iPod Docking iPod damages battery?

[nplima]

Hi all,

Santa brought me a radio/alarm-clock with iPod dock and I quite like the idea of playing music without taking up computer resources

Since I use this iPod at home and on the move, I'm wondering if it's OK to keep the iPod docked at night and whenever it's not in use, or if this will damage the battery. The (tiny) manual does not say anything about this matter, so I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks

Nuno

 

[mad jew]

Howdy! Docking your iPod like that shouldn't have much of an effect at all on the iPod's battery life.

 

[splashtech]

I certainly hope it doesnt have any adverse effects... my classic is docked on a similar product every night to get me up for work each morning

 

[chris57]

I was actually going to post a thread asking this same thing. Since most docking alarm clocks or speakers charge the iPod while its playing it, wouldn't it "use up more cycles" of charging? I know your supposed to use up all the battery before recharging.

 

[mad jew]

You don't have to discharge your iPod's battery before recharging it. Yeah, these devices usually recharge the battery but should stop once it's full. They're usually intelligent enough to not keep letting the iPod discharge a small amount before recharging it back up. Usually the battery of the iPod is bypassed in favour of the power supplied by the device, meaning that they're actually good for your iPod's battery if anything.

 

[SkyBell]

Beware: My 4G iPod's battery life was severely reduced when I docked it at night. (It lasted half an hour, tops) I don't know if the new batteries are any different, but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[RubberShoes]

Beware: My 4G iPod's battery life was severely reduced when I docked it at night. (It lasted half an hour, tops) I don't know if the new batteries are any different, but I wouldn't risk it.

Yea I've had the same problem with my 3G ipod...the battery eventually dwindles down to only working for even just 15 minutes...

But I don't blame my dock for that, all batteries dwindle down in their lives (my phone battery never worked properly again after having a gf not to mention my bill afterwards) so you just get the knife out, crack the ipod open, and replace it!

I'm on my third battery in my 3G ipod and its still working right now as im typing this!

So no, I don't think docks cause this problem, maybe really crappy ones might ignore when the battery is fully charged, but other than that I think its just a matter of [all devices'] lives...

 

[zblaxberg]

Been docking my ipod video for 2 years now, no problems at all.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Most of the newer ipods (all the ipods sporting a lithium polymer battery) have a charge controller built-in. So they should not "over-charge".

The only problems I see are perhaps a 3rd party charger / dock might not supply enough voltage - and the battery won't get a full charge. (though this wouldn't be a permanent problem - would restore when you used the "original" charger)

All batteries degrade over time - charge cycles have less to do than most people think. (discharge / depth of discharge / temperature and age are the greater factors)

There are a LOT of companies out there (aside from Apple) that sell replacement batteries - higher capacity batteries, and some even offer to do everything for you. I wouldn't sweat it. I've done a bunch myself, they are cake.