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 them and restore their normal capacity. Due to the inherent characteristics of lithium batteries, they have virtually no memory effect. Therefore, users do not need special methods or equipment to activate new lithium batteries. Not only is this true in theory, but based on my own experience, using the standard charging method from the beginning—this "natural activation" method—is the best approach.
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 it can be clearly stated that overcharging and over-discharging will cause significant damage to lithium batteries, especially liquid lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, it is best to charge according to standard time and methods, and especially avoid charging for more than 12 hours.
Sigh, as someone who works with lead-acid batteries, I often encounter problems with lithium batteries. Since no lithium battery colleagues have answered, I'll take the liberty of answering for them. Compared to lead-acid batteries, the biggest advantage of lithium batteries is their long cycle life; they can easily withstand thousands of full charge and discharge cycles. However, the downside is their sensitivity to overcharging and over-discharging. Once overcharged or over-discharged, the battery suffers irreversible damage. To cope with overcharging and over-discharging, all lithium batteries have a complex and strict power management system (BMS). This system strictly controls the amount of electricity entering and leaving the battery, ensuring that the battery always operates in a safe state. Good mobile phones have very precise power management systems; even if they are constantly plugged into the charger, they will not overcharge, and even with excessive use, they will not over-discharge. So, use them casually. If you don't fully charge them before leaving home, and you don't think they will automatically shut down after a short time, then it's fine; otherwise, you should still carry a portable power bank. You can continue charging at 90% overnight. But for safety, I suggest you unplug them. If the lithium battery's power management system is inadequate, then while both overcharging and over-discharging can directly lead to battery failure, overcharging has a greater impact on users. Over-discharging at most ends the battery's lifespan, but overcharging can cause the battery to swell or even explode, which is a much bigger problem. It's said that Apple iPhones have incredibly advanced power management; after fully charging, they don't stop charging but instead begin discharging, releasing about 5% before recharging again, and so on. Impressive, really!
First, the battery's power management system will prevent you from overcharging.
Secondly, batteries are consumables. Whether you use them or not, and no matter how much you charge them, they will age and their performance will decline. However, they are sufficient to last until you replace your phone.
Use it with confidence and don't ask this question again.
The following content applies only to lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones. Other nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries are not applicable due to their different construction. The question mentions a mobile phone battery, assuming the user isn't using a counterfeit phone from an unknown manufacturer. Because of the nature of counterfeit phones, we have no way of knowing the differences between them, and the various strange designs and cost-cutting measures in counterfeit phones are beyond your imagination. The batteries we use now have a dedicated circuit board to prevent over-discharge (discharging too much and affecting battery life) and overcharging (charging too much and exceeding the battery's capacity, also affecting its lifespan). Overcharging can also cause the battery to swell, which can lead to the back cover warping if the phone's casing design doesn't allow for sufficient clearance. Currently, most mainstream MTK platform products have overcharge protection, but the specific design varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Generally, mainstream products have overcharge protection, meaning you can leave it plugged in for a long time without problems. When using a battery, our primary concern is its lifespan, which depends on the number of charge cycles. After about 400 charge cycles, a battery's capacity will drop to about 80% of its rated capacity. Where is the nominal capacity indicated? It's the series of numbers before mAh on the battery label, such as 1400mAh. Now, let's discuss charging scenarios, simplifying the various charging situations into three types: 1. Battery capacity from 100% to 0%, then charged back to 100%; 2. Battery capacity from 100% to 50%, then charged back to 100%; 3. Battery capacity from 50% to 0%, then charged only to 50%. Using the battery capacity dropping to 80% of the nominal capacity as the testing standard, the second method allows for the most charging cycles, followed by the first, and the third is the least efficient. Therefore, charge when necessary, and ideally, fully charge. By the way, regarding Apple's charging mechanism, there were significant changes from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 5s. With the iPhone 4 and 4s, it felt like the phone was always fully charged because it was constantly charging while discharging – the battery was continuously being charged. Since I haven't used the iPhone 5, I don't know how it works. But after using the iPhone 5s, I found that Apple's charging mechanism was completely different. It detects the number of times the charger has been plugged in and the battery voltage. If you don't unplug the charger, the iPhone 5s will stop charging once it's fully charged, and continue charging until you unplug it. Also, when you're plugged in and using the phone, the power consumed goes through the charger, not the battery. You could say the battery uses almost no power. Finally, Apple has always been ahead of the industry. While other manufacturers were just hearing about coulomb counters, it was already in the iPhone 4 and widely used. So, the difference between current phone manufacturers and Apple is about two years. In the mobile phone industry, a two-year difference is enough to crush other manufacturers, which is why Apple's profit margin has consistently been above 30%.
