- The "Memory Effect": A Ghost of Batteries Past
- The Modern Answer: Draining is Not Needed and is Bad
- Best Practices: How Do You Charge a Portable Charger for Maximum Lifespan?
- What About the Very First Charge?
- The Role of the Battery Management System (BMS)
- How to Charge a Portable Battery in Different Situations
- Protect your power bank with better charging habits.
Do You Need to Drain the Battery of Power Bank before Charging?
- The "Memory Effect": A Ghost of Batteries Past
- The Modern Answer: Draining is Not Needed and is Bad
- Best Practices: How Do You Charge a Portable Charger for Maximum Lifespan?
- What About the Very First Charge?
- The Role of the Battery Management System (BMS)
- How to Charge a Portable Battery in Different Situations
- Protect your power bank with better charging habits.
Most individuals pose the following query: in order to have a long life span with a power bank, do you leave it to drain down prior to charging? It is old knowledge regarding batteries. It still exists today. Technology has evolved, therefore charging requirements have evolved along with it. This manual will clarify the true and false and present to you the mode of operation of the new batteries and the appropriate manner of charging the devices that will have a long life span.
The "Memory Effect": A Ghost of Batteries Past
The old rule of thumb was to drain a battery all the way down before it got charged. It was due to something called the "memory effect." This was an issue with old batteries of the type Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd). If you kept charging an old Ni-Cd battery that was at 50% many times, it would "remember" 50%. It would consider 50% the new 0%.
This made the battery hold less power. To get past that, the users were recommended to drain the battery completely and then recharge it completely. This would "reset" the memory of the battery and get it to full power again. But that tip is old and wrong today. These days' power banks, mobile phones, and laptops have Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. These new batteries do not have the memory effect problem.
The Modern Answer: Draining is Not Needed and is Bad
Do you have to drain the brand-new power bank? Extremely short and extremely easy answer, no. Actually, it can be detrimental to the long-term health of a Lithium-ion battery to drain it all the way down to 0% before the level of charge desired.
Utilizing all the power is tough on the pieces inside the battery. If a Li-ion battery's power is drawn down to very low levels, the battery can be damaged. The damage can not be reversed, and it may be unable to store a charge ever again. Many of the new power banks have safety components to prevent this. But taking the battery to the extreme many times will cause it to deteriorate more quickly. This will cause it to last shorter.
Best Practices: How Do You Charge a Portable Charger for Maximum Lifespan?
So, you should not fully drain your power bank. Then what is the right way to take care of it? Following a few simple tips will help you keep the battery healthy. It will also make sure it works well for many years.
The 20-80% "Sweet Spot"
Lithium-ion batteries work best and are under the least amount of stress when they are kept between 20% and 80% full. Think of it like a person. You don't want to be totally tired or always running as fast as you can. The same idea is true for batteries.
So, instead of one long charge from 0% to 100%, it is much better for the battery to have many small charges. You should charge your power bank when it gets down to about 20-30%. And you should unplug it when it gets to 80-90%. This is the best way to make it last longer.
Avoid Very Hot or Cold Places
Heat is the biggest enemy of any battery. Hot places, like a car in the sun, make the chemicals inside the battery work faster. This makes it wear out faster and holds less power forever. You should always keep and charge your power bank in a cool, shady place.
Very cold weather is also a problem. It does not cause permanent damage like heat does. But the cold can make a battery work less well for a short time. It will seem like it is losing power much faster than normal.
Use a Good Charger and Cable
The charger and cable you use are very important. You should always try to use the cable that came with your power bank or a good cable from a brand you trust. A cheap, bad cable might not be able to handle fast charging. This can lead to slow charging and the cable getting too hot. You should also use a wall plug that gives the right amount of power for your power bank. This makes sure the charge is good and safe.
What About the Very First Charge?
People often ask what to do with a new power bank. You do not need to "train" the battery. But it is a good idea to charge it all the way to 100% without stopping the first time. This first charge helps set up the power meter inside. This makes sure the percentage you see is correct. After this first time, you can start using the 20-80% rule for normal use.
The Role of the Battery Management System (BMS)
New power banks are very smart. They have a small computer inside called a Battery Management System (BMS). This system is the brain of the power bank. Its job is to protect the battery. The BMS always checks things like:
Overcharging: It stops charging when the battery is at 100% so it does not get hurt.
Over-discharging: It will shut the power bank down before the battery power gets too low.
Temperature: It checks the battery's temperature. It can slow down or stop charging if it gets too hot.
This smart system makes new batteries very safe. For great safety, the EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank uses good systems to check the temperature and protect its battery.
How to Charge a Portable Battery in Different Situations
Knowing how do you charge a portable charger correctly also means picking the right power source. The most common way is to use a wall outlet. This gives a good and fast charge. You can also charge a power bank from a computer's USB port, but this is usually much slower.
Charging in a car is also possible. But you should use a good 12V adapter and not the car's weak built-in USB ports. Many new power banks can also be charged with solar panels. This gives you a way to power up when you are far from any outlets.
Protect your power bank with better charging habits.
The idea that you need to fully drain your power bank is old and wrong. For today’s Lithium-ion batteries, the way to make them last a long time is to not go to 0% or 100% too much. You can make it last longer by keeping your power bank between 20-80% full, keeping it away from high heat, and using good cables and chargers. Good charging habits are the best thing you can do for your portable power. Need a very fast and safe charge? The EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank with good X-VELO batteries is perfect for travel.