Should You Fully Charge a Newly Purchased Portable Power Bank?
We explain whether you should use a portable power bank straight out of the box or fully charge it first.
Posted at: 2024.7.1
Best Practice for New Portable Power Stations: "Charge to Full a Few Times"
It is recommended to fully charge a newly purchased portable power station before use. Additionally, for optimizing the internal battery, it is suggested to repeat the full charge and complete discharge cycle a few times in its new state.
Why Do New Units Need a Full Charge?
To Optimize the Battery
New portable power stations are shipped without being fully charged. Instead of starting to use it immediately, fully charging it once ensures the battery cells are evenly charged and optimizes the battery's performance. Moreover, lithium-ion batteries benefit from an initial charge and discharge cycle, which can extend their lifespan.
Device Calibration
Most portable power stations come equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS). For the BMS to accurately assess the battery's status, it is necessary to fully charge the portable power station initially.
Should It Always Be Fully Charged?
So, should the portable power station always be kept fully charged? The answer is no. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in portable power stations, are said to degrade if kept in a fully charged state for extended periods. Similarly, complete discharge can also cause battery degradation. Therefore, maintaining the charge level between 20% and 80% is considered the best practice.
The Optimal Charging and Discharging Levels to Minimize Degradation
Proper charge and discharge management is crucial for the longevity of portable power banks. We explain the optimal charging and discharging levels to minimize degradation.