1. How to charge a new battery
It's important to note that lithium batteries enter a dormant state after being stored for a period of time, at which point their capacity is lower than normal, and their usage time is shortened. However, lithium batteries are easily activated; just 3-5 normal charge-discharge cycles are sufficient to activate the battery and restore its normal capacity. Due to the inherent characteristics of lithium batteries, they have virtually no memory effect. Therefore, new lithium batteries in a user's mobile phone do not require special methods or equipment for activation; using the standard charging method from the beginning—a "natural activation" approach—is the best method.
Regarding the "activation" of lithium batteries, many people believe that charging time must exceed 12 hours, repeated three times, to activate the battery. This claim of "charging for more than 12 hours for the first three times" is clearly a continuation of the practice with nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride). Therefore, this claim is fundamentally a misconception. Lithium batteries and nickel batteries have very different charging and discharging characteristics, and I can assure you that all the serious, official technical documents I have consulted emphasize that overcharging and over-discharging can cause significant damage to lithium batteries, especially liquid lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, it is best to charge according to the standard time and method, and especially avoid charging for more than 12 hours. Generally, the charging method described in the phone's instruction manual is the standard charging method suitable for that phone.
Furthermore, lithium-ion battery phones and chargers automatically stop charging once the battery is fully charged; there is no "trickle" charging for 10+ hours as claimed by nickel-cadmium chargers. In other words, leaving your lithium-ion battery on the charger after it's fully charged is pointless. And since no one can guarantee that the battery's charge/discharge protection circuitry will never change or that its quality will be flawless, your battery will be constantly teetering on the edge of danger. This is another reason why we oppose prolonged charging.
Furthermore, on some mobile phones, if the charger is not removed after a certain charging time, the system will not only not stop charging, but will also begin a discharge-charge cycle. While manufacturers may have their reasons for this practice, it is clearly detrimental to the lifespan of the battery and the phone/charger. Additionally, long charging times often require overnight charging, and given the state of my country's power grid, voltage levels are often higher and fluctuate significantly at night. As mentioned earlier, lithium batteries are very delicate and far less tolerant of charging and discharging fluctuations than nickel-cadmium batteries, thus introducing additional risks.
Furthermore, another aspect that cannot be ignored is that lithium batteries are also not suitable for over-discharge, as over-discharge is also very detrimental to lithium batteries. This leads to the following question.
2. When should charging begin during normal use?
The principle of fully discharging the battery before recharging doesn't mean going to extremes. A widely circulated saying, similar to prolonged charging, is "try to completely drain the phone's battery, ideally until it shuts down automatically." This practice actually originated with nickel-cadmium batteries to avoid the memory effect, but unfortunately, it's still prevalent with lithium-ion batteries. There have been cases where people continued using their phones after receiving low battery warnings, continuing until they automatically shut down. In these cases, the phones became unresponsive to charging and powering on, requiring repair. This was because the battery voltage was too low due to over-discharge, rendering it incapable of charging and powering on properly.
3. The correct way to handle lithium battery mobile phones
In summary, the most important tips regarding charging and discharging lithium battery mobile phones during use are:
1. Charge according to the standard time and procedure, even for the first three times;
2. When your phone displays a low battery warning, you should start charging it as soon as possible;
3. Lithium batteries do not require special activation methods; they will activate naturally during normal phone use. Insisting on using the widely circulated method of "activating with three 12-hour long charges" will actually be ineffective.
Therefore, all practices that pursue 12-hour ultra-long charging times or use lithium battery phones until they automatically shut down are wrong. If you have been following these incorrect practices, please correct them as soon as possible; it may not be too late.
Of course, if the phone and charger have good protection and control circuitry, the lithium battery is well protected. Therefore, understanding the charging rules is key, and in some cases, compromises can be made. For example, if you find your phone must be charged before you go to sleep, you can start charging it before bed. The crucial point is that you should know the correct procedure and not deliberately follow incorrect instructions.
Common mistakes in using lithium batteries:
Myth 1: You need to charge and discharge your phone three times after you buy it in order to activate the battery.
Myth 2: The first charge must be 12 hours long.
Myth 3: Batteries need to be fully charged and discharged once a month.
Myth 4: Working while charging, or continuing to use external power after charging is complete, will damage the device and battery.
Proper maintenance methods for lithium batteries
The following are currently widely accepted views on battery maintenance and usage:
1. Avoid complete discharge (using the device until the screen goes black and the power is cut off).
2. Frequent charging and discharging of lithium batteries, charging before they are fully discharged, using an external power source, using the battery while charging, or continuing to use an external power source after charging is complete will not cause additional damage to the battery.
2. When not in use for an extended period, remove the lithium battery and store it in a cool, dry place. Do not freeze it to avoid moisture damage. Avoid using it in a hot car. If storing for a long time, charge the battery to 40% before storing.
3. For laptop users who primarily use a power source, removing the battery and storing it in a cool, shaded area is acceptable, but this is only to mitigate environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. For mobile phones, using an external power source with the battery installed will not cause any additional damage. Furthermore, for the sake of portability and to protect the battery cover and metal contacts, it is recommended to avoid frequently removing the battery when using an external power source.
4. Avoid buying spare lithium batteries for storage, because even if a battery is not used, its lifespan will naturally decline. Therefore, maximizing the use of a battery within its limited lifespan is the way to realize its value, rather than torturing yourself with unrealistic theories.
