Want to get the best life of the battery
You can go ahead and charge it to 100%. Maintain it by topping it off periodically. Try to avoid a complete discharge, but if this does occur, simply recharge at your earliest convenience. Each drain reduces the maximum capacity of the battery a little bit.
There are many variables that effect battery life, aside from the battery itself, it can seem quite overwhelming. Here is a table with some good information. The last column, Lithium-ion, is the battery type commonly used in cell phones and tablets. Please consult the documentation that came with your device to confirm this is indeed the case.
Frequently
asked question
Lead acid
(Sealed, flooded)
Nickel-based
(NiCd and NiMH)
Lithium-ion
(Li-ion, polymer)
How should I prepare a new battery?
Battery comes fully charged. Apply topping charge
Charge 14-16h. Priming may be needed
Apply a topping before use. No priming needed
Can I damage
a battery with incorrect use?
Yes, do not store partially charged, keep fully charged
Battery is robust and the performance will improve with use
Keep some charge. Low charge can turn off protection circuit
Do I need to apply a full charge?
Yes, partial charge causes sulfation,
Partial charge is fine
Partial charge better than a full charge
Can I disrupt a charge cycle?
Yes, partial charge causes no harm
Interruptions can cause heat buildup
Partial charge
causes no harm
Should I use up
all battery energy before charging?
No, deep discharge wears battery down. Charge more often
Apply scheduled discharges only to prevent memory
Deep discharge wears the battery down
Do I have to worry about "memory"?
No, there is no memory
Discharge NiCd every 1-3 months
No memory
How do I calibrate a "smart" battery?
Not applicable
Apply discharge/charge when the fuel gauge gets inaccurate. Repeat every 1-3 months
Can I charge with the device on?
Some UPS systems simultaneous charge and deliver current.
It's best to turn the device off during charge; parasitic load can alter full-charge detection and overcharge battery or cause mini-cycles
Must I remove the battery when full?
Depends on charger; needs correct float V
Remove after a few days in charger
Not necessary; charger turns off
How do I store
my battery?
Keep cells above 2.10V, charge
every 6 months
Store in cool place;
a total discharge causes no harm
Store in cool place partially charged, do not fully drain
Is the battery allowed to heat up during charge?
Battery may get lukewarm towards the end of charge
Battery gets warm but must cool down on ready
Battery may get lukewarm towards the end of charge
How do I charge when cold?
Slow charge (0.1): 0-45°C (32-113°F)
Fast charge (0.5-1C): 5-45°C (41-113°F)
Do not charge
below freezing
Can I charge at hot temperatures?
Above 25°C, lower threshold by 3mV/°C
Battery will not fully charge when hot
Do not charge
above 50°C (122°F)
What should I know about chargers?
Charger should float at 2.25-2.30V/cell when ready
Battery should not get too hot; should include temp sensor
Battery must stay cool; no trickle charge when ready
Table 1: Best charging methods. Strenuous demands cannot always be prevented.
http://batteryuniversity.com/
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tablets-in-the-enterprise/how-and-when-to-charge-your-tablet-battery/
There's no harm in keeping it on charge all the time. Unlike older rechargeables, newer Li-ion batteries don't need to be broken in by running them down and then recharging.
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