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Is there a way to stop charging when plugged into computer?

I

IheartOSX

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 22, 2014
5
1
So I noticed something very interesting yesterday. When my Alienware was running Windows, I could not charge my iPad on my computer. But, as soon as I installed OS X on my alienware PC, my iPad now charges as long as it's plugged into a system running OS X.

So there are cases when my iphone is fully charged but I still need to plug it into my Mac, is there a terminal command possibly that could disable all devices from charging? Charging an iPhone while it's at 100% battery for a few hours is not good, I'm wondering if there's a way I can plug it in without charging.
 
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IheartOSX said:
So there are cases when my iphone is fully charged but I still need to plug it into my Mac, is there a terminal command possibly that could disable all devices from charging? Charging an iPhone while it's at 100% battery for a few hours is not good, I'm wondering if there's a way I can plug it in without charging.
Click to expand...

Actually its because the PC's USB will never charge your iPad. Its not producing enough power to charge the iPad at least that's what I think Apple states.
 
IheartOSX said:
So I noticed something very interesting yesterday. When my Alienware was running Windows, I could not charge my iPad on my computer. But, as soon as I installed OS X on my alienware PC, my iPad now charges as long as it's plugged into a system running OS X.

So there are cases when my iphone is fully charged but I still need to plug it into my Mac, is there a terminal command possibly that could disable all devices from charging? Charging an iPhone while it's at 100% battery for a few hours is not good, I'm wondering if there's a way I can plug it in without charging.
Click to expand...

Honestly. I think your fretting for no reason. Your phone should be fine. If there is any negative effect on it, it will probably be negligible at best.

Just my opinion
 
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carjakester said:
doesn't it leave the battery alone and runs on incoming power from the charger?
Click to expand...

Right...didn't clarify that. I believe you are correct. It essentially draws, or "sips", the required power to run the phone, leaving the battery alone.

The whole overcharging, calibrating, etc was big in the android camp for the various phones I have owned that were not iphones.
 
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No cel phone currently on the market will "overcharge the battery" if you leave it plugged in.

There's a good reason for this; if you overcharge a lithium battery, it will BURST INTO FLAME. Manufacturers obviously have every motive to keep this from happening.

A plugged in iPhone at 100% will simply stay at 100%, with no current flowing to or from the battery.
 
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maflynn said:
Actually its because the PC's USB will never charge your iPad. Its not producing enough power to charge the iPad at least that's what I think Apple states.
Click to expand...
It's the same USB port in the OP. Just different OS.
 
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Plugging your phone in while the battery is full won't hurt anything. The charging circuitry in the phone will prevent it from constantly charging the battery.
 
maflynn said:
Actually its because the PC's USB will never charge your iPad. Its not producing enough power to charge the iPad at least that's what I think Apple states.
Click to expand...
Some will do it if they have a high powered USB port, others might not seem like they are doing it, but will still usually do it very slowly due to being underpowered for the iPad.

http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3511

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T5BRICK said:
Plugging your phone in while the battery is full won't hurt anything. The charging circuitry in the phone will prevent it from constantly charging the battery.
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That's generally the case, at least with good/decent components involved.
 
Is there a way to stop charging when plugged into computer?

Yep, no fear let it charge.

Allowing it to drain completely helps with meter calibration with battery deterioration. As recommended by Apple.

But overall it better to keep a lithium ion battery above 50% for it's longevity.

aqegahuz.jpg


Taken from battery university dot com. A lot of interesting info on there for those interested.
 
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maflynn said:
Actually its because the PC's USB will never charge your iPad. Its not producing enough power to charge the iPad at least that's what I think Apple states.
Click to expand...

Yes Apple and OSX lock this functionality. But you can just install a small utility to unlock high powered USB functionality on your computer. I think it comes from Asus or mSI.

It runs under Windows (one more little thing of how tweakable Windows really is), so expect to use bootcamp if you use a Mac. I've charged an old ipad 2 on my work this way for years since it involves lots of data sharing. So, syncing and charging is an essential part.

Been using it this way for almost 2 years, I think. My new ipad air also charged while connected this way. And I have no problems whatsoever both on the ipad and computer.
 
iSayuSay said:
Yes Apple and OSX lock this functionality. But you can just install a small utility to unlock high powered USB functionality on your computer. I think it comes from Asus or mSI.

It runs under Windows (one more little thing of how tweakable Windows really is), so expect to use bootcamp if you use a Mac. I've charged an old ipad 2 on my work this way for years since it involves lots of data sharing. So, syncing and charging is an essential part.

Been using it this way for almost 2 years, I think. My new ipad air also charged while connected this way. And I have no problems whatsoever both on the ipad and computer.
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with the operating system and everything to do with special hardware provided by the manufacturer of the USB port (usually the motherboard manufacturer)
 
GoSh4rks said:
This has nothing to do with the operating system and everything to do with special hardware provided by the manufacturer of the USB port (usually the motherboard manufacturer)
Click to expand...

