We use a lot of batteries; in fact it is fair to say that we use them in a great many things that we rely on. From the battery in your phone which helps keep you in touch with the world around you, to the batteries in the remote control for your television, these little devices are essential.
When used properly, good quality batteries should last for a long time, and the responsible thing to do is to ensure that they continue to work for as long as possible, thereby reducing the amount of batteries that need to be recycled.
We have put together some tips to help you ensure that your batteries last longer.
1. Don’t charge your phone all the way
When it comes to the battery in your phone, one of the worst things that you can actually do is to leave your phone charging overnight. Whilst this will ensure that your battery is fully charged it could actually harm the battery in your phone. When a phone is fully charged and plugged in this can result in a battery that diminishes over time. You may not notice this in the short term. However, over a longer period of years or months you will have shortened the life of your battery.
If you want your phone battery to last, then experts suggest charging it to between 40 and 80%.
2.Use a portable charger
If you take note of tip number one, and only charge your phone little and often then on a longer trip out where you don’t have access to a mains plug, you may run out of charge. To avoid this, purchase a portable charger and take it with you. This will allow you to charge on the go.
3. Battery-saving mode – use it
Low-power or battery-saving mode is available on many phones, and is well worth using to help your battery to last longer. It may, in fact, help you to double the life of your battery.
4.Turn off battery draining features
Some features like GPS, vibrate function, and voice controlled assistants like Siri use a lot of battery, so turn them off. You may also want to consider turning off your phone when you are not using it for example at night or in places where you may not get a signal, or the signal is really poor. All of these small things you can do with your phone will really help you to make your battery last longer.
5. Make sure you have the right battery for the job
If you don’t have the right battery for the job, then it will drain much quicker than it should. This is why you should always check the type of battery you need and ensure that you have a spare to hand. Digital cameras, for example, can drain alkaline batteries very quickly so make sure you opt for something suitable for a high-drain application.
6. Remove batteries from things you don’t use very often
Halloween and Christmas lights are only used for a very short time, so when they are not in use remove the batteries. These can then be stored for use in something else. Batteries that are left for too long in a seldom used item can corrode. This can not only damage the battery but also the item.
7. Buy rechargeable batteries
It may seem obvious but by virtue of the fact that they can be recharged many times before they no longer work, rechargeable batteries last longer than non-chargeable batteries. They may cost you a little more to begin with, but they will pay for themselves over time.
