Battery, Charging & Life Span

Question

Level 1

1 points

Battery, Charging & Life Span

Hey!

First and foremost, I would like to thank the community here who have provided really amazing comments and tips about the iPhone. As I am still pretty new to the Apple family and with my very first iPhone, I would say I have gleaned a lot from you guys! Thank you once again as you have been a really great help in my journey of discovery and learning.

I have been doing a lot of reading up on battery management as after deducing what I have learn, I would like to ask if what I have is right. As we know, the battery of the iPhone is extremely important and I happen to be very particular about it. Smartphones are never known for their 'extraordinary' battery life considering all the fantastic features it holds. Therefore here is what I have found out:

1. It is highly recommended to keep your iPhone plugged in whenever you can (if you are not moving about), especially at the office or when you are sleeping at night.

2. Unlike conventional phones, the iPhone has a special battery management system that prevents the battery from overcharging. Therefore you cannot overcharge the phone and leaving it plugged in for the whole time you are at the office or at night will not damage the battery.

3. In fact, keeping the iPhone plugged in either directly to the dock or original USB wall dock is said to keep the battery in optimum performance and life.

4. It is also advised to use the iPhone while it is plugged in for battery intensive applications like 3G / wifi serving, video playback, 3D gaming or movie editing (yay to iMovie!). This is because you are actually using the AC power instead of the battery. This follows on even after the battery has been fully charged. Doing this too does not damage the battery.

Now with these findings, I would like to ask if these were so, does that mean if I am to keep the iPhone plugged in for the most part of the time with the exception of it unplugged during my travels and movement about, that the battery 'Life Span' would be prolonged? This is because rather than using the battery and having to go through the charge cycles more regularly, I am using the AC source more regularly now.

Does this theory hold true and will the 'Life Span' of the battery be prolonged?

With all these said, I do understand the iPhone is meant to be a mobile device and the Apple Care Plan does take care of the battery replacement. 🙂

Thank you! 🙂

Vaio, Windows Vista

Posted on Aug 29, 2010 10:41 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 29, 2010 10:53 PM in response to Bercanees

Copied from this links.

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

A properly maintained iPhone battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 400 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.

For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month.

And regarding a full charge and discharge cycle.

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

A charge cycle means using all of the battery’s power, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a single charge. For instance, you could listen to your iPod for a few hours one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two, so you may take several days to complete a cycle. Each time you complete a charge cycle, it diminishes battery capacity slightly, but you can put notebook, iPod, and iPhone batteries through many charge cycles before they will only hold 80% of original battery capacity. As with other rechargeable batteries, you may eventually need to replace your battery.

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Answer 2

Bercanees Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 30, 2010 12:13 AM in response to Allan Sampson

Yup I am aware of these information, which was why I asked if I am to use AC power instead of the battery's power, it will take me longer to use up the 400 estimated charge cycle? 🙂

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Answer 3

Aug 30, 2010 12:26 AM in response to Bercanees

400 full charge and discharge cycles is not the limit.

A properly maintained iPhone battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 400 full charge and discharge cycles. You may choose to replace your battery when it no longer holds sufficient charge to meet your needs.

Most or many people get a new cell every 2 years or so anyway. If not and the battery life no longer meets your needs or is significantly reduced at that time, you can have the battery replaced.

Relax and enjoy it. No need to place so much focus on this.

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Answer 4

Bercanees Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 30, 2010 12:45 AM in response to Allan Sampson

Ah ok. That's cool.

I am still trying to get used to the world of smartphones after having used the conventional phones for such a long time now. 🙂

Thanks! 🙂

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Answer 5

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Aug 30, 2010 7:20 AM in response to Bercanees

Hi Bercanees,

I think you have the right idea with plugging the phone in when power is available and you won't be moving about so much. I tend to do the same thing. If I'm in my car, I plug in my phone--even if it's been plugged in all night.

As Allan said--don't worry about it too much & enjoy your phone!

~Lyssa

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Answer 6

Kwopau

Level 4

1,748 points

Aug 30, 2010 7:46 AM in response to Bercanees

1. I can say sure, but normally, you do not want to have it in the charger for more than 12 hours. It's good to keep the electrons in the lithium moving. But technically once it's fully charged, the charging stops even if you keep it plugged in.

2. That is true, most lithium ion based batteries do have a chip inside to prevent from overcharging. Once fully charged it will stop charging, even though if you keep it plugged in, once charging is complete, it will then use the power source, not your battery.

3. Can be true

4. As mentioned to my #2.

Keep in mind that most lithium battery have a life span of 2-3 years or 300-400 cycles (fully charged cycles, like from 0% to 100%, if you use say 60% on day 1, and you plug it, that's 60% of 1 cycle used. If you use another 60% the next day, that's 1.2 cycles already..etc).

