How to Extend the Lifespan of Portable Power Stations
Portable power stations are expensive, so it's important to make them last as long as possible. This article explains the factors that affect the lifespan of portable power stations and how to extend it.
Posted at: 2024.10.7
Factors Determining the Lifespan of Portable Power Stations
Battery Cycle
The most clearly degraded component in portable power stations is the battery.
Batteries undergo internal degradation through a process known as a "cycle," which involves fully discharging the battery and then charging it back to full, followed by another discharge. This degradation is unavoidable as current batteries rely on chemical reactions for energy storage.
The rate at which a battery degrades is indicated by the "charge/discharge cycle count." The cycle count varies depending on the type of battery; currently, most portable power stations use lithium-ion batteries, which come in different types, each with its own cycle count.
The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery has the highest cycle count, around 3,000 cycles, while the more commonly used ternary lithium-ion batteries have about 500 cycles.
Thus, the type of battery used in a portable power station significantly influences its lifespan from the moment of purchase.
BMS (Battery Management System)
The BMS is a crucial component of portable power stations, often referred to as their "heart." It is responsible for managing the battery effectively.
The BMS prevents overcharging and deep discharging of the battery. If the quality of the BMS is low, the battery will degrade more quickly, leading to a shorter lifespan. Therefore, even if a portable power station uses a lithium iron phosphate battery with a high cycle count, a low-quality BMS can result in the battery degrading before reaching its specified cycle count.
One challenge with portable power stations is that there are no definitive indicators for BMS quality. Therefore, users must rely on reviews and experiences to assess BMS reliability.
Inverter Quality
Portable power stations are equipped with inverters that convert DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current). If the inverter quality is low, conversion efficiency will decrease, leading to increased energy waste, which ultimately affects the overall lifespan of the system.
Heat Dissipation Design
Heat is a primary concern for batteries. To prevent excessive internal temperatures, portable power stations need effective cooling systems and heat dissipation designs. Inadequate heat management can lead to rapid degradation of the battery and internal circuits.
Particular attention should be paid to the following points:
- Compact design with large capacity
- High power output while remaining quiet
- Fanless portable power stations
A smaller housing can trap heat, while claims of quiet operation may indicate that the fan is intentionally kept off to reduce noise. Similarly, fanless portable power stations should be approached with caution.
Portable power stations that tend to trap excessive internal heat not only risk degrading the battery more quickly than designed but may also pose a fire hazard due to abnormal battery overheating.
How to Extend the Lifespan of Portable Power Stations
The Most Important Factor: "Buying Products from High-Quality Manufacturers"
As we've seen so far, there isn't much that users can do to extend the lifespan of portable power stations. In other words, it’s fair to say that "the overall lifespan is determined at the time of purchase."
No matter how high-quality a portable power station equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery may be, if the BMS quality and heat dissipation structure are not well-designed, the battery may fail before its expected lifespan. Even with a solid BMS and heat dissipation design, if a ternary lithium-ion battery is used, it won't achieve the same cycle count as a lithium iron phosphate battery.
In this regard, manufacturers that produce and sell portable power stations extensively and for a long time generally have advantages in terms of technology, experience, and cost.
So how can you identify a "high-quality manufacturer"? The length of the product warranty is one of the most straightforward indicators. Manufacturers that offer warranties longer than the typical one year—such as three or five years—demonstrate confidence in their products, suggesting that the lifespan of their portable power stations is also likely to be longer.
Innovating in Charging and Discharging Methods
One of the few things users can do to extend the lifespan of portable power stations is to be mindful of how they charge and discharge them.
Lithium-ion batteries are known to degrade more easily when they are "fully discharged" or "fully charged." Therefore, it is recommended to use portable power stations at a charging level of "about 10% to 90%."
The key point is not to "fully charge or fully discharge" but rather to avoid leaving the battery in those states for extended periods. When not in use, you should:
- Store the battery at around 50% charge.
- Charge it at least once every six months.
These practices can help prevent degradation of the battery in portable power stations.
Additionally, avoid rapid charging and discharging, as these can cause heat to build up inside the battery.
Preventing Overheating
Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to heat, making it crucial to avoid overheating portable power stations.
Leaving a portable power station in a hot car during summer or placing it in direct sunlight can lead to unexpected overheating. Therefore, take care to prevent excessive heat exposure whenever possible.