Charge battery before initial use?

[blackhawkhot]

I've pretty much always charged when I hit 25% and I charge fully to 100%. I've had my Ultra since launch so for 6 weeks now. How much damage have I done?

Hard to say. That's nearing a complete charge cycle... temperature plays a role as well.
If you can notice a change in capacity... there's your anwser
Simply limit charging from now on to 70% or so and to keep the phone running as cool as possible.
Avoid using/charging it when it's hot!
The automatic device and battery charging shutdown temps are way too high. Don't let these kick in.

 

[mustang7757]

No. That terminology is more applicable to battery testing standards.

The worst apps are the ones that purposely saturation charge ie "over charged" a pack to 101%.

I remember years ago there was a app that showed charging cycles, if i can remember it ill let you know

 

[blackhawkhot]

I remember years ago there was a app that showed charging cycles, if i can remember it ill let you know

Probably true but was it accurate?
Bottom line, limit device temp as best you can, use short charge cycles with a fast charger and avoid going over a 72% as much as possible.
Certainly avoid charging to 100% and never let it charge overnight.
Occasionally missing the mark isn't going to kill it, but constantly doing it will curb battery life prematurely.
Take advantage of the LI's unique properties and get the most of out them.

Nicads were the worst. Even treated right with a good charger their life cycle was uneven and dismal. The memory effect was very apparent even if you were careful.
LI's are a quantum leap in technology and power density.

 

[DanielLoreti]

Hard to say. That's nearing a complete charge cycle... temperature plays a role as well.
If you can notice a change in capacity... there's your anwser
Simply limit charging from now on to 70% or so and to keep the phone running as cool as possible.
Avoid using/charging it when it's hot!
The automatic device and battery charging shutdown temps are way too high. Don't let these kick in.

Don't think I've ever had automatic shutdown due to heat on a phone. Maybe once on my LG G4. Definitely not on my Ultra. Haven't noticed a decrease in capacity yet. I'm usually hovering around 7 hours SoT over a 36 hour span (I usually hit 25% after a day and a half use).

 

[blackhawkhot]

Don't think I've ever had automatic shutdown due to heat on a phone. Maybe once on my LG G4. Definitely not on my Ultra. Haven't noticed a decrease in capacity yet. I'm usually hovering around 7 hours SoT over a 36 hour span (I usually hit 25% after a day and a half use).

That's good

Ha-ha I live the desert. Be careful with sunlight on the display, it can drive the device temperature levels into the critical range fast. Especially with a case on it, smartphones dissipate much of their waste heat via the screen.
Blew out the screen on my S4+ like that while using it.

Find power hungry apps and tone them down. Not only do they steal battery life, they needlessly raise the device temperature. Try to keep screen brightness at 50% or less.
As you near 100% brightness on a OLED you're putting a lot more wear on it as well. OLEDs have a finite lifespan.
So as much black as possible gives both better battery life, and extends battery and OLED lifespans.

 

[DanielLoreti]

That's good

Ha-ha I live the desert. Be careful with sunlight on the display, it can drive the device temperature levels into the critical range fast. Especially with a case on it, smartphones dissipate much of their waste heat via the screen.
Blew out the screen on my S4+ like that while using it.

Find power hungry apps and tone them down. Not only do they steal battery life, they needlessly raise the device temperature. Try to keep screen brightness at 50% or less.
As you near 100% brightness on a OLED you're putting a lot more wear on it as well. OLEDs have a finite lifespan.
So as much black as possible gives both better battery life, and extends battery and OLED lifespans.

How do I check device temperature? Should I try to avoid using phone outside during the day?

 

[blackhawkhot]

How do I check device temperature? Should I try to avoid using phone outside during the day?

I feel the screen with the back of my hand.
Obviously if you need to use it... but try to keep it shaded.
Using a damp rag works well especially low humidity.
Once the ambient temperature gets above 105F use briefly if at all if you can't cool it.
Don't charge in high ambient temperatures without cooling it... a good bush towel is a great companion.

 

[cardboard60]

Cars have batteries in them..
They never get hot when charging.

If its as complicated as you want to make it with charging a battery.
That can easily be replaced.
Just buy a new phone every year.


Take out all the fun of owning a phone.
By worrying if you are charging it right.
With all the phones I've had over the yrs.
I've never had a battery problem.

 

[MoreDef]

Cars have batteries in them..
They never get hot when charging.

If its as complicated as you want to make it with charging a battery.
That can easily be replaced.
Just buy a new phone every year.


Take out all the fun of owning a phone.
By worrying if you are charging it right.
With all the phones I've had over the yrs.
I've never had a battery problem.

clearly, sir, you are a baller.

 

[cardboard60]

Heck no.
You want to make something harder than what it is.
Life ain't that complicated, unless you make it.

