones charged to 100 percent and they continued to pull up to half an amp and sometimes more from the wall outlet. Turning the smartphones off doesn’t make a difference in many cases, with only the LG V30 dropping down to below 20mA when off and still plugged in. Most phones hover between 200 and 500 mA.
A final point worth mentioning is parasitic load. This occurs when the battery is being drained significantly at the same time as being charged, such as watching a video or gaming while charging.
Parasitic loads are bad for batteries because they distort the charging cycle and can induce mini-cycles, where part of the battery continually cycles and deteriorates at a faster rate than the rest of the cell. Worse still, parasitic loads occurring when a device is fully charged also induce higher voltage stress and heat on the battery.
Gaming or watching videos while charging is bad because they distort charging cycles.
The best way to avoid parasitic loads it to turn your device off while charging. But it’s probably more realistic to keep the workload very light while the device is plugged in, leaving it to idle most of the time. Remember to unplug it once the battery is topped up enough.
Buying hearing aids is a big decision. Once you decide to purchase devices to improve not only your communication but add to your enjoyment of life, you want to make sure they last a long time. The life-expectancy of good quality, advanced technology hearing aids is between three to seven years. There are factors that will impact on how long your hearing aids will last. Let’s look at ways you can lengthen the lifespan of your hearing devices.
- Clean your hearing aids daily – your devices are exposed to dust, wax, moisture sweat and skin oils every time you put them on. They will also be subjected to harsh sunlight (especially in Australia) and other weather conditions. When you receive your hearing aids your clinician will have shown you how to clean them – including how to change the wax filter when it gets blocked. If you’ve forgotten how to do any of the cleaning processes required you can either go back to your hearing clinic and ask for a refresher, check your hearing aid user’s manual or, if you use a smartphone app with your hearing aid, check to see if there are any helpful videos on cleaning your device in the app.
- Professional detailing of your hearing aids – apart from daily cleaning, you should also get your hearing aids cleaned professionally a couple of times a year. Take your hearing aids into the clinic and ask your clinician to thoroughly check and clean them. This may take up to half an hour for a detailed clean. All components of the aid will be checked for wax and dead skin cells. Simple procedures – like cleaning the battery contacts and replacing tubing can be completed quickly. But if your hearing aids needs minor maintenance carried out – like replacing battery doors, microphone covers or external speakers, the detailing may take a while.
- Changing your earmould/dome – the type of ear coupling device you have (for RIC & BTE hearing aids) will have an impact on life expectancy of your hearing aid. Domes need to be changed or updated regularly. If you are having difficulties with keeping your hearing aid in, annoying whistling or simple comfort, discuss with your clinician the possibility of changing from domes to a custom ear mould. Sometimes an ‘easy to fit’ dome may not be working for you and trying a different type of ear coupling system could increase the life expectancy of your hearing aids. Having an impression taken for a custom earmould can help with retention, comfort and feedback. It also gives better amplification options for your specific hearing prescription.
- Keep your hearing aid dry – it’s very important to protect the computerised components of your devices. Most good quality hearing aids have some moisture-repellent technology but oil and sweat from your skin, as well as humidity in the air can impact the workings of your hearing aids’ components – including the microphones. Excess moisture can also cause corrosion, particularly in the battery housing. Some rechargeable hearing aids have desiccant capsules in the recharging case which is great. Other hearing clinics will provide you with a dehumidifier when you purchase your hearing aid. If you haven’t got one – invest in one now as this will increase the lifespan of your hearing aids
- Store your hearing aids correctly – there are a number of factors to consider when storing your hearing aids, whether it be overnight or for an extended period. You should have a hearing aid case (whether you have a rechargeable device or not) and you should place your hearing aids in this case each night. If you use disposable batteries, open the battery door before you close the case lid. For best results, remove the batteries each night. If you’re going to store the batteries for a longer period, you definitely need to remove the batteries to avoid corrosion. You know that a dehumidifier is a good idea, so if you have one, store your hearing aids in one of these each night.
So that’s five simple steps to increase the life expectancy of your hearing aids. But did you know that hearing aids can lengthen your life? Look to Eavesdrop’s next issue to find out how.
Apple is dropping a new feature into macOS Catalina 10.15.5 that changes how your MacBook charges, which should hopefully allow you to squeak more life out of your device’s Achilles’ heel: its battery.
How does it work? Simply put, your MacBook will stop charging to maximum if it detects that doing so might affect your laptop battery’s lifespan. That’s it. As Apple describes :
“The battery health management feature in macOS 10.15.5 is designed to improve your battery’s lifespan by reducing the rate at which it chemically ages. The feature does this by monitoring your battery’s temperature history and its charging patterns.
