Today’s world is lived day by day: the battery is not enough for everything. From phones and smartwatches to drills or light bulbs, charging is a daily activity due to their constant use, but there are times when they don’t stay still and lose power all the same.

Charging a device to 100% is something that takes seconds or minutes because it cannot be prevented from draining the battery even if it is not running or even turned off. So, even a few stored batteries will wear out over time, and maybe when you want to use them again, they will no longer be useful.

Why do batteries drain even when they are not in use?

The energy never stops, it is always in motion and therefore ready as soon as you touch the device. Although batteries manage to store this energy in a compact space, internally the process continues.

In this way, the electrodes that are stored continue to move regardless of whether the device is turned off or the battery is removed, because at the anatomical level they continue to engage thanks to the chemical reaction inside the battery, although it is much softer. Under normal conditions, functioning.

This is called self-discharge, which is electrical discharge to the battery in the absence of external charge, and it’s something you can’t avoid, but it helps keep exposure from being a problem.

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Slow self-discharge

Although not all batteries work the same and each is charged differently, for example lithium batteries have a degradation rate of 2 to 3% per month and nickel metal hydride batteries 25 to 30% per month. There are general methods that serve to minimize wear and tear.

First of all, if the battery is not in use, it is better to store it in a cold place, without going to the extreme of putting it in the freezer, because it can be completely damaged. So the best option is to choose a cool space like the basement and move them away from places like the workshop or garage.

It is also important to follow each device’s instructions for battery care, one of the most frequent recommendations is to remove the battery if it is not in use, as this can also oxidize the contact area, especially if the battery is completely discharged, as it begins to release chemicals.

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Tips for mobile phones

There are special recommendations for mobile phones, as a mobile phone at rest will lose its charge within minutes. This is mostly caused by apps running in the background.

The best way to avoid draining the battery by the end of the day, even if the mobile is not in use, is to turn off some functions that are not needed. First of all, location, because GPS uses a lot, as does Bluetooth.

But it’s also important to review which apps have permissions to run in the background to limit access from platforms that aren’t needed in this type of case. Also turn off notifications.

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