Powerhouse best practice?

#1

So do you leave your Powerhouse plugged in with devices plugged into it when not using as a battery? What would the best practice be for longevity etc?

#2

Hi @Jason_Folkman,
Good question! In general with lithium ion batteries, it is best to leave them with a partial charge (around 50%) if you will not be using them for extended periods of time. You’ll also want to keep the electrons flowing by using the unit periodically (about once a month or so), however you would not want to leave it plugged in constantly charging for extended periods of time as this can “stress” the battery.
Some additional information is available at the following site:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

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#3

Thanks very much!

#4

Three main themes:

  • store it in cool place and seek to use it in a cool place. Batteries age faster, wear out quicker ,under heat.
  • (as Ryan said) when not intended to be used for some time, store at 50% (40%-60%) charge as then it lasts longer
  • (ironically) the actual use of the Powerhouse ages it, it has only so many cycles (about 500) so if you prioritze use of the Powehouse only where it is needed, you extend its life. Note: the batteries are aging anyway even in storage so its a balance of not over-using but still using to gain benefit in the 2-3 years of typical battery life. Use common-sense here, dont just use it when at home there is a wall socket nearby, but use it on trips away.
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