Based on the measurements that it collects, battery health management may reduce your battery’s maximum charge when in this mode. This happens as needed to ensure that your battery charges to a level that’s optimized for your usage—reducing wear on the battery, and slowing its chemical aging.”
What this feature won’t do, however, is tell you the percentage—as in, how much of your MacBook battery’s maximum life is being used. Your laptop will still show that your laptop is “100%” charged, but that will now mean that it’s one-hundred-percent of what Apple has determined is the best total charge for your laptop, not one-hundred-percent of its full battery. Got it?
How to get your hands on Apple’s battery-saving feature early
Since this new battery-saving feature drops in macOS Catalina 10.15.5, you can’t access it right now without getting a little creative. Pull out your MacBook, launch Safari, and navigate over to betaprofiles.com . Look for the link to the latest macOS Beta Profile , click it, and download the .DMG file. Install that, and this will enroll you in Apple’s developer beta for macOS.
(What does this mean? You’ll get access to features before public beta testers, but your system might also be a little more unstable, depending on what bugs Apple cooks up these preview builds of macOS. I wouldn’t recommend going this route if you absolutely need to have full, perfect access to your system at all times. However, I often run the developer betas, and I have yet to encounter a heart-attack-inducing error. That’s not to say it’s not possible; you have been warned.)
Once you’ve finished the installation of the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility, visit System Preferences > Software Update to install the correct macOS Catalina beta. Go pour yourself a drink or make a sandwich, as this update will take some time.
As soon as macOS restarts into the 10.15.5 (or later) beta version, you’ll be set. Apple’s battery-saving feature is already enabled by default, so sit back and bask in the extra life you’ve just given your MacBook’s aging battery.
I recommend a different approach. Charge your laptop to 100%, unplug it, fire up a movie in VLC , loop the movie so it plays forever, and use a stopwatch to see how long it takes your battery to drain. Save that number, because.
How to disable Apple’s new battery-saving feature for macOS
If you find that your MacBook doesn’t last as long on battery as before, you should test to see if Apple’s feature is worth turning off. Assuming you did the stopwatch routine I just mentioned, pull up System Preferences > Energy Saver, and click on the “Battery Health” button in the lower-right corner:
Uncheck the “Battery health management” to turn off Apple’s battery-life feature (following a scary warning from Apple that this is not a good idea). After that, charge your MacBook to maximum, loop the same movie in VLC, and time how long it takes for your battery to give out.
If there’s no change, or a minimal change, you might as well follow Apple’s advice and leave the feature enabled. However, if you lost an hour or two of overall battery time, you’ll have to decide which is worse: Less time on your battery versus less battery life. If you’re planning to upgrade within the next year or so, I’d go for the former. If you’re going to cling to your MacBook until it can no longer function, save your poor battery’s life—or start saving up for a replacement .
Electric vehicles are a joy to ownВ but thisВ new technology usingВ advanced Lithium-ion battery packs requires a different type ofВ maintenanceВ thanВ your traditional gasoline engine.
We countdownВ the top 5 maintenance steps that can be taken to extend theВ life of your EV battery.
5. Don’tВ leave your battery sit atВ a 100% state of charge
Most EVs have an option for a “Standard” charge or a “Range” or “Max” charge. By all means, do the maximum charge when you need it, but do it right before you start using the battery for the trip. Most EVs have charge timers to help you plan for this. If your EV doesn’t have that, do an overnight standard charge and then charge the last 10-20% in the AM before departure. Leaving a battery pack at max charge for even relatively short periods of time can possibly affectВ its life. As a rule of thumb, try to never let your battery sit at maximum state of charge for longer than 8 hours.
While you may be able to time your max charge and departure times well, daily charging to 100% is stressful to your battery. This is why most vendors offer “standard” or “normal” charge levels which wont help you achieveВ the maximum EPA range ratedВ for your vehicle. If you don’t need the max charge, then don’t use it. Generally lithium-ion batteries do best when they operate in the 30% to 90% range for state of charge. Although a bit extreme, prolonging the time spentВ above or below that range theoretically mayВ lead to a shorter pack life
Tesla Model S TIP: For overnight charging that requires a 100% MAX charge (ie prior to a Tesla road trip), setВ yourВ “start charge time”В to a time that will result in a full charge roughly 60 minutes before your departure.
