Bad to charge up all the time?

Red Arrow · 22-03-2011, 15:34

Is it considered bad to keep topping your phone's battery up throughout the day? As in say it gets to 90% then I plug it back in when I'm at my desk at work and it charges back up fully, repeat this 3 or 4 times a day.

Just heard elsewhere that it's bad for a battery to reach 100%, that it can reduce not only the performance but also the life span of the battery. As I've seen my phone normally slows down charging at 97% and was told on another forum this was to protect the battery from getting to 100%.

koantemplation · 22-03-2011, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Arrow

Is it considered bad to keep topping your phone's battery up throughout the day? As in say it gets to 90% then I plug it back in when I'm at my desk at work and it charges back up fully, repeat this 3 or 4 times a day.

Just heard elsewhere that it's bad for a battery to reach 100%, that it can reduce not only the performance but also the life span of the battery. As I've seen my phone normally slows down charging at 97% and was told on another forum this was to protect the battery from getting to 100%.

I'm not sure about the 100% charging issue, but I've heard it is best to charge and 100% discharge the battery the first few times.

Not sure what is best after that. Whether to keep discharging fully or to top up when you can.

pi r squared · 22-03-2011, 16:42

I keep reading conflicting information. Supposedly for these newer types of battery, it is better to keep them as charged as possible, and they do not have a "zero point" (and therefore cannot lose it like the Ni-Cad batteries of old). But on the other hand, the worst thing for these batteries is supposedly heat - and I don't know about you but the only time my battery gets hot is when it's being charged! So figure that one out if you can

midnightdraven · 22-03-2011, 16:43

Depends on the battery. Li-on batterys prefer top-up charging. Discharging a Li-on battery completely can damage it, that method was for the older Ni-Mh batteries.

prking · 22-03-2011, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnightdraven

Depends on the battery. Li-on batterys prefer top-up charging. Discharging a Li-on battery completely can damage it, that method was for the older Ni-Mh batteries.

This is correct.

Its amazing how many people still do daft things like charge overnight or completely discharge a modern battery. This will reduce its lifespan noticeably.

Red Arrow · 22-03-2011, 16:54

Interesting, thanks for the replies guys. Hopefully it's a case of it's good to keep topping it up as I like to do that so I know it's got enough charge to last me the day/night when I'm out and obviously unable to charge.

I miss the days of only needing to charge two or three times a week!

Red Arrow · 22-03-2011, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

This is correct.

Its amazing how many people still do daft things like charge overnight or completely discharge a modern battery. This will reduce its lifespan noticeably.

I charge it overnight, are you saying it's bad to do so?

alanwarwic · 22-03-2011, 17:00

Considering the charge will cut off at a little over 4V no damage can really occur.

22-03-2011, 15:34	#1
Red Arrow Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mars Posts: 10,688	Bad to charge up all the time? Is it considered bad to keep topping your phone's battery up throughout the day? As in say it gets to 90% then I plug it back in when I'm at my desk at work and it charges back up fully, repeat this 3 or 4 times a day. Just heard elsewhere that it's bad for a battery to reach 100%, that it can reduce not only the performance but also the life span of the battery. As I've seen my phone normally slows down charging at 97% and was told on another forum this was to protect the battery from getting to 100%.

22-03-2011, 16:27	#2
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,767	Quote: Originally Posted by Red Arrow Is it considered bad to keep topping your phone's battery up throughout the day? As in say it gets to 90% then I plug it back in when I'm at my desk at work and it charges back up fully, repeat this 3 or 4 times a day. Just heard elsewhere that it's bad for a battery to reach 100%, that it can reduce not only the performance but also the life span of the battery. As I've seen my phone normally slows down charging at 97% and was told on another forum this was to protect the battery from getting to 100%. I'm not sure about the 100% charging issue, but I've heard it is best to charge and 100% discharge the battery the first few times. Not sure what is best after that. Whether to keep discharging fully or to top up when you can.

22-03-2011, 16:42	#3
pi r squared Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4,185	I keep reading conflicting information. Supposedly for these newer types of battery, it is better to keep them as charged as possible, and they do not have a "zero point" (and therefore cannot lose it like the Ni-Cad batteries of old). But on the other hand, the worst thing for these batteries is supposedly heat - and I don't know about you but the only time my battery gets hot is when it's being charged! So figure that one out if you can

22-03-2011, 16:43	#4
midnightdraven Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chester, UK (Winter Hill) Posts: 344	Depends on the battery. Li-on batterys prefer top-up charging. Discharging a Li-on battery completely can damage it, that method was for the older Ni-Mh batteries.

22-03-2011, 16:54	#5
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by midnightdraven Depends on the battery. Li-on batterys prefer top-up charging. Discharging a Li-on battery completely can damage it, that method was for the older Ni-Mh batteries. This is correct. Its amazing how many people still do daft things like charge overnight or completely discharge a modern battery. This will reduce its lifespan noticeably.

22-03-2011, 16:54	#7
Red Arrow Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mars Posts: 10,688	Quote: Originally Posted by prking This is correct. Its amazing how many people still do daft things like charge overnight or completely discharge a modern battery. This will reduce its lifespan noticeably. I charge it overnight, are you saying it's bad to do so?

22-03-2011, 17:00	#8
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Considering the charge will cut off at a little over 4V no damage can really occur.

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Bad to charge up all the time?