Tips for Maximizing the Battery in Case Air, Case Relay and the Rock Solid External Battery Pack

Tether Tools uses lithium-ion batteries in our battery powered products including the Case Relay, Case Air and the Rock Solid External Battery Pack. We use lithium-ion because it charges fast, lasts longer than other battery technologies and gives you more power in a smaller package, allowing us to keep the product size as small as possible. Lithium-ion has become the preferred technology for most consumer products including smart phones, laptops and even electric cars. One important note about lithium-ion is that it’s a consumable power source which means it has a limited lifespan. This is true of all lithium-ion batteries, not just the ones Tether Tools uses in our manufacturing. So, to help maximize both the battery life and the battery lifespan of your Tether Tools Lithium-Ion products, here are a few performance tips.  

1. Avoid charging and storing in high and low ambient temperatures

COLD WEATHER Our batteries perform best at between 50°F and 95°F (10°C and 35°C). Using any batteries in colder temperatures will cause them to provide lower peak power and will cause the battery life to be shorter. For the most part, this condition is temporary, and you should see the performance return to normal when the battery is removed from the cold temperatures. HOT WEATHER It is also important to avoid higher temperatures. Whereas colder temperatures cause temporary battery issues, higher temperatures can cause permanent damage to batteries. In all batteries, the recharging process can produce some heat on its own so recharging in high temperature areas can be particularly damaging. When storing devices, be aware of how cold or how hot your storage location may get. Especially if you store it in one season and don’t return to it until after the next season.  

2. Store the devices with 40% – 50% charge

• If you are using devices with Lithium Ion batteries daily or weekly, you don’t need to worry about this next point. However, if you do not use a certain device for a month or more, storing batteries with optimal charge can affect the life of the battery.
• It’s important to store your devices with about a 40% – 50% charge if you aren’t going to use it for a while. Keeping a charge in the middle of the batteries’ range allows it to maintain a more stable condition.
• You never want to store a battery completely discharged, as a little charge is necessary to keep the battery protection circuit operational during long periods. If it reaches depletion, it could go into a deep discharge state which will make recharging it impossible.
• If you are storing the device for an extended period, you’ll want to make sure to recharge it to 40% – 50% periodically as it will lose charge naturally over time.
• Likewise, storing a device fully charged for an extended period of time may cause it to lose long-term capacity as well.

  If you don’t use your device for a few months, you may notice that it takes a little longer than normal to reach full charge. This is normal. After this initial recharge, it should return to previous performance standards.