4.В Avoid deep discharging of the battery pack
Conversely, leaving your battery in a discharged state for an extended period may also impactВ its life. Most vendors protect batteries from becoming completely discharged as that can effectivelyВ “brick” the battery and leave it completely useless.В The general rule of thumb is to plug in and charge whenever you can. That doesn’t mean going out of your way for a few kW of charge, but it does mean plugging your car in nightly and maintaining a reasonable charge level. What is a low state of charge? Under 30% charge is generally considered low and thusВ you should not let your EVВ sit at that low state of charge for an extended period.
Also beware that EVs consume powerВ even when not beingВ driven. With the Model S, it loses about 1% of its charge per day.
3.В Be mindful of extremeВ temperatureВ conditions
This is less applicable to the Tesla Model S which has its own built in thermal management system that pre-conditions the battery (ie. warms the pack when too cold and vice versa), but the general rule of thumb for batteries of Lithium-ionВ composition is to keep the battery pack between 20F – 85F.
Heat is the enemy of Lithium-ion and may increase batteryВ degradationВ when consistently exposed to high temperatures. This phenomenon was enough to motivateВ Nissan to produce a “hot climate battery”В for their LEAF after owners within hotter climates complained of battery loss.
Conversely, extreme coldВ weather can impactВ performance for a battery ofВ lithium-ion chemistry while loweringВ the discharge capacity.
2. Plan aheadВ for extended storage
If you’re going away on vacation or for a business trip the best thing for your car is to set the charge level to 50% and leave it plugged in. If you’re leaving your EV at the airport or somewhere where you can’t leave it plugged in beware that you’re going to lose some charge per day. Charge to a level where you can get to the airport, let it sit for the trip and then still have enough charge withВ bufferВ to get home. Don’t let it sit unplugged at an airport for days on end at a 90% charge state if possible. Still, leaving itВ at 90% is better for the battery (and you) than leavingВ it at 10% and coming back to find the battery completely discharged.
1. Periodically fully charge and “balance”В your battery
Lithium-ion batteries are designed to minimizeВ the “memory” issues often found inВ older battery technologies, however the battery packs in EVs are more complex and often comprised of multiple individual batteries packed together into removable modules. There’s as many as 7,000 individual cells in the Model S.
Battery balancing is about maximizing your battery’s capacity and В evening out the charge distribution. Modern EVВ battery packs include an automatic battery balancing component, but there’s steps that you can take to help the process along.
While you may never need the maximum range that your battery can provide and you may never take long trips, a periodic range or max charge is helpful to your battery’s management system. I’d suggest doing this about once every 3 months or so and keep in mind that after you fully charge you should not let it sit, that would be a violation of battery management rule #5.
Disclaimer: We’re dealing with expensive components. Read the manual for your EV, search your EVВ forums, develop your own rules, be consistent, but adjust as needed. The rules above are general rules for any EVВ that may helpВ extend the life and health of your battery. Your own mileage (range!) may vary.
Whether you’ve got a Tesco Hudl or a Google Nexus, a few simple tweaks can help you eke more life out of your Android tablet’s battery.
Tablets are fantastic devices for browsing the internet, watching movies and more. But one of the few irksome things about them is that their battery life is often shorter that most of us would like. It’s certainly no fun getting a ‘battery low’ alert when you’re hitting a high score on Candy Crush or halfway through purchasing your dream pair of trainers on Amazon.
Thankfully you can eke a bit more life out of your tablet without impacting on its day-to-day performance.
Check out the video above for more battery tips. We’ve used the Tesco Hudl 2, but the tips apply to most Android tablets.
Step 1: Find out what’s sapping your tablet’s power
Android provides a quick and easy way to see what’s draining most of your tablet’s power. Go to Settings > Battery. This will show you a bar graph of the different hardware, apps and processes that are putting the most drain on your battery.
The greatest drain is almost always the screen, as powering the backlight for your tablet’s large display uses a lot of energy. So where possible, turn it off (while using the tablet to play music, for example).
Step 2: Turn the screen brightness level down
Adjusting the brightness level of your tablet’s screen can save a lot of battery power. To do this, open Settings > Display > Brightness. A pop-up window will display a slider which you can use to change the brightness level. If the slider isn’t visible untick the box marked Automatic Brightness. Reduce the brightness to a level that’s less intense but still comfortable for you to read text on your screen without straining your eyes.
