Battery Recharging Myth-Busting: Don't Completely Drain Your LiIon Batteries

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://lifehacker.com/#!5789794/avoid-frequent-discharges-to-extend-your-phone-or-laptops-battery-life' target='_blank'>http://lifehacker.com/#!5789794/avo...ps-battery-life</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Battery-centric web site Battery University explains the real relationship behind battery life and charging. Lithium-ion batteries-the batteries present in most modern smartphones and laptops-don't need to be fully discharged every once in a while to retain battery life, as many of us have been told. In fact, it's quite the opposite..."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1302195442.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Over the years, I'm sure we've all heard a lot of crazy battery advice: don't recharge your phone/laptop/MP3 player until it's completely dead; don't charge it too often; when you're not using it, take out the battery, etc. Much like telling someone they need to defrag their Wi-Fi connection, some of these "tips" just aren't true. This article gives you some important tips about how to maximize the battery life on your portable device.</p>

[Brad Adrian]

...Much like telling someone they need to defrag their Wi-Fi connection, some of these "tips" just aren't true...

LOL!!

Everybody KNOWS that taking the kinks out of your ethernet cable does a MUCH better job of speeding up your connection!

[nelsonh]

No shortage of confusing battery care protocol advise out there for sure. Apple specifically recommends completely discharging their Li-Ion polymer batteries once per month. Personally, I'm inclined to follow their advice. They do, after all, know a thing or two about battery technology.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

That's just asking for trouble. Once every quarter at most. That's to recalibrate the battery gauge, not preserve the battery.

Just because Apple says it...

[Jason Dunn]

No shortage of confusing battery care protocol advise out there for sure. Apple specifically recommends completely discharging their Li-Ion polymer batteries once per month. Personally, I'm inclined to follow their advice. They do, after all, know a thing or two about battery technology.

I guess it depends if you trust them to be honest - they have a vested interest (profit) in having people trash their batteries fast and go back to Apple stores to get them replaced.

[Sven Johannsen]

No shortage of confusing battery care protocol advise out there for sure. Apple specifically recommends completely discharging their Li-Ion polymer batteries once per month. Personally, I'm inclined to follow their advice. They do, after all, know a thing or two about battery technology.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/ Maybe, but they also sell replacement batteries. Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything, just a EE. This seemed a fairly impartial source of info
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/

My research over time has fairly consistantly found corroboration of LiIon's really disliking full discharges. They should be used, but full discharges can be deadly. That includes the slow discharge in a device that is 'turned off'. If I'm storing a device for a long period I'll charge the LiIon and then remove it and rubber band it to the device. That's not what is recommended, but it's convenient.

There was a lot more conflicting info around when there were half a dozen technologies floating around, NiCad, NiMH, LiIon and others. Each had their own pros and cons, and often were confused.

[Sven Johannsen]

Wow, the faith we have in Apple's advice is touching :rolleyes:

[Janak Parekh]

I guess it depends if you trust them to be honest - they have a vested interest (profit) in having people trash their batteries fast and go back to Apple stores to get them replaced. Really, Jason? I know you dislike Apple, but I'm sorry, I think your insinuation is ridiculous.

I read Apple's article closely. Nowhere does it say a "deep discharge." Rather, they suggest you use the battery instead of having it plugged in (or off) all the time, i.e., discharge the battery and charge it back up. Moreover, most notebooks, Apple's included, shut off before the deep discharge to prevent permanent damage to the battery.

As for myself, I make sure to do a full initial charge, and then I use the battery how I see fit. I try to avoid leaving my laptop plugged in at all times, and that's about it.

--janak

[Jason Dunn]

Really, Jason? I know you dislike Apple, but I'm sorry, I think your insinuation is ridiculous.

I'm suspicious of pretty much all corporations to a certain extent, so it's not just about Apple. :D

[Sven Johannsen]

As for myself, I make sure to do a full initial charge, and then I use the battery how I see fit. I try to avoid leaving my laptop plugged in at all times, and that's about it.

--janak
That's about the most practical suggestion there is, and it fits in two sentences.