Many modern devices have chargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries are gradually replacing disposable batteries in many mobile devices, due to their long life, versatility, cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness. They come in many chemical compositions, most commonly NiCad (nickel cadmium) and LiOn (lithium ion). Many myths exist about the best practices in operating chargeable batteries, because so many different types exist that have conflicting information about their operation.
Exploding Batteries
This myth has some basis in reality, as seen in the massive Sony recall of laptop batteries in 2006. Overheating batteries short-circuited due to manufacturing defects, leading to catastrophic malfunctions that burned or partially destroyed components inside some Sony laptops. That said, normal usage of batteries contains no risk of accidentally "overloading" a battery through overcharging.
Charging Before First Use
A myth about charging cellphones or laptop batteries is that they need to be charged for 12 hours or more before their initial use. The reasoning usually given is that batteries need to completely charged initially so that they aren't prematurely used up. Many of these batteries are lithium ion, which can be charged partially without loss of capacity or battery life.
Name Brands
A prevalent myth about batteries is that name brands count, and a name brand battery will outperform a generic battery. As with many different kinds of manufactured electronics, generic and name brand products are often made in the same factories, using the same processes. What you are often paying for is marketing.
Universal Adapters
This myth is usually applicable to laptop batteries, as these are more likely to charge using proprietary adapters. Laptop batteries must be charged with compatible adapters because they are often timed differently, with variances in voltage, wattage and power flow. Even if a laptop charger uses a standard adapter head (like 9V or 12V), a compatible adapter should always be used to avoid risk of damage. For batteries that charge using USB, this is a non-issue.
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