But it is also a good idea to calibrate the battery by fully discharging your phone until it shuts off every 30 cycles, (or once a month). So that the electrons inside is moving and active.

Generally, You still want to use it unplugged, but if you are using apps that requires to use a lot of battery, i.e navigation, then it should be plugged in the whole time.

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Answer 7

Etek

Level 1

4 points

Aug 30, 2010 7:53 AM in response to Bercanees

2. Unlike conventional phones, the iPhone has a special battery management system that prevents the battery from overcharging. Therefore you cannot overcharge the phone and leaving it plugged in for the whole time you are at the office or at night will not damage the battery.

EVERY charger these days prevents batteries from overcharging, this is not a feature of the Iphone.

3. In fact, keeping the iPhone plugged in either directly to the dock or original USB wall dock is said to keep the battery in optimum performance and life.

Totally untrue, rechargeable batteries can be used until the 0.7V limit, under which they lose the ability to hold electric charge properly and the user will experience very low battery life. MOST devices these days prevent batteries going under that limit and shutdown when are close to that limit. That's why when try to power on the Iphone it has enough charge to display the recharge icon, but it won't power on.

4. It is also advised to use the iPhone while it is plugged in for battery intensive applications like 3G / wifi serving, video playback, 3D gaming or movie editing (yay to iMovie!). This is because you are actually using the AC power instead of the battery. This follows on even after the battery has been fully charged. Doing this too does not damage the battery.

Actually, you are using AC power that goes trough the battery.

Now with these findings, I would like to ask if these were so, does that mean if I am to keep the iPhone plugged in for the most part of the time with the exception of it unplugged during my travels and movement about, that the battery 'Life Span' would be prolonged? This is because rather than using the battery and having to go through the charge cycles more regularly, I am using the AC source more regularly now.

Every rechargeable battery has a limit of discharge/recharge cycles after which it looses it's ability to hold the charge. So you can only 'prolong' its life only by avoiding heavy usage, or in case of a smartphone, any usage. But then you have to ask yourself, why did you get a smartphone in the first place?

400 cycles as advertised are worth at least 2 years, unless you fully charge and discharge it everyday.

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Answer 8

Aug 30, 2010 8:07 AM in response to Kwopau

Keep in mind that most lithium battery have a life span of 2-3 years or 300-400 cycles (fully charged cycles, like from 0% to 100%, if you use say 60% on day 1, and you plug it, that's 60% of 1 cycle used. If you use another 60% the next day, that's 1.2 cycles already..etc).

300-400 full discharge and charge cycles is not the lifespan of the battery. The original capacity will certainly be decreased which can include up to 80% of the original capacity and is the same for all lithium based batteries.

But it is also a good idea to calibrate the battery by fully discharging your phone until it shuts off every 30 cycles, (or once a month). So that the electrons inside is moving and active.

I don't believe this calibrates the battery. This calibrates the battery indicator and a full discharge and charge cycle being done at least once a month keeps the electrons moving regardless how that is done - over a two day period or done all at once, which isn't a problem with a device like the iPhone with the chances for an iPhone remaining connected to a power source 24/7 for 30 days being slim to none which is more likely with a laptop.

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Answer 9

Bercanees Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 30, 2010 9:55 AM in response to Allan Sampson

Thank you everyone once again. Valuable information indeed. A friend of mine was recently reading up on this post and she too has benefited from it 🙂

Do any of you happen to be using a portable battery pack for added juice? If so, what do you recommend? I am looking for something vasatile, which I can also use as a 'dock' if possible. I think I have seen one at the local shop but I am not sure if there are better recommendations.

There was another one by Griffin which was pretty cool, here is the link:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerduo-reserve

It has both a car charger and a wall charger with an additional battery pack.

What are some of your recommendations? Great appreciate your inputs once again! 🙂

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Answer 10

Iskor12

Level 1

56 points

Aug 30, 2010 1:01 PM in response to Etek

[quote] Totally untrue, rechargeable batteries can be used until the 0.7V limit, under which they lose the ability to hold electric charge properly and the user will experience very low battery life. MOST devices these days prevent batteries going under that limit and shutdown when are close to that limit. That's why when try to power on the Iphone it has enough charge to display the recharge icon, but it won't power on. [quote]

Totally Not true.
3.6 Volt rechargeable Lithiums should never go below 2.7 Volts. Anything lower than that and you will risk damage to your battery. Most "Protected" cells will stop charging at 4.2 Volts and will stop discharging at 2.75 Volts.

The Typical "Safe" range is 3-4.2V
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

Most Cell phones, including the Iphone, use a 3.6 Volt rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery.

Edit: Etek, I believe that you might be thinking of NiCd batteries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-cadmium_battery

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