Properly maintaining and caring for your lithium-ion batteries can mitigate the effects of battery aging. By implementing storage guidelines, charging practices, and avoiding excessive discharge, you can ensure that your batteries perform optimally for a longer duration.
Some products, like power tools, are designed to drain batteries quickly, but being gentle on the battery can still extend its lifespan. Using larger capacity batteries can reduce the drain rate, and periodically checking on unused batteries is advised. What is the impact of depth of charge on lithium batteries?
Excessive charging can bring on thermal run away in a lithium battery. Most lithium batteries contain special circuits to prevent this problem. Our video shows a few examples of these circuits. The two long, narrow circuit boards are typical of what you find inside a lithium power pack as might sit inside a laptop computer.
Do not ever try to puncture the bulge in your lithium-ion battery. Swelling of lithium-ion batteries is caused due to heat and build-up of gases, which make the battery vulnerable. Puncturing a swollen lithium-ion battery may lead to fire and explosion.
The notion that lithium-ion batteries should constantly be fully recharged to 100% before use is another myth. Data shows that partial charges can be more beneficial. According to Battery University, lithium-ion batteries do not require a complete charge cycle, and partial discharges with frequent recharges are preferable.
Leaving a lithium-ion battery plugged in all the time is not recommended for several reasons: Heat Accumulation: Continuous charging can lead to heat buildup, one of the main factors that degrade battery health over time.