CM7 battery issues, plus kernel questions

[scosch]

I've been running CM7 for a day and a half now and I have some concerns.

I've been getting worse battery life with this than with stock gingerbread. I only got 8 hours off charger today with low to moderate use (about 15 minutes worth of GPS, a couple of calls, a couple of texts, and maybe 45 minutes worth of internet browsing). I checked the battery usage and I notice that cell standby was using 21% of the battery. I don't remember cell standby ever sucking battery juice that much. Is this unusual?

Also, my main buttons at the bottom will not light up when the phone is on. I noticed the backlight for these buttons flickers on and off very quickly when I wake up the phone. After that it's hit or miss whether they will be backlit or not.

Finally, I'm wondering about kernels. I keep seeing people on these forums talking about replacing the kernel. What does that actually do for you, and do you flash a new kernel just like you flash a new ROM?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[fatboy97]

I've been running CM7 for a day and a half now and I have some concerns.

I've been getting worse battery life with this than with stock gingerbread. I only got 8 hours off charger today with low to moderate use (about 15 minutes worth of GPS, a couple of calls, a couple of texts, and maybe 45 minutes worth of internet browsing). I checked the battery usage and I notice that cell standby was using 21% of the battery. I don't remember cell standby ever sucking battery juice that much. Is this unusual?

There is something with the AOSP ROMs that cause this "Cell standby" to make it look like it's using a lot of battery life... it's not. I can't speak for how you have all your app setup... I've had very good battery life, but I know how often every single app sync's (Facebook, Evernote, Google+, Beautiful Widget's Weather, etc, etc, etc).

Also, my main buttons at the bottom will not light up when the phone is on. I noticed the backlight for these buttons flickers on and off very quickly when I wake up the phone. After that it's hit or miss whether they will be backlit or not.

The only time I've seen this issue is when I'm in an app... mostly just games.... otherwise, it's works just great.

Finally, I'm wondering about kernels. I keep seeing people on these forums talking about replacing the kernel. What does that actually do for you, and do you flash a new kernel just like you flash a new ROM?

Any help is appreciated.

Most people do it to run a "lean" kernel or some other type of kernel instead of the kernel that came with your ROM... but there are other things that flashing a new kernel will do for you like better battery life, or some people have issues with lagging with a ROM, so they put in a new kernel that might work a little better. The biggest thing I have seen with kernels is that not every kernel works with every ROM... so if you are looking to flash a new kernel YOU better be sure it will run with that ROM. Some kernel's work with Sense ROMs and some work with AOSP ROMs... Always, Always, Always make a Nandroid backup before attempting to flash a new kernel just in case something does not work right.

 

[EdwardIII]

I found that CM7 and ImoseyonLean Kernel are a great combo...I love CM7 except for the stupid call screen, so I switched to BAMF Cubed 1.10 with the Imoseyon Lean 5.0.1 Kernel and I currently get approx 18 to 30 hors of battery life (depending on usage) on my stock battery from March. You must also calibrate your battery after installing new ROMs, the best detailed instructions I've found can be found at teambamf.net. As for exactly what the Kernel does, Im not 100% sure...I dont question great things! I hope that helps a bit...teambamf is a great forum to join, you can find answers to a ton of questions...

 

[spartanguy81]

Did you re calibrate your battery when you switched to cm7?

 

[scosch]

but I know how often every single app sync's (Facebook, Evernote, Google+, Beautiful Widget's Weather, etc, etc, etc).

I have very little that syncs: I hardly use Facebook, so all I sync is the contacts so that I have the contact pictures for calls and texts. I didn't find anywhere I could specifically set how often the contacts sync. I don't use Google+, don't use a weather widget that needs updating, and my work email scans for new messages once an hour. All of these things seem like pretty minimal syncing to me. I do use widgetlocker for my lockscreen. Could that potentially have any effect on battery life? This is just really frustrating because I don't use the phone to the degree that only 8 hours of life is normal.

 

[scosch]

Did you re calibrate your battery when you switched to cm7?

How do I do that? I saw something about wiping battery stats in the recovery menus when I was flashing the ROM. Is that it?

 

[fatboy97]

If you have Facebook... and never checked the Settings it's probably sync'ing every hour.

But since other's have brought up the subject... did you calibrate your battery??? There are some threads here on doing that, but basically you have to charge to 100%, power off, charge again until you get a green light, unplug, plug it back in, wait for the green, power up, let it charge to 100%, unplug, plug it in again, charge to 100%, power off, wait for the green, power up, wait for the 100%... do this 3 or 4 times, then download an app called Battery Calibration, start app, press calibrate, unplug. and use normally until it's close to fully drained (I usually stop at 10-20% depending on plans of the day).

 

[EdwardIII]

Like I said...to re calibrate your battery, go to teambamf.net...look around for recalibrating your battery forum...its a lengthy process but it works. I recalibrate my battery every time I flash a new ROM.

 

[EdwardIII]

If you have Facebook... and never checked the Settings it's probably sync'ing every hour.

But since other's have brought up the subject... did you calibrate your battery??? There are some threads here on doing that, but basically you have to charge to 100%, power off, charge again until you get a green light, unplug, plug it back in, wait for the green, power up, let it charge to 100%, unplug, plug it in again, charge to 100%, power off, wait for the green, power up, wait for the 100%... do this 3 or 4 times, then download an app called Battery Calibration, start app, press calibrate, unplug. and use normally until it's close to fully drained (I usually stop at 10-20% depending on plans of the day).

Its kinda like that, yes...a little different and no app to download...but it takes usually three cycles (battery completely drains, then gets 100% charged) to notice the difference...

 

[fatboy97]

Its kinda like that, yes...a little different and no app to download...but it takes usually three cycles (battery completely drains, then gets 100% charged) to notice the difference...

Well, it's pretty close to that in one of the threads I've read here... or you could use the wipe battery stats in Recovery.... but I like the app because you don't have to go into Recovery unless you are trying to keep some other way secret or force someone to go to TeamBAMF... don't get me wrong, I like TeamBAMF, but it would be nice to just share here if you have another suggestion!!!