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Video guide to proper iPhone charging:

D

Darkfox3889

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 6, 2010
62
1
Hey everyone!

I've noticed recently that many people are unclear on the proper charging habits for iPhone's and other modern mobile devices.

This inspired me to make a fun little video in hopes of dispelling the mystery of battery maintenance!

It basically follows Apple's battery guidelines, but can be applied to any device using Lithium Ion batteries.

Please let me know what you all think of it!
=)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6YO0L0v7YU
 
I think you messed up. Dropping below 50% isn't a full cycle. A full cycle would be dropping to 50% twice.
 
D= really?! I've always heard that dropping below 50% equates to one "cycle" count.
And yes it is really mine. :eek:
 
I just checked the Laptop Battery Guide (lithium-ion). My mistake, you were right.
I distinctly remember reading on that same guide that one full cycle was any amount of discharges adding up to 100% (for instance, 25% + 35% + 40% = 1 cycle).


Pre-edit: I just re-read the that guide. Either I am tired and need to go to sleep, or this thing is contradicting itself.

A cycle is when the total battery power is less then 50% before it is recharged. The battery electronics monitor the status of the cells during use, and not cycling the battery at least once a week may cause the electronics to get false recordings. It is best to fully drain the battery before you charge it up again. Seeing a fully charged in your battery status monitor as 99% is a good indication to fully cycle your battery.
Click to expand...

You have a fully charged battery (5000 mAh) and you use 2000 mAh in one sitting, charge it up back to 5000 mAh, and then use another 1000 mAh. How much have you used? The answer is 60% of one cycle. Why? 2000 mAh=40% of one cycle 1000 mAh=20% of one cycle Total=3000 mAh, or 60% of one cycle.

Thus, your battery goes through cycles on a fairly straight-forward basis; there is no need to fully deplete your battery every time.
Click to expand...
 
Corndog5595 said:
(If this actually is your video…) I think you messed up. Dropping below 50% isn't a full cycle. A full cycle would be dropping to 50% twice.
Click to expand...
That's what I've read too. http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/ask-ilounge-5-9-08/ I think the video is well done though and obviously you have a clue about editing so could fix the issue of charge cycles if necessary. (I don't claim that what the iLounge article says is correct, I've just read it several places)
 
Good tips on the car, heat, etc but I'm not sure about the charge cycles.

It really shouldn't matter at which point to you recharge (so long you don't discharge to shut down as you mentioned in your video), it is the cumulative effect of discharges and recharges overtime that decrease battery life. So recharging from 75% to full twice a day should have the same impact on battery as one charge from 50% to full.

It might be that the phone has internal 'charge cycle' counter that only trips if recharged from below 50% but that would probably be used for diagnostic purposes by apple repair to determine if the phone has seen excessive use rather than to accurately measure how much the battery has degraded or how many 'true' charge cycles have been completed.

Of course I'm not an apple tech so am just speculating.
 
Darkfox3889 said:
D= really?! I've always heard that dropping below 50% equates to one "cycle" count.
And yes it is really mine. :eek:
Click to expand...

I believe a cycle is additive, needs to reach 100% used (@one sitting or additive smaller sessions that add to 100%) for it to count as 1 cycle...

Simm0nS777 said:
Damn, you're cute. :)
Click to expand...
Is not her, I believe Darkfox is the guy that is making the videos not the girls being featured in them... Nice website, based on what I have seen from it, are you going to have a different girl every-time you do a new review?
 
Carlanga said:
I believe a cycle is additive, needs to reach 100% used (@one sitting or additive smaller sessions that add to 100%) for it to count as 1 cycle...
Click to expand...
That's what I thought as well.

Carlanga said:
Nice website, based on what I have seen from it, are you going to have a different girl every-time you do a new review?
Click to expand...
The site is really trying to attract people in a newer way (for the tech industry at least). The only recommendation I have is to give the reviews more depth. TouchArcade slaughters Appreview in that regard. Unfortunately, that's where it counts.
 
Look at all the lonely virgins complimenting the girl on a forum because they don't guts to do it in real life.
 
So is it a cycle when it goes below 50%? Or multiple uses that add up to 100%? This thread has me confused now.

I've also read that once a month to drain the battery from 100% until it dies but the video says only to 10%. Which one is it?
 
LOL, well that video said dont ever let the battery completely die.
I now have a Vibrant(Android) and of course it uses a lithium battery and T-Mobile told me that in their instructions to get the battery dialed in to LET IT DIE two consecutive times after a full charge and then after that it should last longer.

When i was using my iPhone, i ran it down to 20% or below often and charged it up overnight. Did that if it was only at 60% or more after charging it up when it was low. The battery always worked the same and it is two years old. The only thing that made it worse was updating it to another firmware.
 
Thanks for the link. A great site and excellent and new approach to video reviews especially to an already over popular tech review sector. Not sure either about the charge cycle stuff.
 
Sorry for the late re-entry to this thread!
Thanks so much for all the positive feedback everyone!
It means a lot!

I noticed mention of wanting the videos to have more depth. What exactly do you mean by this?
Just more detail about the app?
:)
 
Any chance you can give me this information over drinks?? This video is way better than those with tech dork guys telling me how to use stuff
 
^ haha thanks! Yeah our format was intended to give a nice change of pace to the typical tech video scene. Now we're just trying to figure out where to take it next!

Thanks again all you guys! All the positive feedback really means a lot. We've been working on and developing this concept for awhile now, and it's so rewarding to see other people enjoying our work. :)

Please let me know what you'd like to see going forward! If you have a lesser known app you really love, give me a heads up and maybe we'll feature it!
 
Darkfox3889 said:
Hey everyone!

I've noticed recently that many people are unclear on the proper charging habits for iPhone's and other modern mobile devices.

This inspired me to make a fun little video in hopes of dispelling the mystery of battery maintenance!

It basically follows Apple's battery guidelines, but can be applied to any device using Lithium Ion batteries.

Please let me know what you all think of it!
=)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6YO0L0v7YU
Click to expand...

OMG someone finally posted correct info about lithium batteries ~_~

im so tired of people posting facts based on the old nickel batteries


anyways a few corrections

1) lithium ion batteries will never let you fully discharge them. 0% =/= completely drained battery. Most lithium batteries have a safety feature that will stop them from discharging after a certain amount is left.

2) Doing a full discharge/charge cycle actually does nothing for longetivity. The only reason this is recommend is to calibrate the battery + calibrate what the device displays as a percentage.

There are only two things you need three things you really need to know about making lithium batteries last

1) keep it fully charged
2) Keep it cool
3) If storing for a long time, charge to about 50% and then store in the freezer
 
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