I purchased my first power bank (Mi 10000mAh) in the year 2017, but it didn’t last very long.

I was a bit disappointed at first, but then I tried to know the reasons why my power bank failed so quickly.

Thanks to the Tech Forums, I was able to find the exact reason – poor maintenance.

What We Covered? show

Yes, since I am a newbie at that time, I didn’t know how to take care of the power bank, which resulted in decreased battery life and lifespan.

And, my next device is from the same brand (Mi 20000mAh Power Bank) is still going strong and for the last couple of months, I am using it to power my Netgear WiFi router during the frequent power outages in my area (see this video).

So, in this article, I will be explaining the reasons for the reduced life of the power bank and also few useful tips on how to prolong the battery life further.

Tips to Increase Battery Life of Power Bank
Note: A Power Bank is like an Inverter Battery or UPS Battery that stores the energy and gives back when required.

How to Increase Battery Life & Charging Efficiency of Power Bank?

These are the tips that I personally followed to increase the lifespan of my power bank along with its battery charging capacity effectively.

1. Buy Only from a Trusted Brand with Best Service Support

Always purchase the from the trusted power bank manufacturer with good reviews and best after-sales support.

Though there are many sellers that offer cheaper power banks, they won’t last very long and may in turn damage your Smartphone/Tablet due to the lack of surge protection.

The best power bank brands in India are Xiaomi, Anker, Syska, Ambrane, Huawei, Redmi, Realme, OnePlus, iBall, Lenovo etc..

2. Get a Power Bank with Latest Features

Since the Smartphone technology is evolving day by day with latest features, getting an older power bank model is not advisable.

You should get a mobile bank that has latest features like USB Type C port, Fast charging support, big battery capacity and multiple USB ports.

Though you may not have use of these features, they may come handy when you replace your oil mobile with the latest Smartphone model in the future.

And, please get the power banks with lithium polymer batteries which are slightly more expensive than those with lithium-ion batteries.

But, they last longer and support greater capacities too.

3. Don’t use Quick Charge Option Unnecessarily

Most users will not have the patience to wait for their Smartphone to get fully charged in the quickest possible time.

So, they use the Quick Charging option to speed up the charging times.

However, this increases the stress on the battery cells in addition to the temperature and as a result your power bank’s lifespan is going to be reduced.

So, if you’re not in a hurry, try to use the second USB port that usually comes without the Fast Charge or Quick Charging support.

4. Use High Quality USB Cable with Short Length

If you don’t know already, the cheap quality cables increase load on the devices and hence it is always advised to use a high quality USB cable to keep your power bank safe and also to get the best charging times.

Additionally, the shorter cables are better when compared to long cables.

Unlike the longer ones, the short length cables do not waste a lot of current and frequent voltage drops.

The ideal length of a power bank USB cable is 6 to 12 inches.

So, try to use a good quality short length cable to extend the battery life of your power bank.

5. Use Your Power Bank Regularly

Try to use the power bank regularly to charge your electronic devices like mobiles, tablets, digital cameras etc…

This way, your power bank will not sit idle for too long and over time will have improved battery life too.

And, if you don’t have any use of your power bank for some time, then charge it to 50%, store it in a safer place and discharge it completely once a month. Repeat this cycle as long as you’re not using it regularly.

This way, the energy won’t go wasted unnecessarily (see point 9).

6. Only Use the Power Bank with Compatible Devices

All the electronic devices come with a specific charging rate, which is measured in mAh.

While the regular mobiles can just work on 1A of current, the tablets need around 2.1 A of current to get charged, due to bigger batteries.

And, since these power banks usually requires 5V chargers, the final wattage can be calculated as: 1A x 5V = 5 Watts or 2.1A x 5V = 10.5 Watts.

As the manufacturers are coming up with newer Smartphone models every other day with larger batteries, it is better to get the power bank that is compatible with your models.