I'm not gonna play with a battery.
It works or it gets replaced.
I have more important things to do.

 

[mustang7757]

Probably true but was it accurate?
Bottom line, limit device temp as best you can, use short charge cycles with a fast charger and avoid going over a 72% as much as possible.
Certainly avoid charging to 100% and never let it charge overnight.
Occasionally missing the mark isn't going to kill it, but constantly doing it will curb battery life prematurely.
Take advantage of the LI's unique properties and get the most of out them.

Nicads were the worst. Even treated right with a good charger their life cycle was uneven and dismal. The memory effect was very apparent even if you were careful.
LI's are a quantum leap in technology and power density.

Tell you truth I don’t know how accurate are any of the battery apps are

 

[mustang7757]

Cars have batteries in them..
They never get hot when charging.

If its as complicated as you want to make it with charging a battery.
That can easily be replaced.
Just buy a new phone every year.


Take out all the fun of owning a phone.
By worrying if you are charging it right.
With all the phones I've had over the yrs.
I've never had a battery problem.

They do get warm , you ever cranked the car for few seconds because it didn’t turn over first try those battery cables on battery get hot pretty quick , starter produces at least minimum 500 cranking amps plus engine bay heat on the battery they go through more extreme conditions. Maximum life between car battery 4 to 6 years maybe less do alternator age, cable voltage drop etc..

 

[blackhawkhot]

Those are lead acid. They have their own unique properties and requirements.
I have premium blue top lead acid that I got used 5 years ago... still running strong.

A lemming quoted as it dashed headlong for the cliff:
" Be happy and worry fr-e-e-e..."

 

[Mike Dee]

I've pretty much always charged when I hit 25% and I charge fully to 100%. I've had my Ultra since launch so for 6 weeks now. How much damage have I done?

None....you're fine

 

[Mooncatt]

Cars have batteries in them..
They never get hot when charging.

If its as complicated as you want to make it with charging a battery.
That can easily be replaced.
Just buy a new phone every year.

Unless you are referring to something like a Tesla battery, car batteries are lead-acid, which is a completely different technology, and are more forgiving of heat for their intended purpose.

Phone batteries are not easily replaced, unless you call taking it to a shop and paying someone an hour of labor to replace something that use to take seconds as easy. Not everyone can afford the added time and cost of a phone battery replacement. Replacing the entire phone every year also isn't a solution for everyone.

It's not a bad idea to promote best practices, then let users decide for themselves what works best in their case.

 

[blackhawkhot]

They do get warm , you ever cranked the car for few seconds because it didn’t turn over first try those battery cables on battery get hot pretty quick , starter produces at least minimum 500 cranking amps plus engine bay heat on the battery they go through more extreme conditions. Maximum life between car battery 4 to 6 years maybe less do alternator age, cable voltage drop etc..

Lead acids are damaged by vibration as well. Very intolerant to deep discharge cycles and especially to sitting in a fully discharged state. Heat doesn't greatly effect them though.
There are modified ones for better vibration tolerance and deep cycling applications even hydride deep cycling/cranking ones like Optima Blue Top I have.
Got in good condition for $35... every now and then

 

[cardboard60]

I've sit there and watched a dude with a heat gun and a guitar pick break one open.
Take a couple screws out.
Remove the battery..stick a new battery in and put it back together.

 

[cardboard60]

right. but then, if the mentality is, "why teach people how to use a phone properly and make it last for 5 years, when we can have them buy new ones every one or two years?", then does that confirm that there IS a way to charge it properly?

personally, i'm treating battery life like actual life. it doesn't hurt to be aware and careful of your actions, because it might lead to something better in the end...as opposed to getting everything you want when you want and not worrying about the consequences and then possibly finding out you were wrong after the fact. i mean, if there is something to this type of charging, then you've just extended the life of your phone. if there isn't, well you haven't done anything to damage your phone...but you also haven't used or utilized your phone to it's full potential due to fear of repercussions.

i charge to 80% and plug in at 30%...i feel like it can't hurt by battery to do this, but i also feel like i'm not using my phone to it's fullest potential in the sense that i'm treating it like it already has poor battery life because i'm trying to keep the battery healthy. in essence, you're treating your new phone like it already has poor battery life by charging multiple times a day...which is what you would do anyway when it actually does have an unhealthy battery. oh the irony.

I have a iPhone 5S sitting in the drawer.
Works fine.
Battery charges to full.

How old would that be.
I never babied the phone.

 

[Mike Dee]

Charging to 100 percent doesn't matter. Draining it to Zero is the biggest thing to avoid.

 

[MoreDef]

I've sit there and watched a dude with a heat gun and a guitar pick break one open.
Take a couple screws out.
Remove the battery..stick a new battery in and put it back together.

and I've seen a guy juggle chainsaws. doesn't mean i should try it myself. i mean, i could, but is that really a good idea?