Lithium polymer battery

[Lucy Davies]

I ask Huawei UK on twitter what type of battery the P20 pro had as I wasn't 100% sure & they replied saying the P20 pro has a lithium polymer battery inside. I've never experienced a device with that type of battery inside it. How do I take care of the lithium polymer battery? I've been charging the phone as if it had a lithium ion battery. Do lithium polymer batteries have a memory & is it ok to give the phone little boosts every now & then? How do I get the best usage out of a lithium polymer battery?

 

[Fred98TJ]

Treat it as with any lithium battery. No memory either. That was only for the nicad batteries.

 

[Mooncatt]

Treat it as with any lithium battery. No memory either. That was only for the nicad batteries.

This. Lipo batteries should be treated the same as Li-ion. Try to keep it between 40-80% charge.

 

[Lucy Davies]

On Twitter Huawei UK said to charge the phone when the low battery warning comes on which is at 20% then charge it up to 100% & if it's kept on charge at 100% the battery will not overcharge.

 

[Mooncatt]

On Twitter Huawei UK said to charge the phone when the low battery warning comes on which is at 20% then charge it up to 100% & if it's kept on charge at 100% the battery will not overcharge.

20% is pushing it, and they are technically correct that it will not overcharge. But think about it, that would be pretty dumb for a manufacturer to allow that. The issue with going above 80% or so is that it puts extra stress on the battery and causes it to wear out sooner. You could charge it to 100% then pull it out of the phone and shelve it, and it would still be stressed.

 

[Kodak2]

My understanding is that when the phone displays 100% charge, the true charge is about 80%. This is designed into the charging circuit to prevent stressing the battery. Only bump charging would bring it up to 100%, and this is generally not recommended.

Happy to be corrected if my understanding is wrong.

 

[Mooncatt]

My understanding is that when the phone displays 100% charge, the true charge is about 80%. This is designed into the charging circuit to prevent stressing the battery. Only bump charging would bring it up to 100%, and this is generally not recommended.

Happy to be corrected if my understanding is wrong.

I don't have the screenshots anymore from my testing, but you're partially right. The percentage on the battery gauge is just a number and I know on my phone 100% on it is not completely full. I charted out a charging graph showing a continuing absorption charge for I think almost another hour after hitting 100%. This is as if you changed the fuel gauge on your car to mark 3/4 as the full mark. Yeah, it'll read full, but isn't.

Bump charging is like filling your gas tank until the pump shuts off, then trying to add more in. That can damage a battery and the capacity gains aren't worth it in my opinion.

 

[Lucy Davies]

Huawei UK also said not to use the phone while charging especially browsing the internet. Any idea why?

 

[Kodak2]

Nope. That's a new one on me.

 

[Lucy Davies]

Nope. That's a new one on me.

I no I've not heard of that one either. Although I kinda remember my old phone did have a message come up saying using the phone while charging may cause the phone not to charge properly. Maybe that's why?

 

[Mooncatt]

Huawei UK also said not to use the phone while charging especially browsing the internet. Any idea why?

Most likely because using the phone causes an increase in heat. Charging also increases heat. Heat is bad for Lipo batteries, so my guess is they are suggesting not to use the phone to keep the heat down. Manufacturers can handle this in different ways. I'm not familiar with Huawei's practices, but I know LG phones will automatically throttle the charge rate if the screen is on, and severely cut back if it is actively in use or warm (to the point of just trickle charging). But on an HTC phone I had a few years ago, it would give still charge current as long as temps were not excessive.

 

[Lucy Davies]

Most likely because using the phone causes an increase in heat. Charging also increases heat. Heat is bad for Lipo batteries, so my guess is they are suggesting not to use the phone to keep the heat down. Manufacturers can handle this in different ways. I'm not familiar with Huawei's practices, but I know LG phones will automatically throttle the charge rate if the screen is on, and severely cut back if it is actively in use or warm (to the point of just trickle charging). But on an HTC phone I had a few years ago, it would give still charge current as long as temps were not excessive.

Heat is probably the reason why. Unfortunately my battery has already got hot a few times as we have had a heatwave from about May time onwards. Today is the coolest day so far. Battery still seems to last all day like it use to so don't think much damage has been done. I try to keep my phone as cool as possible but it's really hard in a heatwave. I tend to charge my phone over night away so will not be using it.

 

[Mooncatt]

I tend to charge my phone over night away so will not be using it.

But then you run into the issue I mentioned in my second reply about holding it above 80%. If you plan to keep it long term, you may notice the capacity loss within a year or so.

 

[Kodak2]

I would be concerned using the Hauwei for in car navigation with Google maps,. Charging from the car, screen on and accessing the internet. I would double check if they are serious about charging the phone and accessing the internet at the same time.

 

[Lucy Davies]

But then you run into the issue I mentioned in my second reply about holding it above 80%. If you plan to keep it long term, you may notice the capacity loss within a year or so.

Not every night I charge it but sometimes it's the only time when I can charge it if I'm busy the next day. Plus I don't wanna wake up when it reaches 80% to turn it off. I'm gonna keep just giving it little boost charges & take it off at 80% if I can. Think that's the best thing for it.

 

[Kodak2]

I wouldn't worry too much. The charging circuits are very sophisticated in modern phones, they won't let you damage the battery. Just don't leave it on charge for days. Most people charge their phone overnight with no adverse effects.

 

[Lucy Davies]

I wouldn't worry too much. The charging circuits are very sophisticated in modern phones, they won't let you damage the battery. Just don't leave it on charge for days. Most people charge their phone overnight with no adverse effects.

Oh gosh I would never leave my phone on charge for days or weeks even. Like to treat it as best I can.

 

[JZ VR]

Previous Huawei phones were all very good with battery (Mate 9 & Mate 10 Pro), no noticeable capacity loss even after two years just go about your routine as you normally would don't stress over it.

 

[JZ VR]

I just charge when battery gets low, it rarely falls below 10% and I pretty much always charge to 100%, used and charged at the same time when I had to, haven't had any problems so far.

 

[GSX1400]

Lol, didn't realise people micro managed their batteries this much.

I generally discharge mine down to 2%, then plug it in to take it to 100. Always done this, while avoiding incomplete 'boost' charges.