Get The Most Out of Your Battery Powered Gadgets

If you’re like a lot of people, you have a lot of separate gadgets, and in order to get the most out of all of them you need to figure out the best way to power them.  Since gadgets are generally small and portable electronic devices, they all run off of DC power which either comes directly from a battery or from a power supply that converts the AC power from a wall outlet into DC power.  (Actually, all computerized devices use DC power, but you won’t notice this detail on desktop computers or home entertainment system components because they have their power supplies built in.)  The fact that most gadgets can be powered either from batteries or power supplies that plug into walls give them more versatility than more stationary devices.

Batteries are a huge convenience, but when it comes to getting as much out of them as possible, you need to give them some special considerations to ensure that they last as long as possible and perform as well as possible.  The classic example of a situation that requires that batteries be treated with special care is what’s called the “memory problem.”  Basically, the life time of a battery with a memory problem will grow progressively shorter every time that it’s charged.  That’s because whatever charge the battery has when it’s recharged becomes it’s new empty level.  In other words, this type of battery must be completely depleted before it’s recharged or else the life expectancy of the battery will be shortened drastically.

Fortunately there aren’t many batteries on the market these days that have a memory problem.  All batteries have a limited life expectancy, but most modern batteries can be charged at any point so that maintaining a full charge is much easier and more convenient.  In fact, some newer batteries benefit from being charged as often as possible.  It’s worth checking the documentation when it comes to charging instructions for the battery of whatever gadget you happen to get.

Power supplies are also a necessary part of most gadgets.  Power supplies are generally packages that will step AC wall current down to whatever voltage and amperage are required by the gadget that it came with.  Many gadgets can run off of power supplies exclusively without the actual gadget being connected.  This is a good option for any laptop computer that one wishes to use more like a desktop computer.  (In fact, removing the battery from such a gadget when it’s on AC power is a good idea because it will help the battery last longer.)  One thing that should be noted though is that any time a laptop computer is being used in your lap, it should probably be running off of battery power- even if there is an outlet nearby.  That’s because the connector between the power supply and the computer is fragile and can be damaged by the motion of moving the computer around on your lap.

Another thing that can help to enhance the usefulness of your battery powered gadgets is the proper equipment to keep them charged.  Most gadgets that have batteries that are made specifically for them act as the charging stations for those batteries.  If your gadget requires a more generic battery size- like AA, C, D, or AAA- you might need a separate charger.  Models that might be worth considering for when you’re on the go can plug into your car’s electrical system or your laptop’s USB port for power.  Another good idea is to have a power strip along with you when you travel that you can plug all of your gadgets into when you get the opportunity to top off their charges.

A little bit of prior planning can help you to get the most out of your battery powered gadgets.