Is it bad to leave the Ipod charging when it's full?

[darkfusion]

Some info I found at iPodBatteryFAQ.com:

"Lithium ion batteries do not take kindly to frequent full or complete discharges. When possible, the optimal usage pattern - for any lithium ion battery - is a partial discharge, followed by recharging. A partial discharge can be anything less than a full discharge. However, an occasional full discharge is desirable (e.g., once every 30 charges) to calibrate the battery."

It seems although there is no direct memory effect, it's good to sometimes let it fully discharge every now and then to kinda "refresh" it...

 

[Spad]

I'm glad to see that some are finally getting a clue as to the care and feeding of Li-Ion batteries.

Another bit that some may find useful concerns devices that include "fuel" gauges to indicate the level of charge. As Li-Ion batteries are cycled, these gauges become increasingly out of sync. All that is required to reset them is to fully discharge the battery.

Li-Ion batteries should never be routinely fully discharged and this case is the sole exception to the rule.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Me, I just don't know what's so terrible about having an inaccurate fuel gauge that I should deliberately discharge it. I mean, if it gets so inaccurate that the battery goes flat without warning from the gauge, well that's going to happen someday and also reset the fuel gauge, so why do I have to do it deliberately? And it's not like an inaccurate fuel gauge is going to cause the charger to overcharge the battery

 

[Lisa]

Quote:

Originally posted by darkfusion Some info I found at iPodBatteryFAQ.com: A partial discharge can be anything less than a full discharge.

Does that mean that any discharge is fine as long as it isn't completely discharged?

With my phone (li-polymer) I recharge when there's 10-30% charge left in it. Should I charge more often/earlier or is this fine?

 

[lindrone]

Yes, and yes.

 

[Spad]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Does that mean that any discharge is fine as long as it isn't completely discharged? With my phone (li-polymer) I recharge when there's 10-30% charge left in it. Should I charge more often/earlier or is this fine?

Most battery manufacturers consider a full discharge to be 80 percent depletion. This is the standard used when specifying 300-500 charge cycles. Deeper discharges will shorten the battery's life. And if combined with a high temperature environment, such as inside a laptop (but not typically a portable MP3 player or cell phone), this reduction can be dramatic.

Actually, the battery doesn't die, but our ability to extract energy from it is restricted by an increasing build up of internal resistance due to oxidation.