Can You Overcharge Electronics?

Proper battery care can significantly increase the longevity of an electronic device and although measures have been taken to ensure that overcharging is unlikely, many electronic devices can still suffer from overheated batteries. Overcharging a device can also increase energy costs, with British energy provider E.ON reporting that consumers waste a significant amount of money by leaving devices plugged in for longer than necessary.

Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are used in many everyday electronic devices, such as phones and laptops. These batteries are manufactured to prevent overcharging but they still occasionally suffer unexpected failure, especially when exposed to extreme conditions. Many modern chargers contain automatic switch off features to prevent long term damage from occurring, although care should still be taken to avoid problems.

Lithium-polymer Batteries

Lithium-polymer batteries are similar to lithium-ion batteries and you need to pay similar care and attention to ensure both maintain optimal performance. Apple uses Lithium-polymer batteries in their iPods, iPads, iPhones and notebooks, and the company specifically recommends that their devices not be plugged in permanently and that at least one complete charge cycle should be occur every month.


Standard Charging

Lithium-polymer batteries have different charge speeds, depending on how full the battery is. When charging a battery that carries less than 80 percent power, lithium-polymer batteries will charge at a fast speed. The remaining 20 percent will be charged at a much slower speed, until the battery is full. Depleting a battery and then recharging is known as a "cycle" and lithium-polymer batteries have a limited number of cycles before their effectiveness begins to wane.

Battery Damage

Overcharging a battery can cause long-term damage and reduces its maximum power capacity. The heat of an overcharged battery will cause the electrolytes contained inside to evaporate, which in turn leads to plate failure. Battery damage due to overcharging is often not covered under warranty, so be sure to check your battery manually if you are unsure of its charge status. If the battery component feels excessively hot to touch, you should disconnect the charger immediately.

Guidelines for Charging Electronics

If possible, portable devices should be turned off while charging. Battery charges should always be conducted in a stable environment -- do not expose a battery to excessive heat or cold and immediately stop charging if the battery becomes excessively warm. Lithium-based batteries do not require a full charge and can operate better on a smaller charge. Batteries that are not in regular use require at least one complete charge cycle once a month in order to maintain performance.



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