My number one must-have accessory in Arizona in the summer is my small, battery-operated fan.
It’s rechargeable and I keep it in my purse for those times when I’m stuck outside doing something and the heat is unbearable.
My husband and I might have to wait in line outside to buy movie tickets or at Bruster’s ice cream parlor, and while I love living here in the desert the heat can get to me so fast.
Between that and menopause, if I don’t have my little fan handy I’m going to be miserable in no time.
Nothing is more disappointing, though, than turning it on to find that the batteries need to be recharged.
I know – tiny violins, right?
It’s just that it gets SO hot here and I try not to look so drenched it makes people think I’ve literally just stepped out of the shower.
Yes, I will always have to charge my little doodad and you can’t get more life from a battery than it’s structured to give but you can do a few things to make sure the batteries you do use in your portable fan last as long as possible.
Following these tips can extend the run time of your battery-operated, rechargeable fan helping you stay cool with less frustration.
Backup Batteries
Your battery fan might not have come with a spare set of rechargeable batteries but you could search for the brand, style, or type online and you may find where you can get some.
Depending on how much you rely on being able to cool down in a pinch, having the extra set charged and ready to go can be a huge help.
We happen to live by the football stadium in our state. It’s an area packed with events, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
We know when we go out to eat on a Friday or Saturday night we’re going to end up waiting an hour or so outside before a table is ready. Many times, the restaurant’s indoor waiting area is so full it’s not much cooler than it is outside where it can easily be more than 100 in the summer.
I sweat so fast when I’m warm that I rely on these little fans in these situations so extra batteries are always in my purse.
Extra Charging Cord
One of the portable fans I take around with me is USB-C chargeable. As long as I have the cord, I can plug it in and keep it going.
It came with a power bank, I can plug it into my laptop, or I can charge it in the car while on the road.
The problem is that the cord becomes critical and you know how those cords go. After a month or so of use, you’ve twisted it, pulled it, and stretched it and now it’s buggy, right?
So, another thing I carry with me at all times is a spare USB cord. There are so many devices we use that need them now why wouldn’t you have a spare or two hanging around? I keep two in the glove box of the car.
Watch Your Settings
If you know you’re going to be someplace where you’re going to need to run your fan for lengthy periods of time and you won’t be able to recharge, then choose your settings carefully.
If you run it on full speed then the fan won’t operate as long as if you were to run it on a slower speed.
My son was in marching band every year of high school. He’d spend July and August outside practicing and it would be 100-110 outside.
Parents were called on to hand out water and manage lunches for each day of summer practice.
You might spend a couple of hours standing in the heat taking care of the kids so you couldn’t really stop to plug your fan in someplace.
In those times I would run it on a slower speed. That would make sure I could run it longer. Conserving the battery also meant that if one of the kids needed it because of heatstroke or because they were feeling dehydrated then my little fan would still work.
You can’t always think ahead and you won’t always know how long you might need your portable fan to run but if you do what you can to have extra batteries and cords available to you then you’re more likely to have your fan available to you when you need it most.