Step 3: Reduce the screen time out
Reducing the amount of time your screen stays lit after you’ve stopped interacting with your tablet is another good way of slowing battery drain. Return to the Settings > Display menu and select Sleep. Reducing this setting tells your tablet to turn off the screen after a set period of inactivity. The shorter the time you select, the less power your display will use. Try changing it to a setting of two minutes. That way you’ll avoid sapping its battery life if you leave it unattended.
Step 4: Turn off unwanted connections
Wireless network technologies such as wi-fi and Bluetooth also consume quite a bit of power, so if you’re not using them it’s best to turn them off. This is especially true of Bluetooth, which many people never use on their tablet yet still leave turned on.
Go to Settings and select Bluetooth under the Wireless & Networks heading. Flick the switch to Off to disable Bluetooth.
If you’re using your tablet on a long bus or train journey – or anywhere there’s no wi-fi reception – you should also turn off wi-fi to save power. Open Settings and switch the wi-fi toggle switch to Off.
Step 5: Avoid using live wallpapers and widgets
Android’s Live Wallpapers and Widgets require processing and graphics power to run so put extra drain on your battery. It’s a relatively minor amount, but if you do want to absolutely maximise your tablet’s battery life you may want to get rid of them.
Delete widgets from your homescreen by tapping and holding on them before swiping them up to the Remove icon. To change your wallpaper, tap and hold on an empty part of your homescreen and choose Wallpaper from the pop-up menu.
Step 6: Fully discharge the battery
The lithium ion batteries used in almost all Android tablets don’t suffer the over-charging problems of older Ni-Cad batteries, so they don’t always need to be run down completely to stay at their best. However, to keep the battery’s power meter correctly calibrated it’s still a good idea to let your tablet run out of battery power every 30 charges or so. If you use it most days, aim to run it down for once a month or so.
Step 7: Turn off Auto-sync
There are various apps and services on your tablet that automatically sync data with online servers, for storing contact information, providing Facebook alerts and sending email to your tablet. These syncing processes can drain power, especially if they’re pulling in a lot of information.
You can see which accounts are set up to auto-sync by opening Settings and choosing Accounts and Sync. If there are any you don’t want or need to sync in the background just tap on their name and untick the Sync option.
Battery life depends very much on how the battery is used and different devices differ in battery life. The expected battery life for your model can be found in the device user manual. The following tips will show you how to get the best out of your battery in everyday usage and how to look after your battery.
1. Reduce display brightness level
High display brightness and long screen time-out setting will increase battery drain. One of the simplest way to prolong your device battery life is to reduce the screen brightness, and here’s how you can do it:
1) From the home screen > swipe down from the top to view the notification panel
2) Drag the brightness slider towards the left
3) At the same time, adjust the screen time-out setting > Tap the gear icon at the top > Select My Device tab > Select Display
4) Tap Screen timeout > Set your time-out preferences
Special Tip: Try setting your screen timeout to 30 seconds and display brightness to Auto.
2. Close, disable or uninstall unused Apps
Some apps may run background processes that deplete your battery. Once you’re ready to uninstall your unused apps, there are a few ways to go about it.
Fastest way to uninstall apps:
1) On your home screen > long-press on the app
2) Tap the Uninstall icon > Followed by OK
For more control over your apps:
1) Go to Settings > Apps.
2) Tap the overflow icon on the top right to sort apps by size or required permissions.
3) To uninstall, simply tap on the app name followed by the Uninstall icon.
Disable apps to increase battery life:
Unfortunately, some apps cannot be uninstalled on the certain Galaxy devices like Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+. However, you can disable the apps to increase battery life. To disable apps, simply follow either of the paths above and select Disable.
3. Turn off Always On Display (AOD) or set schedule
Always On Display or AOD uses AMOLED displays to show you certain information when your screen is “off”. It allows you to easily check basic information such as date and time without activating the display. Naturally, any activity that makes your screen turn on all the time will consume some power from your battery. You can choose to turn off AOD or set a time schedule for AOD to turn on/off.
To turn off AOD:
1) Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Lock screen and Always On Display
2) Turn off AOD by tapping on the AOD slider (circle will move to the left)
To set a time schedule on AOD:
1) Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Lock screen and Always On Display
2) Tap on Set schedule and follow the steps provided on your device
Special tip: If you’re wearing a watch, set a schedule for AOD to display at in the evening when you’re home and watch-free.
4. Toggle off WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS when not in use
Switch off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS if you don’t need them, as each regular checks for a signal uses power.
You can switch each of these off by pulling down the notification panel (drop down menu) and tapping the relevant icon.
