Janis Weber
We spend so much money on tech that it’s incredibly frustrating when devices break. A little prevention can go a long way. There are the mistakes we make day in and day out. Bad charging habits can shorten or disrupt a smartphone’s battery life if you aren’t careful. Just like with cheap chargers, cheap power banks can ruin a battery over time. Be sure any power bank you use has overcharge protection. If not, you can still use it, but keep an eye out. Once your battery is almost full, unplug it.
It would be best if you also avoided power banks with quick charge options unless they are from a reliable brand. Here’s a rule of thumb: If you’ve never heard of it, say no. Rapid charging can send too much electricity to your phone and cause battery damage. This high voltage could, at the very least, shorten your battery lifespan.
There’s nothing you can do about your battery wearing down eventually, but some things have more of an impact. If you have performance apps that monitor your battery life, they could harm it in the long run. These apps constantly use power to monitor your battery life.
Don’t use your phone while it’s charging. If your phone is at 1 percent you plug it in. Leave it alone! Using your phone while charging can rapidly increase the temperature, putting strain on your battery, screen, and processor. Take it out of the case. Phone cases can be a great way to customize your phone and add some physical security. When it comes to charging, though, they can cause temperature problems. When your phone battery heats up too much, it can cause damage to the rest of your phone. To be safe, take the case off while you charge, especially if you notice your phone heats up while it’s plugged in.
Check Your Laptop’s Battery Health
Batteries aren’t meant to last forever, including the battery that powers your laptop. It might seem like the power source that gives life to your device should be the tech equivalent of an everlasting gobstopper, but as with any other battery, your laptop battery has a life cycle that ends at some point. It’s important to keep an eye on your laptop battery’s health for that very reason. It can, and likely will, die at some point, and you don’t want to get stuck replacing it in a pinch. Plus, just because the battery has died doesn’t mean you need to buy a new laptop.
Most laptops use lithium-ion batteries as the power source and, as a general rule, this type of battery tends to lose charging capabilities. This can cause your laptop battery, which once held a full charge of 100 percent, to be limited to, say, 30 percent over time. You can’t avoid charging your battery to cut down on the cycles you put it through, so it’s essential to check your battery’s health instead. Doing so will give you a good idea of how much more abuse your battery can take and help prompt you to make some changes to preserve battery health.
I Make House Calls (I am fully vaccinated and masked if requested)
I will come to your home or office and help you with almost any predicament including repairs, upgrades, and personal software tutoring. I can be your resident “geek.” I have an endless amount of patience and knowledge with years of experience. Give me a text or call at 419-290-3570. FYI, I will be holding classes at the Sylvania Senior Center this fall. Check its website for details.
Definition of The Day
A cellphone BATTERY has a lifespan of approximately 3-5 years. The top ones are Asus ROG, then iPhone 14 pro max, Nubia Redmagic, Moto G, iPhone 14 plus.
Janis Weber, B.A., owner of Ohio Computer Training & Support, is a professional computer adjunct instructor. E-mail any specific questions or comments to JwPCtutor@Gmail.com or contact her for assistance at 419-290-3570. Private tutoring and repairs are just a phone call, text, or email away.