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What is a Cell Phone Battery?

Erika Peterson
Erika Peterson

A cell phone battery is a rechargeable battery that allows a cellular phone to be used anywhere. The battery is revitalized with a charger specifically designed for a particular phone and battery. A charger usually needs to be plugged into a power source; such as, an electrical outlet or a car cigarette lighter for a recharge.

A new cell phone battery needs to be fully charged in order to operate at its maximum capacity. Newer cell phones are more likely to have lithium-ion batteries, and it is important that the user read the directions that come with the cell phone to properly charge the cell phone battery. Batteries will last longer if they are used at room temperature and allowed to be kept cool. Leaving the phone in a hot area or direct sunlight will wear on the battery, as will keeping it in a pocket, where it will be heated by body temperature.

Cell phone batteries are routinely recharged.
Cell phone batteries are routinely recharged.

Lithium-ion batteries should charge for about six hours before use. This kind of battery should not be allowed to fully discharge, but be recharged when the phone indicates one bar left of power. The life of a lithium-ion battery is shortened every time it is allowed to discharge. This is not true of nickel-based batteries which should be charged initially for about 16 hours and should be allowed to be fully charged and discharged several times.

If a battery will no longer hold a charge, it should be replaced.
If a battery will no longer hold a charge, it should be replaced.

The portability of a cell phone is its main attraction, and a phone is only as mobile as its cell phone battery. For that reason, getting the most out of the battery is important. One must consider how to make the battery last longer in between charging, and how to prolong the battery life. To conserve the battery's power it is important to remember a few things. First, turn the phone off during sleeping or after-business hours, or when it is in an area with no reception. Also, one should avoid using unnecessary features if the next charge time will not be imminent. Using the camera, or connecting to Bluetooth® or the internet will quickly drain the cell phone battery.

Constantly searching for service depletes a battery quickly. In a roaming area or place with a poor signal, it is better to turn off the phone or make use of a cell phone repeater. A cell phone repeater will amplify a signal to cut down on the power the phone uses to search for reception.

If the battery becomes warm during recharge or phone use, this may one indication that the battery is beginning to fail. Other indicators are a swollen battery case and a hard spot developing on the inner surface of the battery.

Discussion Comments

Pippinwhite

A cell phone battery is an incredibly expensive little piece of equipment that will go bad with no warning and will often cost more to replace than the phone is worth.

That's one of the few drawbacks to the convenience of a cell phone. They are portable and so very handy, but when a phone with $50 of technology goes bad, it will cost less to replace it with a new one than it will to fork over $80 for a new battery.

The key is to make the battery last as long as possible, and one way to do that is to let it run down completely every so often before recharging it. This helps maintain the battery's capacity and health.

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    • Cell phone batteries are routinely recharged.
      By: anderm
      Cell phone batteries are routinely recharged.
    • If a battery will no longer hold a charge, it should be replaced.
      By: Xuejun li
      If a battery will no longer hold a charge, it should be replaced.