Based on the question and some common questions about the proper use of mobile phone batteries, here is a brief explanation:
[Question 1] How long should I charge my phone for the first time?
(We often hear people say this when buying a phone: "Because your phone battery hasn't been activated yet, and because batteries have a memory effect, the first charge is very important. You must completely drain the battery and charge it for at least 12 hours. And the first three charges must also follow this method to fully activate the battery. If you don't do this, your phone battery might not last very long.") Answer: First, let's explain what the battery memory effect is: If a battery isn't fully charged and discharged over a long period, it's easy for traces to be left inside, reducing its capacity. This phenomenon is called the battery memory effect. It means that the battery seems to remember the user's daily charging and discharging amplitude and pattern, and over time it becomes difficult to change this pattern, preventing large-scale charging or discharging. The reason why staff recommend charging for 12 hours the first time and completely draining the battery is to allow the battery to operate within its widest voltage range, fully utilize its capacity, and allow the battery to "remember" the battery's behavior. So, do all batteries have a memory effect? The answer is no. Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries have a memory effect. Among them, the memory effect is most significant in NiCd batteries. Early mobile phone batteries used nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, which is why the idea of charging for 12 hours on the first charge and completely discharging the battery was so prevalent. However, modern mobile phones use lithium-ion batteries, which do not have a memory effect, so this charging method is no longer applicable. The biggest advantage of lithium-ion batteries is their long cycle life; they can easily withstand thousands of full charge and discharge cycles. However, their disadvantage is their sensitivity to overcharging and over-discharging. Once overcharged or over-discharged, the battery suffers irreversible damage. In short, for modern mobile phone batteries, overcharging and over-discharging are the biggest causes of shortened lifespan. Based on the above, to answer the question "How long should I charge my phone for the first time?", it is recommended to charge until the charging indicator light goes out, indicating that charging is complete. Overcharging will damage the battery.
[Question 2] Which is more damaging to the battery: not fully charging or overcharging?
A: First of all, I want to say that not fully charging the battery will not damage it! As mentioned above, overcharging or over-discharging lithium batteries will cause irreversible damage, harming the battery's foundation. To cope with overcharging and over-discharging, all lithium batteries have a complex and strict power management system (BMS). This system strictly controls the amount of electricity entering and leaving the battery, thus ensuring that the battery always operates in a safe state. Different mobile phone manufacturers have different battery management methods, but it is certain that even if you keep the charger plugged in, the phone will automatically switch off and stop charging the battery after it is fully charged (it is said that Apple's power management does not stop charging after the battery is fully charged, but starts discharging, discharging about 5%, and then charging again, and so on). Therefore, if the mobile phone manufacturer's BMS is well-designed, you don't need to worry about overcharging at all. Current academic research, after extensive charge and discharge experiments on batteries, has found that when the battery operates between 30% and 70% of its capacity, the battery's coulombic efficiency is the highest, and the damage to the battery is minimal. Therefore, not fully charging the battery will not damage it; on the contrary, it will extend the battery's lifespan.
【Knot】
Most mobile phones nowadays use lithium batteries. It is recommended to charge the phone until the charging light on the charger goes out or the battery level reaches 90% or more. Try not to let the phone automatically shut down after discharging. When the phone issues a low battery warning, charge it promptly. This is the best way to protect the battery and effectively extend its lifespan.
If it's a lithium-ion battery and you're unsure if it has overcharge protection, please do not overcharge it. Current mainstream lithium-ion batteries use a LiCoO2 + LiC6 (essentially lithium-absorbing graphite) anode-cathode combination. During discharge, LiCoO2 is filled with Li+ ions while trivalent Co is reduced to divalent. During charging, this process is reversed. Overcharging essentially forces the Li out of the LiCoO2 and oxidizes trivalent Co to tetravalent. The electronic structure of tetravalent Co is very unstable, easily decomposing and causing damage to the overall crystal structure, thus reducing overall capacitance and cycle life. Undercharging has little impact on the structure of a well-made lithium-ion battery and is not a serious problem.
To answer the question directly: First, unplugging your phone before it's fully charged won't affect battery life. However, if possible and you don't mind the inconvenience, using it with the charging cable connected will actually benefit battery life. Second, although modern smartphones have many overcharge protection measures, including IC protection, overcharging still occurs and can potentially cause serious consequences, such as explosions, especially with counterfeit phones. Therefore, try to avoid overcharging in daily use, and unplug the phone promptly after charging. This will not only extend battery life but also reduce the risk of personal injury. Finally, it's important to note that excessive discharge is very harmful to the battery. Avoid using your phone when the battery level is below 20%, and especially avoid using it below 5%, as this can cause irreversible damage.
