How To Extend Your Cellphone's Lithium ion (Lithion) Battery

With the use of cell phones quickly replacing the use of land lines, increasing the life of the cell phone battery has become more important. Lithium Ion batteries are an immense improvement over what users have had in the past, but there are things you and I are doing that is killing battery life.

According to Battery University.com, lithium ion batteries should last 2-3 years, yet the average user reports that their battery dies after only one year of use. Much of the loss of usage comes from too frequently charging your phone or leaving it plugged into the charger for too long.

To prolong the life of your battery, it is recommended that you do the following:

1. With a new battery, follow the manufacturers' instructions for charging. Lithium Ion batteries function best if they are "conditioned" when you first start charging them. The first three times you charge your battery, allow it to drain completely before recharging and charge it overnight. Always use the manufacturer's recommended charger.
2. It is much better for your battery to have partial recharges as opposed to frequent full recharges. Contrary to popular belief, lithium ion batteries to not retain memory, so beyond the first three charges, full discharge is no longer necessary.
3. If you have to store your battery for any reason or have a backup battery for convenience, it is better for it long-term use if it is charged to 40% capacity.
4. Keep your battery cool. Don't carry your phone in your pocket or leave it in the car. Heat of this type can damage the battery and reduce it's life, so if the phone feels hot, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
5. Periodically clean the contact terminals on both the phone and the charger to ensure proper performance. Most manufacturers recommend using rubbing alcohol.

There are some simple things you can do to increase the amount of time between charges:

1. Turn off your phone when it is not in use. If you don't answer your phone when you're sleeping or at work, turn it off. It also helps to turn it off if you are in areas with no service, or if the phone starts roaming for a signal. This uses up a lot of battery power as well.

2. Keep your calls short. The less time you use your phone, the longer the charge will last.
3. Turn off Vibrate on your phone; it uses a lot of battery power. Use a ringtone and keep it set at the lowest level you can.
4. Use the power save function. Most phone will now have this feature.

5. Don't use your camera or internet access. These will run down your battery very quickly. Also, disable your BlueTooth capability when it is not in use.
6. Backlight is a battery hog, so turn it off if you can. If you need to use it, see if you can set the length of time it is on per use. One to two seconds should be long enough.