Ask anyone what the most frustrating point is of any of their handheld or electronic gadgets today and the odds are pretty good that they are going to mention the charging of their devices. No matter what you may do you never seem to have the charge that you need all day to help you keep your device going without having to shut it off or find somewhere to plug it in. Battery life has always been an issue with devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets and everyone tries all kinds of tips, tricks and hints to try to get the most out of the charges they get. There are some myths that exist when it comes to charging your devices that you should be aware of that can effect just how you keep everything charged properly.
- Don’t Charge Overnight – People have always been wary about leaving their devices plugged in overnight to charge. There has always been the thought that you could overcharge the battery, particularly when it comes to your laptop or smartphone, making the battery less effective overall. While the notion may have been true in the past, today’s batteries used in these devices are designed to automatically shut off when they have reached capacity so even if they are left plugged in they are not charging anymore. You have nothing to fear by leaving your device connected overnight.
- Stay Away From Third Party Charging – There is a distinction here that you do need to be aware of regarding third-party charging cables and devices and knockoff devices. Third-party devices are from reputable companies that can provide you with the charge that you need. Will they perform as well as devices from the manufacturer? Not likely, and you should expect them to take longer to charge your device. Knockoffs are from companies you likely have never heard of and are sold at prices so low they seem too good to be true. The problem is that they are too good to be true and often are the ones that cause problems to occur, like shorts and shocks.
- Drain Your Battery Before Charging – This is another old myth that has carried on for many years. For older style batteries that were nickel-cadmium batteries, this process actually worked. The lithium-ion batteries that are used in nearly every device today do not function this same way. The newer batteries are actually more effective if they are charged between forty and eighty percent most of the time.
Some of the myths that exist regarding charging your devices and how they should be handled have carried over for many years since the early days of computing. That has made them hard habits to break for many people and they simply keep believing in them even though the technology has changed quite a bit in the last twenty years. You do want to try to keep your devices well charged for when you need them most and try not to buy into many of the myths out there that exist today.