5 Tips on How to Charge the Battery in your Smartwatch or GPS Tracker

Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries are the newest standard in rechargeable batteries for electronic devices. You probably have one in your mobile phone, and this is the type of battery used in our new smartwatches, GPS trackers and other rechargeable devices. While the capacity of all rechargeable batteries will decrease over time, li-ion batteries have shown to minimize this effect. Still there are basic practices you can follow in order to prolong the life and capacity of your li-ion battery. The following practices will prolong the life of your li-ion battery, and following them will also ensure maximum charging speeds:

1) Avoid discount wall adapters and rapid chargers. Some of the power adapters sold at 'dollar stores' and other discount retailers do not provide the consistent 5.0 volt output necessary to charge your device effectively and without creating battery stress.

2) Ideally, your device should be powered off while charging. If you charge your device while it is powered on, try and disconnect it from the charger soon after charging has completed. Leaving your device powered on and connected to the charger when the battery is fully charged will add stress to your battery. 

3) Charge at a moderate temperature. Do not charge below freezing temperatures. 

4) Try not to operate your device when the remaining charge is very low (5% or below) as this will add stress to your battery. A good rule of thumb is to aim to recharge your battery before it gets to about 10% charge remaining.

5) Do not let your battery discharge completely. Your device was designed to be booted down during power off. If your device shuts down due to no remaining battery charge, it will not have gone through its power down cycle. In this case, once recharged and powered back on, it is advised to reboot your device (power off and back on again). 

More Li-ion Battery Tips:

Storage: Never store your device with a completely drained battery. Ideally, your battery should be charged to about 50% when the device will not be in use for long periods of time.

Excessive Temperature: keep the device away from excessive heat and cold. Do not leave it in a car. While it is normal for your battery to warm a little during charging and especially upon completion of charging, discontinue use of the battery/ charger immediately if battery gets excessively warm.

Want more info about li-ion batteries? Check out Battery University, the free educational website offering hands-on information to engineers, educators media, students and battery users alike!

Click here to view our video detailing 4 methods of charging your Lil Tracker GPS watch