What's the first thing that comes to mind when a watch battery or a child's toy runs out? That's right - buy a new one and replace it. However, sometimes such a simple action becomes simply impossible. The battery of a device can fail at the most inopportune moment (for example, on the road). What to do if the gadget is necessary, but its operation is impossible due to the battery? In today's article, we will talk about how to extend the life of batteries at least for a short time, what is required for this and whether it is worth doing it at all. At the same time, it is worth understanding not only finger cells, but also their lithium counterparts.
When is it possible to extend the life of galvanic cells
Many people know that simple finger-type batteries cannot be recharged. This is indicated even by a special inscription on some of them. However, this statement is not entirely true. In fact, there are several ways to extend the life of an AA battery.
It should be understood that there are cases in which it is impossible to restore the battery charge. We are talking about the partial or complete destruction of one of the electrodes (in the case of a finger battery, the central rod). The remaining cases are completely solvable. This applies even to options when the battery has expired and the electrolyte inside has dried up. It is worth considering the simplest ways to restore a dead battery in more detail.
Option number 1: the simplest steps to revive the galvanic cell
It is worth figuring out how to extend the life of the batteries by restoring their charge for a short period of time (one to two days). This can be achieved by heating the galvanic cell or by tapping on its body with some object. Of the things that may be at hand on the road, a metal spoon is best.
Most often this method leads to the complete failure of the power supply element. This happens if you overdo it when hitting the battery and damage the central graphite rod. Also, do not bite the body of the element with your teeth. With such a “recovery”, the battery will not last more than an hour. In general, in such cases, any, even the slightest deformation of the outer glass is undesirable.
One more way can be found in the video below.
Option number 2: what to do if the electrolyte in the power cell is dry
It is believed that expired batteries should only be disposed of, but this is not so. Worth a try to restore themperformance. There are plenty of tips on how to extend the life of batteries that have dried out, but the best one is this one.
On the side, closer to the edge, you need to make a hole. Vinegar or even plain water is pumped into it with a syringe. After the liquid ceases to be absorbed, the hole is smeared. To do this, you can use a simple plasticine. It remains to leave the battery for half an hour, after which it can be used.
How to extend the life of your iPhone or Android battery
Modern gadgets are equipped with large screens that quickly "eat up" the battery charge. But the fact that their batteries run out so quickly is not to blame for the display, but for running applications that load the processor. There are 2 options to keep the gadget working as long as possible.
- Through the menu, disable currently unnecessary applications, without the need not to use the Internet. At the same time, you can extend the performance of your smartphone by more than a third of the time.
- If you plan a long-term trip to nature, it is better to take care of such a device as a Power Bank in advance. Such high-capacity external batteries will allow you to fully charge your smartphone several times in the absence of an electrical network. Another option to extend the life of your phone battery is mobile solar panels. Today, the manufacturer offers similar equipment in the form of small handbags. Inside them there is a battery, and on the side walls there are photocells that convert solar energy intoelectric.
Some tips for using power supplies
In order for the question of how to extend the life of batteries to not arise at all, you should follow some rules for using it. The main thing here is the use of exclusively original chargers. Their parameters are calculated by the manufacturer to perfectly match the battery. Of course, this is not always possible, but we must strive for this.
Another mandatory condition is not to allow the battery to completely discharge. This can happen if the gadget is turned off, and the owner is in no hurry to charge it. In this case, self-discharge occurs to zero, which is detrimental to the battery.
Don't connect the adapter unless there is an urgent need to connect the adapter if more than 30% of the battery is left. The fact is that each battery is designed for a certain number of charge / discharge cycles. This means that any inclusion of the gadget in the network will reduce battery life, regardless of how long the power was supplied. Also, do not leave your smartphone or other gadget in direct sunlight. Overheating the battery, as well as its hypothermia, significantly reduces battery life.
In conclusion
There are a lot of ways to extend the life of batteries, but not all of them are safe. It is best to monitor the battery from the first day and use it correctly than to buy a new one later.to replace the broken one. And it's good if the element just stops working. There are cases of ignition and even explosions of lithium batteries, and this is already unsafe.