Yeah well. My computer is an iMac late 2012 model. I installed this utility (under Windows, and it's not Asus exclusive, believe me) and now I can charge non mini iPads over the computer's USB port just fine. No harm done on both parties.

So obviously the USB ports on my Mac is capable of providing high power, but Apple decides to lock it down for "USB power compliance" reason.
Yep Windows do not enable this by default too. But it's easier to find a workaround.
 
Lots of good info in this thread except that Apple no longer recommends a complete discharge (it won't hurt the battery, Apple simply has a different recommendation now).

And Apple makes no recommendation on keeping a battery charged above 50%. They simply state that an iPhone battery will retain 80% of it's charge after 400 cycle which is in contradiction with random battery theory from the Internet.
 
GoSh4rks said:
This has nothing to do with the operating system and everything to do with special hardware provided by the manufacturer of the USB port (usually the motherboard manufacturer)
Click to expand...


No but here's the discovery I made.

When my Alienware ran Windows, my iPad did not charge. When I installed OS X on the exact same hardware, low and behold it DID charge.

Winblows = Will not charge iPad 2

Hackintosh = Will charge iPad 2

Same hardware, but different OS can impact whether or not your iPad 2 will charge.
 
Is there a way to stop charging when plugged into computer?

PNutts said:
Lots of good info in this thread except that Apple no longer recommends a complete discharge (it won't hurt the battery, Apple simply has a different recommendation now).



And Apple makes no recommendation on keeping a battery charged above 50%. They simply state that an iPhone battery will retain 80% of it's charge after 400 cycle which is in contradiction with random battery theory from the Internet.
Click to expand...


You maybe right because I can't find it on Apples page anymore however the meter (% gauge) still relies on a counter in iOS 7 diag. Only way for it to be accurate is a complete discharge. Ever have or see anyone on here say 100% to 99% last a really long time but the rest drops normally. Or the extremely common thread of phone dies at 5-15%? That just because voltage isn't lateral in it's discharge and all batteries are different.

Apple never recommended charging above 50%. That's just common knowledge of electron movement within a lith ion battery and it hardening. Check out that link, it's interesting stuff. You'll get more cycles if charged that way.

Complete discharge will damage a lith ion battery. Not 0% but 0 volts. When storing you should do that at around 50% for similar reasons. Apple still recommends that.

u4apyhat.jpg


Pulled from Apple.com

Edit: the point of my reply is you can't have one without the other. Apple is vague for a consumer reason not that their li-ion-po batteries aren't any different then those found in any other device. There are better ways to maintain a battery, how much it helps? Well thats the question. However if there were none then Apple wouldn't say "A properly maintained battery...." on it's wedpage. It's all based on the current decade old tech. They even go as far as stating "trickle charge" which is completely false to the industry but technically not incorrect in usage.

Btw my personal background in this as a home automation tech (mostly HVAC currently) is from battery back up in devices. I actually prefer Nic-cad cells in a lot of stuff vs lith-ion. But do dabble in certain lith-ion supported gadgets.
 
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cynics said:
You maybe right because I can't find it on Apples page anymore
Click to expand...

Yeah, I used to reference it a lot in battery threads and *poof* it was gone. :D Their new recommendation isn't nearly as easy to explain.

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cynics said:
Complete discharge will damage a lith ion battery. Not 0% but 0 volts.
Click to expand...

I received a battery powered camping lantern as a gift. I didn't pay much attention to it and put it on a shelf in the basement. More than a couple of years later I pulled it down to either let the kids use it or donate it and it turns out it had an internal, rechargeable battery. Oops. I opened the box and on top was a piece of paper in big bold letters something like, "STOP! CHARGE THE BATTERY IMMEDIATELY." I didn't even bother to put it on the charger. Oh, well. So much for that one. :D
 
This is what I read about laptop batteries that if you kept it plugged-in then the battery keeps discharging and charging all the time and it affects battery life. Is iPhone battery different from laptop battery? Both are lithium ion batteries!
 
If you keep any device with a battery constantly plugged in, then yes, that will affect battery life. LiIon batteries like to be exercised now and then.

In either case, taking the device off the charger for a while, say once a week at minimum, should be enough.
 
IheartOSX said:
So I noticed something very interesting yesterday. When my Alienware was running Windows, I could not charge my iPad on my computer. But, as soon as I installed OS X on my alienware PC, my iPad now charges as long as it's plugged into a system running OS X.

So there are cases when my iphone is fully charged but I still need to plug it into my Mac, is there a terminal command possibly that could disable all devices from charging? Charging an iPhone while it's at 100% battery for a few hours is not good, I'm wondering if there's a way I can plug it in without charging.
Click to expand...
I am also looking for terminal commands to disable and enable battery charging. Please help !
 
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