Battery Care for Maximum Bluetooth Speaker Life | The Truth

In this article, we will talk about how to look after a Bluetooth speaker to get the longest life out of it.

How Components of a Bluetooth Speaker Determine Battery Life

So, let’s have a look at how these components can have an effect on the battery life of Bluetooth speakers.

Bluetooth speakers, on average, provide about ten to twenty hours of battery life. It is important to note that this number largely varies from one device to another, depending on quite a few factors.

Some devices can give you as low as four to eight hours, while others can go well above twenty hours. This is all relevant to the size of the battery that is installed in the device.

The mode of connection, of course, goes a long way in determining how long the speaker’s battery will last.

The two connection modes are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Connecting using Bluetooth generally ensures that you will enjoy your music for longer periods – up to twenty hours, depending on the speaker.

Connecting via Wi-Fi, on the other hand, means that the device will retire sooner. A device with a similar size battery if connected via Wi-Fi will provide only up to eight hours of service on a single charge.

Underwhelming, however, still great for parties. Nonetheless, there is not really any justification for using anything other than Bluetooth.

Charging your Bluetooth Speaker for Long Periods of Time

Charging your Bluetooth speaker for long periods of time is fine. Most Bluetooth speakers will discharge power when the speaker has reached capacity.

This is how a speaker can be left to charge overnight and nothing happens. So, if you have a quality Bluetooth speaker that you leave to charge for long periods, don’t worry, you won’t harm it.

Most battery operated devices and appliances have this mechanism built into them today, which protects the battery from damage, which will also extend their life.

Keeping a Bluetooth Speaker Plugged in and are there Dangers?

To help us answer these questions, we turn to our good old friend, science. According to related physics, the battery generally used in Bluetooth speakers comprises two electrodes. These are the cathode and the anode.

Power to run the device is generated by pushing ions from their favorite electrode to the electrode that they hate. The ions that are simply not able to stand that electrode, push to go back to their preferred electrode. This journey requires energy. Thus, the ions generate power in the process of pushing back.

When your battery is either almost full or almost empty, it means that one of the electrodes is almost full. The ions are herded on one side and when this happens, it becomes difficult for them to find places they can anchor themselves to comfortably. This is when things get rough.

The ions get hot, restless, and start releasing more power, but now, in the form of kinetic energy. Let us tell you why this is very bad news. You see, kinetic energy is the energy in moving particles. Now, when the ions start moving about randomly and aimlessly, it messes the whole place up.

On a low energy level, this scenario is manageable. However, if the situation escalates without being checked, the ions become destructive. They can go as far as destroying both anodes and everything in between during their wave of riot. When this happens, the battery dies along with your device’s usefulness.

If this was the case with every Bluetooth speaker, people would be up in arms. The customers would demand a refund to bankrupt the manufacturers, not to mention the expected litigation. The blowback on the company would be large enough to drive it to the grave.

As a result, a battery protection circuit has been developed, which as the name subtly suggests, protects the battery. It works by disconnecting the battery before it completely runs flat.

On the other extreme end, it slows down the charging to a trickle when the battery is almost fully charged, to prevent the ions from getting too crowded, as we had previously mentioned.

This double protection completely disarms the ions and turns them into the harmless reliable servants that we all know and love.

If it fails to do so, you can claim for damages under your warranty. Make sure never to lose the receipt and the warranty card that come with the device when you buy it. Hopefully, you will never need them, but you never know if you will.

Can I leave a Bluetooth Speaker on Charge all the time?

Yes, most Bluetooth speakers have a safety mechanism built into them that allows the speaker to stay on charge all the time.

This is in case you forget to unplug your speaker once it is charged, so nothing will happen. The Bluetooth speaker simply stops charging and will only start again once the charge has dropped in the battery.

Generally, charging will only start again once the battery is under 80% of its capacity. Most quality Bluetooth speakers work this way today. 

Just be aware of smaller cheap Bluetooth speakers as they may not have this feature. Although quite rare, you want to avoid leaving one of these wireless speakers on charge all the time.

