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At what point is it best to recharge the iPad battery

Do yo wait until it is down to1% or what? This is a new iPad.

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular (VZ)

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 11:44 AM

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17 replies

Jun 13, 2012 11:56 AM in response to grangold

I concur with the gentleman from the New Jersey part of Philadelphia. I charge my iPad battery the very same way that he explained - my original iPad and my new iPad. Both continue to get 10 hours a day or better. My iPad original is 20 months old and still going strong.


The easiest way to explain it - is to charge it when it works for you .... Every night like we do - or when the device needs a charge. it's really that simple.


Always use the power adapter and plug into a wall socket for the best and most efficient way to charge - especially the new iPad.

Jun 13, 2012 12:33 PM in response to andrewmlapointe

Apple recommends one charge cycle per month which can be two 50% discharges, four 25% discharges, etc. This is generally accomplished with normal use.


Also, if you battery meter is wrong, a full discharge (till it shuts off) immediately followed by a full charge (100%) will recalibrate the meter.


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


http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batterie s

Jun 13, 2012 12:33 PM in response to andrewmlapointe

andrewmlapointe wrote:


Apple told me that once a month you should let it go to 1% or let it die and turn of by itself.

That doesn't do any good for the battery itself but it does keep the battery level indicator accurate. However, according to Apple's written policy, there is no need to actually go down to auto shutoff because two half-discharges (or four quarter-discharges) will accomplish the same goal.

Jun 13, 2012 1:52 PM in response to grangold

The quickest way (and really the only way) to charge your iPad is with the included 10W USB Power Adapter. iPad will also charge, although more slowly, when attached to a computer with a high-power USB port (many recent Mac computers) or with an iPhone Power Adapter (5W). When attached to a computer via a standard USB port (most PCs or older Mac computers) iPad will charge very slowly (but iPad indicates not charging). Make sure your computer is on while charging iPad via USB. If iPad is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep or standby mode, the iPad battery will continue to drain.


Apple recommends that once a month you let the iPad fully discharge & then recharge to 100%.

How to Calibrate Your Mac, iPhone, or iPad Battery

http://www.macblend.com/how-to-calibrate-your-mac-iphone-or-ipad-battery/


At this link http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/galaxy-tab-android-tablet,3014-11.html , tests show that the iPad 2 battery (25 watt-hours) will charge to 90% in 3 hours 1 minute. It will charge to 100% in 4 hours 2 minutes. The new iPad has a larger capacity battery (42 watt-hours), so using the 10W charger will obviously take longer. If you are using your iPad while charging, it will take even longer. It's best to turn your new iPad OFF and charge over night. Also look at The iPad's charging challenge explained http://www.macworld.com/article/1150356/ipadcharging.html


Also, if you have a 3rd generation iPad, look at

Apple: iPad Battery Nothing to Get Charged Up About

http://allthingsd.com/20120327/apple-ipad-battery-nothing-to-get-charged-up-abou t/

Apple Explains New iPad's Continued Charging Beyond 100% Battery Level

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/27/apple-explains-new-ipads-continued-charging- beyond-100-battery-level/

New iPad Takes Much Longer to Charge Than iPad 2

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/03/new-ipad-takes-much-longer-to-charge-than-ipa d-2.html


Apple Batteries - iPadhttp://www.apple.com/batteries/ipad.html


Extend iPad Battery Life (Look at pjl123 comment)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3921324?tstart=30


New iPad Slow to Recharge, Barely Charges During Use

http://www.pcworld.com/article/252326/new_ipad_slow_to_recharge_barely_charges_d uring_use.html


Tips About Charging for New iPad 3

http://goodscool-electronics.blogspot.com/2012/04/tips-about-charging-for-new-ip ad-3.html


Prolong battery lifespan for iPad / iPad 2 / iPad 3: charging tips

http://thehowto.wikidot.com/prolong-battery-lifespan-for-ipad


In rare instances when using the Camera Connection Kit, you may notice that iPad does not charge after using the Camera Connection Kit. Disconnecting and reconnecting the iPad from the charger will resolve this issue.


 Cheers, Tom 😉

Jun 13, 2012 2:36 PM in response to paulcb

paulcb wrote:


I guess I can go either way - let it go down to 1% once a month or the partial.

You can but you shouldn't. "Opinions" that tell you different are wrong and different than what Apple and all lithium battery suppliers will tell you.

I don't know where you got your opinion from but Apple disagrees with you:


Use Your iPad Regularly

For proper reporting of the battery’s state of charge, be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month (charging the battery to 100% and then completely running it down).

Jun 13, 2012 2:41 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Not necessarily. They also say... "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."


It's pretty widely known that a charge cycle doesn't have to be a single charge, for any lithium battery.

Jun 13, 2012 2:46 PM in response to paulcb

paulcb wrote:


Not necessarily. They also say... "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."


It's pretty widely known that a charge cycle doesn't have to be a single charge, for any lithium battery.

I agree and I made that very point earlier in this thread. However, your previous post implied that Apple and lithium battery suppliers state that you should not allow the battery to run down. I have not found that recommendation anywhere.


You disagreed with grangold's conclusion. Apple's statements indicate that he is correct:

I guess I can go either way - let it go down to 1% once a month or the partial.

Jun 13, 2012 2:52 PM in response to Philly_Phan

It can certainly be done and should be done to recalibrate the battery meter. In general, I don't think it's good for the battery and neither do lithium battery experts. I suspect Apple says that to protect themselves from users that leave it plugged in all the time.


That being said, if someone does it once a month for 2 years, that's only 24 extra battery cycles or about 5% of the standard 400 cycle life... not much.

Jun 13, 2012 3:10 PM in response to paulcb

paulcb wrote:


In general, I don't think it's good for the battery and neither do lithium battery experts.

Well, I have eight products with lithium batteries, an iPad, an iPod, one BT speaker, two cell phones and three garden tools. Not one of the five manufacturers has made such a statement. In fact, Apple very clearly suggests that there is nothing wrong with draining the battery. Can you post a link to a manufacturer that makes the recommendation NOT to drain the battery?



paulcb wrote:


That being said, if someone does it once a month for 2 years, that's only 24 extra battery cycles or about 5% of the standard 400 cycle life... not much.

The same statement is true if a user performs two half-drains once/month.

At what point is it best to recharge the iPad battery

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