Top 10 ways to keep your batteries in tip-top shape!

There's always a mystery behind batteries that many people don't understand. They are an everyday part of life for 95% of the world, yet people don't usually know how they work, or how to take care of them. I hope this changes that.

Before we begin, here's some basics.

What is a battery?
A battery is a storage device for electrical energy. Basically, gooey stuff inside a battery holds an electron charge because of how the battery is made.

[Two metallic strips are held apart, and the goo between them allows the electrons to want to flow in a specific direction. By adding a wire to the other end, we can get the electrons to move through the wire on the back end of the process.]

Why do batteries die?
Usually batteries die when some, or all, of the contents inside corrode or are unable to conduct internally. Batteries can be revitalized and recharged by applying voltage back through them, but only rechargeable batteries are designed for the cause.

[Alkaline batteries can be recharged to an extent. It's never a good idea, however.]

And now...
Top 10 ways to keep your batteries in tip-top shape!

10. Don't put them in extreme hot environments. Heat can make them explode! It is a bad idea to leave a battery on the dashboard of a car in the sun. Also, keep lithium ion batteries out of water.

9. Make sure batteries you buy aren't defective. Most batteries have a return policy if they don't work well. Always contact the manufacturer if there's a problem -- they'll send you replacements in order to diagnose what went wrong usually.

8. Know if overcharging is a problem or not. Most chargers today counteract overcharging, but read your device's manual to see if it supports trickle charge mode. Devices that support trickle charge can remain plugged in while the battery is at 100% and will not damage the battery.

7. When you go on vacation or put a device into storage, use up the power so the battery is roughly 50% charge. Remove the battery from the device when storing them. This will reduce any effect from having the excess energy running off lifetime of the battery.

6. If any battery feels very hot after use, let it have time to cool down. Never continue to use a battery if it feels hot enough to burn you. Laptop fires have happened because of faulty batteries -- be on the safe side.

5. Keep extra batteries. Cellphones and laptops need power, so keep extra batteries. In case of emergency, you might just need extra power. Also, if your current battery dies suddenly, you won't have to worry about ordering another and having to wait to use your device.

4. If your battery no longer holds a charge for long enough, consider deep freezing it. Some people report success putting a battery in newspaper and placing it in a freezer for 1-2 weeks. I've attempted it to some success. If you do this, make sure you drain all power out of the battery first, then freeze, then thaw the battery completely to room temperature before using it.

3. Invest in solar/portable chargers. These devices save energy from the sun or other batteries in order to charge your devices. The field is growing, so keep checking back on your favorite sites to see what has been released recently.

2. Consider upgrading a battery to a high-capacity version. Many manufacturers sell batteries that fit into your current devices, but offer double the battery time. Check online to see if anything can work for you. Always save your receipt... some batteries won't fit in devices correctly, even if they say they won't.

1. Use your batteries, and keep recharging them! Power cycling helps to establish a life cycle and healthy use maintains that cycle. If you can't recharge a battery, or you run on AC power, take your battery out at 50% charge for storage.

Hopefully these tips can help you keep your batteries running smoothly!