Will prolonged charging shorten my battery life?

Question

Level 1

29 points

Will prolonged charging shorten my battery life?

I work from home and use my ipod as my primary music player when at my desk. This means it's playing potentially 8 hours a day. I can either dock it so it's charging whilst I use it, or listen to it without charging. What's best for the battery - to just wear it down and charge it when necessary or to keep it permanently charged?

Any advice much appreciated - thanks.

Ipod Classic 80GB, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Nov 13, 2007 1:32 AM

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Answer 1

buddhahat Author

Level 1

29 points

Nov 14, 2007 12:27 PM in response to buddhahat

Hi - any advice on this? Basically if I want to listen to my ipod for 8 hours a day, am I better off keeping it docked and permanently charged, or running it down and just charging when it needs it? What's best for overall battery life?

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Answer 2

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Nov 14, 2007 7:34 PM in response to buddhahat

If you leave it docked it will charge to full charge and then simply sit there doing nothing (as far as the battery is concerned). It does not continue to charge, for example like when you float or trickle charge a lead acid car battery. Instead it charges then the internal charging circuitry turns off charging current to the battery.
Lithium Ion batteries do not tolerate "float" or "trickle" charging so they use smart charging and only charge until full and no further.
So I think you are fine leaving it docked all day.
Patrick

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Answer 3

buddhahat Author

Level 1

29 points

Nov 15, 2007 12:49 PM in response to PT

Thanks a lot - that's useful to know!

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Answer 4

Boozta

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2007 7:34 AM in response to PT

hey patrick
is it the same if I plug it into a computer to charge? they charge it to full n do nothing else? thanks hope to get a response soon cos I keep doing this

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Answer 5

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Nov 19, 2007 9:32 AM in response to Boozta

Ya same with laptop lithium ion batteries. HOWEVER, Li-Ion batteries do not like to be kept too warm. This isn't an issue with an iPod, but with a laptop, if you tend to use it mostly while plugged in for long periods of time, you might consider removing the battery just to isolate it from the high heat generated by a typical laptop.
Naturally if you are in an office or other situation where you need to sometimes grab it and go, then leave the battery plugged in so you can pull the cord and move. But if you tend to leave it on a desk all week long at home running off the AC, then go ahead and pull the battery and put it aside.
Patrick

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