Can I Use a Bluetooth Speaker While Charging It?

Yes, Bluetooth speakers, which have a safety mechanism built into the unit, can be used while charging. In fact, most Bluetooth speakers will operate while charging.

When your Bluetooth speaker is brand new, you should always fully charge it the first time before using it. After the initial charge, the speaker will then work fine and can be used while recharging.

Protection Against Other Electrical Mishaps

Bluetooth devices do not have any mechanisms to protect them from other electrical mishaps. For example, they are not built to withstand electric surges.

A sudden and great increase in electric current will completely fry a Bluetooth speaker and leave you counting losses.

To protect against this risk, there are devices on the market that are called surge protectors or circuit breakers. Just find one that suits your needs and budget, connect it to the circuit breaker, and then insert the circuit breaker into the socket.

Extension cords are also notorious for blowing and shorting for no particular reason. Hence, the importance of a circuit breaker for protection.

How Long do Bluetooth Speaker Batteries Last?

Bluetooth speakers come with a variety of battery life. The average is 10-20 hours, but some can last up to 30 or even 50 hours! 

Battery sizes in Bluetooth speakers vary, too. A 2400mAh battery, for example, will charge in approximately 1.5 hours and will supply 6 hours of playback.

Just remember these charging times and playback times can be different as manufacturers will use different quality batteries and sizes. 

But the above information is a good guide for an average of how long a battery will last in a Bluetooth speaker. 

When it comes to long battery life in speakers, some companies in the industry have really outdone themselves. The title for the longest battery life in the world for a Bluetooth speaker goes to Altec.

Their best product offers a whopping sixty hours of non-stop entertainment. Interestingly, competition is not even close. This company occupies all five of the top ten positions. They are the best on the planet at what they do by a long shot. Samsung, Sony and Fugoo are also honorable mentions.

How do I Extend the Battery Life of my Bluetooth Speaker?

Battery life can be extended by always recharging your Bluetooth speaker before it goes completely flat. Even if you are not using the speaker, it’s best to give it a charge occasionally to keep charge in the battery.

Furthermore, avoid exposing your speaker to the elements of weather and extreme conditions. Direct sunlight or rain is a sure way to send yourself back to the shops. Direct heat and icy cold conditions are also a big ‘No’. Always store the device in a fair and dry environment.

This will ensure you get maximum battery life from your Bluetooth speaker

Advantages of Bluetooth Wireless Speakers

Wireless speakers work by enabling the sending and receiving of audio signals via the use of radio frequencies.

For portable Bluetooth speakers, a one-on-one link is set up between the speaker and your devices, such as a smartphone or a computer. The digital audio data is then transmitted through a process called pairing.

The pairing of digital devices via Bluetooth has revolutionized the industry by eliminating the use of audio cables.

Being that most of us have interacted with these cables somewhere at some time, we all can relate to the fact that they can be a frequent source of headaches. They can tangle up and be a tripping hazard for everyone from the visiting in-laws to the cat.

The cables are also often exposed and since they are very prone to wear and tear, they become dangerous or can cause other issues. Naked wires are also a health hazard when they come into contact with water and can shock you silly – or even worse, cause an electrical fire.

Portability

The biggest advantage of Bluetooth speakers lies in its versatility and portability. They provide you with entertainment any time you want it and anywhere you are. They can be carried around without much fuss and are generally as great for the outdoors as they are for the indoors.

Low-power usage

Another advantage includes low-power consumption. Bluetooth speakers take up minimal amounts of power to fully charge and are one of the smallest contributors to the city’s electricity bill, so you do not need to worry about power consumption.

Size

And, they do this while taking up the least possible amount of space. You literally get the most bang for your buck.

Price Range

They are also fairly cheap and it seems that the supply exceeds the demand, which allows for more varieties, colors, and styles to choose from. And this in turn means that you’re more likely to land a good balance of quality and price. A good buy is almost always guaranteed.

Conclusion