Only you can prevent garbage fires: Batteries, especially lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium types, should be taken to a hazardous waste collection center, not tossed in the trash. Search online for your city or town’s name plus the term “electronics disposal.” Or use this handy site.
Best ways to charge your phone’s battery
We spend so much on tech that it’s incredibly frustrating when our devices break. A little prevention can go a long way. Here are six checkups to give your tech now to avoid a shocking repair bill later.
Regular maintenance is vital to longevity. Tap or click for my simple action plan to get more years out of your iPhone or Android.
Then, there are the mistakes you make day in and day out. Bad charging habits can shorten or disrupt your smartphone battery life if you aren’t careful.
Don’t rely on knock-off chargers
High-quality chargers have circuits inside of them that switch off when there’s too much power draw. This protects your phone battery from overcharging, breaking, or overheating.
Heat is your battery’s biggest enemy. Some cheap chargers and cables have even led to fire and injuries. Saving money is excellent, but don’t skimp on quality here.
Here’s a list of safe options that will charge your phone safely.
Be careful with power banks
Like with cheap chargers, cheap power banks can ruin your 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 to avoid power banks with quick charge options unless they’re from a reliable brand. Here’s a rule of thumb: Say no if you’ve never heard of it.
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.
Tap or click for more smart ways to ensure you’re buying gear worth your money.
iPhone exploded while charging overnight - Are you making charging mistakes?
Over the last few years, there have been several instances of people’s phones exploding for no apparent reason. Many victims claim they were using their devices as usual before the ensuing inferno, but that’s often not the entire story.
Lithium-ion battery replacements are coming
Everyone knows that these kinds of batteries are unpredictable. Here’s why a fix is on the way, in 60 seconds.
It's important to check your laptop battery's health - here's how
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.
Massive fire caused by faulty lithium-ion battery - Take these precautions
Technology and gadgets set out to make our lives easier and more comfortable. But that isn’t always the case. Late last year, several power banks were recalled due to fire risk.
Now, two separate fires, which cost the lives of 17 people, including eight children, were sparked by faulty gadgets. It took authorities several hours to extinguish the blazes in the Bronx, with one ranking at the top of New York City’s worst.
🚴 Have an e-bike? Here’s one thing that ruins the battery: Letting it drain completely before you recharge. Lithium-ion batteries perform best when kept charged between 20% to 80%. Keep your e-bike inside, too, once the temps drop for winter. Anything below 32 degrees is no bueno for your battery life.