MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Touch Should I let the battery drain before recharging?

davidfor · 10-07-2018, 07:59 AM

Short answer: Don't worry about it. Use the device when you want to, charge it when you can.

Longer answer:
Li-Ion batteries do not suffer from any memory affects like NiCads. Partial charge cycles are safe. Last I looked, they were considered to last about 500 charge cycles. Partial cycles add up to a full cycle (ten 10% discharge and recharge cycles is roughly the same as a full discharge/recharge cycle). As soon as they are made, they start losing capacity. They are likely to be at 50% after two or three years.

You can extend the life of Li-Ion battery by charging to about 40% and storing in a fridge. Or, keeping the charge level in the 30%-70% range. Exposing them to high temperatures will reduce their life. Letting them completely discharge and stay there for a while, is bad and the natural self-discharge could drop the charge level below the safe recharge point. But, "a while" is probably weeks, not hours.

Overall, anything you can do to extend the life of a Li-Ion battery is inconvenient and means you don't actually use the battery. And they don't have enough effect to make them worthwhile.

As you have an N905 Touch, the battery has probably already aged a lot. They haven't been made for at least six years. Mine, bought in November 2011, still has some life, but, I doubt if it would last more than a couple of hours of reading. But, my wife's Touch battery died a year or so ago.

10-07-2018, 07:59 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Short answer: Don't worry about it. Use the device when you want to, charge it when you can. Longer answer: Li-Ion batteries do not suffer from any memory affects like NiCads. Partial charge cycles are safe. Last I looked, they were considered to last about 500 charge cycles. Partial cycles add up to a full cycle (ten 10% discharge and recharge cycles is roughly the same as a full discharge/recharge cycle). As soon as they are made, they start losing capacity. They are likely to be at 50% after two or three years. You can extend the life of Li-Ion battery by charging to about 40% and storing in a fridge. Or, keeping the charge level in the 30%-70% range. Exposing them to high temperatures will reduce their life. Letting them completely discharge and stay there for a while, is bad and the natural self-discharge could drop the charge level below the safe recharge point. But, "a while" is probably weeks, not hours. Overall, anything you can do to extend the life of a Li-Ion battery is inconvenient and means you don't actually use the battery. And they don't have enough effect to make them worthwhile. As you have an N905 Touch, the battery has probably already aged a lot. They haven't been made for at least six years. Mine, bought in November 2011, still has some life, but, I doubt if it would last more than a couple of hours of reading. But, my wife's Touch battery died a year or so ago.