7. Charge Your Power Bank using Power Outlet & Not Laptop USB Port

The power bank usually gets charged faster when plugged into a power outlet rather than the USB port of your laptop or PC.

This is because the power outlet has better output voltage when compared with the computer USB ports.

So, always get your power bank charged using a power outlet for better charging times.

8. Don’t Charge the Battery Bank to 100% without Necessity

Generally, most power banks come with Lithium Polymer or Lithium-Ion batteries, which lose some capacity after each cycle (charging/discharging).

And, every time you charge your power bank to 100%, the voltage limit is also exceeded,

It also leads to overcharging, thereby causing unnecessary overheating.

However, by charging your power bank a little less than 100%, say 80 to 90%, then they will last much longer than usual times.

Say for example, a lithium-ion battery will last for up to 300 to 500 cycles when charged to 4.20 V/cell. And, the same battery lasts for 600 to 1000 cycles when you charge it to 4.10 V.

9. Charge the Powerbank to 50%, If Not Using for a Long Time

Extremely low battery or fully charged power bank, if kept without use for longer periods, will lose its charging efficiency.

So, if you won’t be using your power bank for a long time, store it in a safe place away from your kids with a minimum 50% charge.

That way, the energy doesn’t go wasted much and your power bank will be good to use when you need it again.

10. Always Keep the Power Bank in a Cooler Place

Not just the power bank, all electronic devices are usually very sensitive to heat and hence it is advised to store them in a place with proper ventilation away from the heat.

However, it doesn’t mean you should keep the power bank in a refrigerator, which is even worse.

And, also try to use the power bank in right weather and temperatures, away from the sunlight and mostly indoors if possible.

Since the resistance and flow of current is affected when you expose your power bank to hot climates, it is always advised to use them at normal temperatures of 20 to 25 degree Celsius.

Doing so, you can increase the life of your power bank easily.

11. Do not Use Pass Through Charging Feature

Pass through charging means that you’re charging your Smartphone using a power bank while the bank is getting charged using a wall outlet.

This is the biggest mistake most users make. They think that with passthrough charging, both their devices will get charged easily.

But, the problem here is that your power bank battery produces a lot of heat as its power is continuously getting discharged while being charged.

This also imposes more stress on the battery cells, thus the lifespan of the battery bank will also get affected severely.

So, please do not charge your power bank and Smartphone at the same time, when connected to each other.

12. Limit Charging Current  to Prolong Battery Life

Some brands offer charging their power bank models using the lower current (below 2 Amps).

As you’re using less current here, the power bank produces less heat and offer better battery life

So, if your power bank model comes with low current charging mode, then better use the feature to prolong its life.

13. Never Let Your Mobile Battery Bank Get Wet

This happens to most people who usually keep their power bank and mobile on the dining table beside a glass of water or other liquids.

And, when not careful, the water may get spilled over the power bank, which could damage the internal parts.

So, keep your power bank away from the water unless it is water resistant.

14. Try Not to Drop Your Power Bank Frequently

Due to the premium metallic finishes that are usually slippery in nature, most users will accidentally drop their power banks on the floor.

And, if it hits the floor that is hard or at an inconvenient angle, then two things may happen – you may lose your power bank completely or the charging efficiency will decrease exponentially.

Either ways, you’ll be at a great loss on your investment.

So, always try to use a protective silicone-rubber casing on top of your power bank and even then, try not to drop it more frequently.

15. Do Not Clean Your Power Bank with Corrosive Chemicals

Lastly, clean your power bank regularly to get rid of any dirt or dust, especially from the USB ports that may hamper the charging efficiency.

However, only use a clean cloth, earbud with cotton or brush to clean the dirt from your power bank.

Stay away from using corrosive chemicals that oxidize the metals inside the power bank, thereby damaging it completely.

Final Word:

A power bank is a worthy investment, especially if you’re a busy person or a traveling freak who needs extra battery backup handy at all times.

However, it is advised to take proper care of your power bank using these maintenance tips and increase the charging efficiency as well as the life of your power bank.