WTH is up with my battery/charger?!

[SouthernStar09]

Ok, so this has happened the past two days in a row now. I go to sleep with the TB plugged into the wall charger. When I wake up and unplug it, it tells me the battery is fill/99% and all is well. Then I will get a phone call or something and after I hang up, the battery has dropped to like 16% or 2%?! What's going on? Has anyone else had a similar problem?? After I plug it in again at the computer to charge or on the wall charger or car charger, it'll charge up just fine again... It's just the long overnight charge that apparently isn't doing anything.

 

[fatboy97]

Recommend you Bump Charge... plug it in... light goes Green, turn it off... it will charge even more... light goes Green turn it back on... charge even more... light goes Green turn it off again... repeat 3 or 4 times... then the battery will get a FULL charge.

I do this about once every two weeks.

 

[MG386]

Don't use computer Usb to charge.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Do you use a different wall charger when you plug it in at night?

Could be an issue with the charger...

Here's what happens when you charge for extended periods of time:
The phone charges to full, then stops the current from flowing from the charger to the battery. The phone runs off battery power until it reaches a certain level (~94-97%, depending on the device), then recharges again. It repeats this cycle until the phone is unplugged.

Here's the thing though...the phone will indicate a "full charged" (100%) during this whole process, but usually after a few minutes of being off of the charger, the battery level will correct itself to it's actual charge level. This *could* make it seem like it's dropping rapidly (if it goes from 100 to 96% in a matter of minutes), when in fact that is perfectly normal, and will level off and start discharging at a normal rate after that.

What it sounds like yours is doing, however, is never restarting that cycle after it reaches full charge the first time. Still though, to drop from 100 to almost nothing just overnight with the phone idle isn't normal either, so there's definitely something else going on.

First thing I'd check is the charger itself...then possibly move on to the battery after that. Try using a different charger (preferably one with the same power output as the original one that comes with the Thunderbolt), and see if the problem persists.

 

[worwig]

You say that it is at about 99% when you unplug the charger, then after one call it is very low, like 16%.

Stop making those 5 hour calls.....

Actually, it sounds like you have a bad battery, a bad phone, or maybe the battery status need reset.
Not sure how to reset the battery status on this phone, but I'm sure it involves root. Or, a hard reset may do it.

Personally, I would call VZW and try to talk them into another battery first.

Also, try installing the 'Battery Monitor Widget". Tell us what the battery VOLTAGE is when it shows 99%, and what the VOLTAGE is at 16% or so.
It should be very close to 4200mv when fully charged. I'm not positive on the low charge voltage but I believe it is near 3300mv.

 

[SouthernStar09]

I used Elixr to monitor, and my 99% voltage seems correct at 4193mV. Also says my battery health is good (ha!)

MG386 mentioned not using the USB through the computer to charge, is that something that causes issues? I work from home on my computer so I usually keep my phone plugged in through the computer...

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

I used Elixr to monitor, and my 99% voltage seems correct at 4193mV. Also says my battery health is good (ha!)

MG386 mentioned not using the USB through the computer to charge, is that something that causes issues? I work from home on my computer so I usually keep my phone plugged in through the computer...

The power from a computer USB connection is much lower than that of the wall charger. I don't know if it causes any known "issues", but I wouldn't recommend using that method as an everyday solution.

I generally charge full before going to bed at night, leave phone off charger while I sleep (which usually drains it down to anywhere from 87-90%). My charging habits during the day vary depending on my situation, but I'll usually just let it run down if I'm not planning on being away from a power supply for an extended period of time, then plug it back in about an hour before I go to bed to charge back up again. On days with heavy usage, I'll maybe half to plug in at some point during the day to.

I don't really like keeping it plugged in constantly...I'll generally only plug it in while sleeping at night if I totally forgot to charge it all day and the battery is getting low.

Here's where I am for today...but to be honest, I haven't used my phone *that* much today -- just responding to emails and such...

 

[worwig]

I used Elixr to monitor, and my 99% voltage seems correct at 4193mV. Also says my battery health is good (ha!)

MG386 mentioned not using the USB through the computer to charge, is that something that causes issues? I work from home on my computer so I usually keep my phone plugged in through the computer...

Generally, the USB port will be a slower charge rate. It means, it will remain a little cooler during the charge. A cooler battery will last longer.
Basically, there is nothing wrong with charging from a computer. Just a slower charge.

Let us know what the battery voltage is when it is drops quickly.
Also, it may be worth taking the battery out and cleaning the contacts. Shouldn't be an issue, but no harm in trying.