Generally, we have the idea that it's best to completely drain a phone's battery before recharging, which is generally correct. This is because older rechargeable batteries were mostly nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which have a so-called "memory effect." If you don't fully discharge them before recharging, their lifespan will decrease rapidly. Therefore, we would wait until the last drop of power was left before charging. However, most modern phones and general IA products use lithium-ion (Li) batteries, which do not have this memory effect. If you still wait until the battery is completely drained before recharging, it will prevent the internal chemicals of the lithium-ion battery from reacting properly, thus reducing its lifespan. The best method is to charge it whenever possible to keep it at its optimal full charge level. This will allow your battery to last longer. This information comes from the manufacturer and has been verified through my own testing.
Do not answer calls while your phone is charging.
The reason is the potential danger of answering calls while a mobile phone is charging. In India, a 31-year-old business manager at an insurance company answered a call while his phone was still plugged into the charger. A few seconds later, a large current passed through the phone, causing him to fall to the ground. When his family found him, he had burns on his fingers, a weak heartbeat, and was unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead upon arrival. Mobile phones are currently one of the most commonly used modern inventions. However, we must also be aware of the dangers of these devices causing death.
Do not use when your phone has only one bar of battery left.
The difference in transmission strength between full signal strength and one bar of signal strength is over 1000 times. So, frequent mobile phone users should pay attention! ^0^ Yesterday, I received a very important message from a mobile phone dealer: when you find that your phone's signal strength has dropped to only one bar, it's better to hang up or use a public phone. Don't continue talking incessantly, passionately, or endlessly. Why? Everyone knows that the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones are a concern. To maintain decent call quality in areas with poor reception, mobile phones are designed to increase their electromagnetic wave transmission strength. The difference in transmission strength between full signal strength and one bar of signal strength is over 1000 times. The electromagnetic wave strength can reach 0.6W (watts). How strong is 0.6W? I can't specifically describe the adverse effects it might have on your brain. 5. The parasites of mobile phone fees.
Don't rush to make it exactly 1 minute.
We often feel relieved when we finish a call just before 1:00, but that's not actually the case. According to a China Mobile employee, the call is already counted as one minute from 0:55 onwards, so the call time from 0:55 to 1:00 is actually charged as two minutes.
If your phone gets wet, remember not to press any buttons, especially the power button (pressing any button will cause water to flow along the circuit board). The correct method is to immediately open the outer cover, remove the battery, and force the power off to prevent the motherboard from being damaged by water.
This is very important common sense, so I'm sharing it with everyone to help extend the lifespan of your mobile phones. Learn it, just in case!
How to revive a dead phone battery
When your mobile phone battery's lifespan becomes shorter (due to memory effect or aging), do you buy a new battery to replace it?
Next time you encounter this situation, save your money. Here's a very effective method you might want to try:
1) Wrap the battery in newspaper, then put it in a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and freeze it for three days (the newspaper can absorb excess moisture).
2) Remove after three days and leave at room temperature for two days.
3) Charge the battery two days later, and once fully charged, test it in a mobile phone (estimated recovery rate: 80%-90%).
This information was revealed by an engineer from a well-known battery manufacturer, and friends who have tested it report that the effect is quite effective.
As for whether it will work, the battery is almost dead anyway, and everyone has a refrigerator, so why not give it a try?
Give your phone a CPR.
Does your phone frequently lose power? Or does it run out of power quickly even after being fully charged?
You must have wondered if the phone had reached the end of its lifespan?
Don't worry, it's just a temporary "heart stoppage," and a small eraser can bring it back to life.
After removing the battery, use an eraser to clean the contacts (brass plates) on the battery, then put it back into the phone. You'll find it's amazing; it's come back to life and looks brand new.
Generally, we have the idea that it's best to completely drain a phone's battery before recharging, which is generally correct. This is because older rechargeable batteries were mostly nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, which have a so-called "memory effect." If you don't fully discharge them before recharging, their lifespan will decrease rapidly. Therefore, we would wait until the last drop of power was left before charging. However, most modern phones and general IA products use lithium-ion (Li) batteries, which do not have this memory effect. If you still wait until the battery is completely drained before recharging, it will prevent the internal chemicals of the lithium-ion battery from reacting properly, thus reducing its lifespan. The best method is to charge it whenever possible to keep it at its optimal full charge level. This will allow your battery to last longer. This information comes from the manufacturer and has been verified through my own testing.
