Last Sunday, a fire killed a couple and their two children in the Sevillian town of Guillena. The origin of the tragedy was a charging cell phone which was placed on a sofa in the lower part of the house and which started a fire which the neighbors warned about at 8 in the morning. These types of events, although infrequent, raise the safety that these devices offer when left charging for a long period and If there is any risk, a common practice is leaving it connected to the charger overnight..
Why you shouldn’t charge your phone overnight?
The first thing to keep in mind is that most modern smartphones, equipped with some degree of fast charging, They take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to fully charge. This time varies depending on the device’s battery capacity and the power supplied by the charger. For this reason, charging your phone overnight It is unnecessary, but it also accelerates the aging of the battery.
At what percentage of battery is it recommended to charge the mobile phone?
Full charge cycles should be avoided to maximize its lifespan. Instead of a full charge, it is recommended to charge the battery up to 80% and do not let it drop below 20%.
Is it possible to overcharge your phone?
Indeed, lithium ion batteries can be overloadedwhich can lead to security risks such as overheating of the battery and the possibility of fire. However, most modern phones have a built-in protection that automatically stops charging the battery once it reaches 100%avoiding any damage due to overload.
But every time a battery drops to 99%, it starts a “drip charging”: Starts charging again to maintain full charge status.
Trickle charging can wear out a battery over time. For this reason, many manufacturers have incorporated features to regulate it. Samsung Galaxy, for example, provide the option to limit charging to 85%.
Can your phone explode from charging?
It is very unlikely that your smartphone will explode as a result of overcharging, especially since most phones now have the automatic protections mentioned. Still, from time to time cases arise of phones exploding and causing damage. This usually occurs as a result of manufacturing defects, poor quality hardware, or physical damage to the device..
Lithium ion batteries are overheat when the heat generated during charging cannot be dissipated. This can cause, in extreme cases, fires. Additionally, these batteries operate correctly within a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C. At higher ambient temperatures, they may swell due to gas buildup inside, which could end up causing a fire or explosion. This gas is generated by chemical reactions that take place in a defective battery.
Is it dangerous to use inappropriate accessories?
Lastly, the use of an incorrect, faulty or poor quality charger or cable It can also cause overheating, fire hazards, and damage to the phone itself.
In short, it is better to charge the device only as long as you need it to maximize battery life. And make sure you keep the accessories in good condition to avoid the possibility of an accident. But if it is left charging overnight, be careful to Do not have it on easily flammable surfaces.