Troubleshooting Mobile Devices Lesson 001: Mobile Power Issues

What does mobile power issues encompass?

Poor battery health, charging issues, and swollen batteries.

What happens to the health of a battery over time?

Deterioration as cells die and become unusable.

What is eventually needed when it comes to batteries?

Replacement with a known good one.

What are the two types of batteries, regardless of chemical makeup, are there in phones, tablets, and laptops?

Replaceable and non-replaceable.

What is considered best practice when charging batteries in electrical components?

Let the battery get down to ~20%-30% and then charge all the way.

What is considered bad practice when it comes to charging batteries in electrical components?

Charging when the battery above ~30% or when it has died completely.

What happens to batteries as they age?

The amount of charge they can hold decreases.

What is the benefit of fast charging?

Charges a battery to ~50%-70% in ~30 minutes.

What is the caveat of fast charging?

Adds strain, reducing its lifespan over time.

What is the benefit of slow charging?

Improves battery health but charges slower.

What is the caveat of slow charging?

Takes a long time to charge a phone to 100%.

What are the places to check for connectivity regarding the use of an AC adapter being used for charging a mobile device?

The cord to the laptop, the <term> to the laptop, and the adapter to the outlet.

What should a tech do if all connections regarding using an AC adapter for charging a mobile device are connected properly?

Consider replacing it with a known good one.

Apart from improper connections and a bad AC adapter, what is a common reason for a mobile device to not charge?

The port is bad on the motherboard.

How does a tech fix a bad power cable port on a motherboard?

Often the only way to fix is to de-solder the bad one and solder on a known good one.

What does a swollen battery indicate?

A physical fault.

What is a common sign of a swollen battery?

The device itself is bulging.

What should be done when a swollen battery has been identified in a mobile device?

Stop using it immediately.

What is a common reason for a swollen battery?

Overcharging.

What is a common reason for overcharging?

The circuitry inside of the device meant to prevent overcharging has failed.

What should be done to fix the issue of a removable swollen battery?

Replace it.

What should be done to fix the issue of a non-removable swollen battery?

Return to manufacturer for replacing or buy a new device entirely.

What is the proper PPE for handling swollen batteries?

Mask, goggle, and gloves.

How should a swollen battery be disposed of safely?

According to local rules, laws, and regulations.