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The two most common mobile phone battery types are Nickel Metal Hydride (also known as ni-mh) and Lithium Ion (also known as li-ion). The basic differences between the two types and further information is detailed below.
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries:
These batteries were introduced in the early 1990's as an improvement over older chemistries like Nickel Cadmium (NiCd). Although they may have a very slight memory effect, NiMH batteries are much more reliable than previous chemistries. Compared to a NiCd battery of equal size, a NiMh battery will run for 30-40% longer on each charge. NiMH batteries can also be recharged 60% in just 15 minutes. The unique NiMH chemistry packs much more power than NiCd. Additionally, NiMH batteries often have twice the lifespan of NiCds.
Lithium Ion batteries :
These are probably the most popular batteries available. Li-ION have replaced Ni-MH batteries for many phones because they provide 4 distinct advantages:
1) 40% longer Standby and Talk Times than Ni-Mh.
2) Lighter and more compact than Ni-Mh batteries.
3) LiIon batteries do not suffer from memory effect .
4) The battery lifespan will be over 30% longer than Ni-Mh batteries because the cells can accept more charge cycles.
Memory Effect :
The term "memory" in reference to batteries means the battery "remembers" its usual discharge point and superficially "needs" a charge whenever it hits that point. In other words, if you have a Ni-Mh battery that always gets discharged to only 50% of its capacity, it will eventually not run below that 50% mark if you ever wanted to discharge it to a lower point.
Standby and Talk Times :
Standby and Talk Times are affected by a number of variables such as Digital vs. Analog, Ni-Mh vs. Li-Ion, Model and Age of Phone, Temperature, and Humidity. These variable factors make it difficult to determine the exact amount of Standby and Talk Time any given mobile phone battery will provide. Also, in simple terms the higher the mAh rating of the battery the longer the Standby and Talk Time will be.
Please Note: mAh – stands for "milli Amp hours" and is the measurement of a battery's storage capacity.
How to maximize the life of your battery:
There are several things you can do to maximize the useful life of your battery: Dirty battery contacts are the number one source of charging problems. Clean the battery contacts with alcohol and a cotton swab from time to time. Make sure no cotton is left on the contact points. Don't leave your rechargeable batteries dormant for extended periods. Take them for a "spin around the block" every so often. Batteries that sit idle for extended periods of time without charging begin to lose their ability to hold a charge and will self-discharge, so remember to charge them again before use. Always store batteries in a cool, dry place away from heat and metal objects.
Intitial Charge Cycle :
Initially new batteries (all types) must be charged for 14 - 16 hours continuously. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if your battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery may show false full charge as indicated on your phone or charger. Also the battery may not power up the phone because of low voltage. For the first 3 - 5 cycles, please make sure to charge the battery fully and drain it fully before recharging. This will properly condition the battery and will ensure that it will operate at its maximum capacity. This is recommended for all mobile phone batteries. You can discharge most phones by unplugging the charger and leaving it turned on until completely discharged.
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