Battery Saving Tips for Your Favourite Devices

Date : 03 April 2018

In a perfect world we could use our favourite devices over and over again without giving a moment’s worry to their remaining battery life. Unfortunately, even the best batteries eventually run out of energy and either need to be recharged or replaced. While we can’t change this fate, there are a number of things we can do to ensure that our batteries last as long as possible. Read on as we share some of these battery saving tips!

1. Smartphones

We’ve all felt that moment of dread when a notification pops up on our phones, warning us of a low battery. If you’re out the house and without a charger, you can preserve precious battery life by making small changes, including dimming your screen’s brightness and turning off your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use. In addition to these quick fixes, you may also choose to forego using apps that are known battery drainers – including the camera, games and location services.

Have you ever heard that closing all your apps helps, too? As it turns out, this is a battery saving myth. According to techadviser.co.uk, background apps don’t use much battery power – it’ll actually use more power to close and relaunch the app versus simply letting it run. You may however consider lengthening your background app ‘refresh’ times. One more smartphone battery saving tip includes switching to silent and disabling the vibrate option.

2. Digital cameras

Capturing as many photos as possible all starts with your digital camera’s LCD screen. By turning it off or at the very least lowering its brightness, you can help to save battery life. Another tip is to stick to the basics of just taking photos – and steer clear of the preview button. Photos can easily be reviewed and deleted as necessary once they’re added to your laptop or PC.

In addition, you may also consider limiting the use of certain features like the flash or zoom function. Sometimes, the cold can also cause batteries to lose power quicker than usual. If you suspect this to be the case, you can get them to work as usual by warming them up in between your hands or inside your jacket.

3. Laptops

Similar to the smartphone, we rely on our laptops to stay connected and get stuff done. While you can keep your laptop up and running for longer by adjusting the screen’s brightness, two lesser-known ways for doing so include adjusting your screen to a lower resolution and turning off your keyboard backlighting.

When it comes to saving battery on your laptop, the key is to commit to single-tasking. This means carrying out only one task at a time and closing any additional programs. You might also benefit from switching to simpler tools for completing the same tasks like using a basic text editor when you need to make notes instead of Microsoft Word, for example.

4. Remotes

Have you ever gone to change the channel only to find that your remote’s batteries have died? Or seen the excitement fade on your little one’s face when that remote-controlled toy you bought a while ago no longer works, even though they’ve only used it once or twice? It’s in these moments when we realise how much we take working batteries for granted. Keep your remote batteries working for longer by paying special attention to how you store them. Batteries should always be stored in a cool, dry place and away from extreme heat.

Sometimes a remote may get lost underneath a pile of magazines on the coffee table, resulting in buttons being pressed unnecessarily from the weight. This is why it’s also a good idea to have a separate, designated space to store your remotes. If you don’t plan on using the device for an extended period of time, it’s also recommended to remove the batteries and store them in a safe space – free from anything metal like loose change or scissors, for example. Not only will they last longer, but you will also avoid potential leakage and damage to the remote.

General battery saving tips

Here are some general battery saving tips to keep in mind:

• Use batteries of the same age -Old and new batteries should never be used in the same device. This is because the new battery will work to compensate for the old battery’s lack of power, resulting in the overall reduced performance of your device.
• Use the right battery for the job – Low, medium and high drain devices require different batteries to meet their differing energy needs. Unsure of which battery to use for which device? Consult our simple guide to choosing the right battery.
• Remove batteries from seldom-used devices– Even though your device isn’t being used, the batteries inside them are still slowly being drained of power. Rather remove your unused batteries and store them in a cool, dry and corrosive-free place.
• Always have a spare pack of batteries on hand– The reality is that batteries will eventually need to be replaced. When this happens, the entire process will be a lot quicker and less painful if you’ve got some spares at the ready. Just remember to keep them in their original packaging until you are ready to use them.