5. Turn on Power saving mode
Power saving mode conserves battery power by limiting mobile device CPU performance, reducing screen brightness, turning off the touch key light and vibration feedback. This mode differs slightly between devices but generally it will close all unnecessary apps and screens so that you can substantially increase your battery time. You can turn on Power saving mode manually, or you can set your device to go into Power saving mode automatically.
Go to Settings > Device maintenance > Battery
6. Download the latest device software
Check your latest device software by going to Settings > About phone.
Upgrade your software using either FOTA (‘Firmware Over The Air’, i.e. wirelessly) or via Samsung Kies.
7. Check your device Signal bars
Check the number of bars that you normally see on your handset while at home or work. Using the handset in areas with very low signal uses a lot of power and should be avoided where possible.
8. Check how often your device synchronises data
If like most people, you have a number of apps on your device such as email or social media, these apps will frequently sync, or check for new emails or updates. Frequently syncing can reduce your battery life. Check the sync settings on your apps or email, and ensure they only sync as often as you need them to.
9. Avoid fully discharging your battery
On much older types of batteries, the advice used to be to discharge them completely. However, completely discharging the battery on modern smartphones devices may reduce its life. It’s best not to let your battery go under 20%.
10. Store your device properly
If you do not intend to use your device for some time and pack it away, ensure that it has at least 50% battery. Minimise hot and cold exposure.
Extreme heat and cold can damage your battery.
For example, don’t leave your smartphone in the glove compartment of your car on very hot or cold days. A common myth is that batteries last longer if they are put in the freezer. This is not correct and can damage your battery.
11. Know where to get help for battery related issues
Here are a few final tips to help you improve your Samsung Galaxy battery life!
– Charge on the go or charge while at home/work. Get the best Mobile Power accessories to help you.
– If your device does not power up, try charging again with an original Samsung charger and cable. If it doesn’t work, you may have either a faulty battery or charger/cable. In this case, please Contact Us for further assistance
Electric forklifts are a great option if you are looking to lower your total cost of ownership, increase productivity and reduce emissions. However, you have to make sure the battery is maintained properly so you can extend its life and maximize your investment.
Here are 9 things you can do to extend the life of your forklift battery.
1) Don’t Charge Your Battery Too Often
If you charge your forklift battery before it gets below 70% discharged, you will damage the battery and shorten its lifespan. Although it may seem easier to charge the battery on a regular schedule or at the end of a shift, it is best to only recharge it when it is needed.
2) Don’t Let Your Battery Run Out of Charge
On the other hand, it is also important to make sure you do not let your battery run out of charge. Set up a system that only charges your equipment when the battery gets below 30%.
3) Unplug Your Machine When Its Fully Charged
If you leave your battery plugged in when it has fully charged, you will cause damage to the battery and shorten its life. Once the battery has been fully charged, unplug the charger.
4) Maintain Proper Water Levels
Watering a battery is important because it helps maintain the temperature of the battery and prevents overheating. If you put in too much water, you could be facing an overflow or an acid dilution. Check the water levels every 5 uses to ensure that it never gets too low.
5) Charge the Battery Completely
Once you start charging a battery, it is important that you let it finish charging completely before you unplug it and put it in use. You want to make sure there is enough time for the acid to distribute through the battery completely before you use the equipment again. If you do not do this, you are risking damage that could shorten the usable lifespan of your battery.
6) Don’t Let a Discharged Battery Sit
If you happen to fully discharge a battery, it is important that you do not let it sit uncharged for too long. Charge it as soon as possible. If you wait too long, hard sulfation can occur which is irreversible and can negatively impact the life of a battery.
7) Don’t Use Damaged Cables
Make sure all of your cables are intact. Check for cuts, fraying and other signs of damage. If they are damaged, you should replace them immediately. You should also plan a regular check of your charger to make sure it is operating correctly.
8) Equalize Your Battery
Set up a regular schedule to equalize your forklift battery. This will rebalance your acid concentration and prevent stratification. If you do not do this, you will end up with a higher acid concentration at the bottom of the battery than you have at the top which can cause irreversible damage.
9) Clean the Top of Your Battery
Cleaning your battery with warm water or battery cleaner will help you remove buildup on top of the battery. If you let your battery go too long without cleaning it, you could end up with corrosion and faster discharge. Try to clean it once a month to avoid corrosion.
At Equipment Depot, we offer full-service battery maintenance and repair. If your battery performance is deteriorating, reach out to us and our team of 750 certified technicians will help you keep your operation running.
KEEP YOUR OPERATION RUNNING
Is your battery operating inefficiently? Our team of technicians is ready to provide you with forklift battery service and repair.
