How to Make Your Battery Last Longer
Get the most juice from your cordless phone with these GH Institute tips.
Charge the battery completely as soon as you take your new phone out of the box. The first charge will probably take about 20 hours, but be sure to check the manual. And don't interrupt the charge ?- you could permanently shorten the battery life. When done correctly, the battery will last about two years.
Keep the phone away from heat. This includes a radiator, the oven and any sunny spots in your house. High temperatures contribute to battery wear and tear.
To help prolong rechargeable batteries, you should "condition" them on a regular basis ?- which means completely draining and recharging the batteries. First, figure out which type of battery your phone uses ?- it should be clearly visible on the label found in the owner's manual.
There are two types of batteries, and each requires a different approach: Nickel cadmium batteries have been around for awhile and use the designation NiCD. They should be completely drained and given a full charge cycle once a month.
Nickel metal hydride batteries are a newer generation and are identified with the designation NIMH. They need to be conditioned only once every three months.
Tip: The easiest way to fully discharge the battery is to wait for the power to run out before connecting the handset to the base station.
Got a dead battery? You can find a replacement at an electronics store for $10 to $30. If your phone is an older model, you may have to call the manufacturer.
