A customer brought in a 5 year old tablet that was completely dead

They said they tried charging it for a full day with no luck. I opened it up and found the battery had swollen so much it pushed the screen out. The thing is, they told me they always left it plugged in on their nightstand. I see this maybe twice a month now. It makes you wonder, are we telling people enough about battery care? Like, leaving stuff plugged in 24/7 seems to be killing these devices way faster. What's the best way you explain proper charging habits to a customer who isn't tech savvy?

4 comments

4 Comments

rowan_wells302mo ago

You see this twice a month? That's a LOT. When you tell them not to leave it plugged in, do they usually say they thought the device would "stop charging" on its own? I wonder if that old idea is still the main problem.

the_jamie1mo ago

Yeah, rowan_wells30, that old idea is a REAL problem. I hear it ALL the time - "but doesn't it just stop charging when it's full?" They think it's like filling a glass of water and the device just knows when to cut off. But that's NOT how it works. Lithium batteries don't like being at 100% for long periods. It puts constant stress on them. So when you say it stops charging, does the customer usually get defensive or just seem confused?

the_rowan2mo ago

Yeah, rowan_wells30 nailed it, that old idea is everywhere now.

foster.jordan2mo ago

Ever tried to explain battery tech to someone and realized you sound like you're explaining magic? I'm pretty sure my own mom still thinks her phone runs on hopes and dreams.