PRS-900 Battery or Software?

Kolenka · 12-29-2009, 03:50 PM

I've been using my 900 for a few days now, and it seems like there is either something wrong with the battery or how the firmware reports the battery level.

It will drop to 3 bars just like the 600 does, but even with the wireless off, it will go from 3 to 1 within a day or so of it hitting 3 bars. Have any of the other 900 owners seen this themselves?

EDIT: And if I shut off the device in this state, it powers back on with 3 bars again.

grooks · 12-29-2009, 04:38 PM

If it's the same as the 600, the battery indicator probably needs to be calibrated. This may take a few cycles for the firmware to realize the battery is not really draned, but wait until the battery is completely dead then do a full charge (ideally with a mains/wall charger) overnight. Once it is charged then use as normal until the battery completely dies again. You may need to repeat these steps a few times before you begin to see an expanded battery life.

Also, I notice prolonged life if I shut down the device each night before turning off my bedside lamp. My battery lasts 2-3 days longer than using just the standby mode.

Kolenka · 12-29-2009, 04:41 PM

The main reason I bring it up at all is because the behavior is totally unlike the 600 when I had the chance to use it. Fresh unit as well. :/

Even without calibration, it shouldn't be jumping from 3 to 1 bars instantly (assuming it is on some sort of voltage scale like 99.9% of all battery meters).

grooks · 12-29-2009, 04:45 PM

Brand new, my 600 battery meter never displayed correctly. It took me a few charges to calibrate. I'm assuming the 900 is similar to the 600 in this respect.

4nefertiti · 01-11-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolenka

The main reason I bring it up at all is because the behavior is totally unlike the 600 when I had the chance to use it. Fresh unit as well. :/

Even without calibration, it shouldn't be jumping from 3 to 1 bars instantly (assuming it is on some sort of voltage scale like 99.9% of all battery meters).

This sometimes happens with batteries that need to be calibrated. I had to do a calibration on both my cell phone and laptop recently. In the process of letting the 900 battery die before recharging again.

Kolenka · 01-11-2010, 12:32 PM

Yeah, yeah, I get that.

What I don't get is why it takes a day to drop 1 bar, and then later that day it drops 2 more at the same time. I've never seen an algorithm for a battery meter where the voltage for 2 states could be the same thing. It's as if Sony tried to overcomplicate the algorithm, and as a result, it can do things that make no sense to other software developers.

12-29-2009, 03:50 PM	#1
Kolenka <Insert Wit Here> Posts: 1,017 Karma: 1275899 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puget Sound Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Forma	Battery or Software? I've been using my 900 for a few days now, and it seems like there is either something wrong with the battery or how the firmware reports the battery level. It will drop to 3 bars just like the 600 does, but even with the wireless off, it will go from 3 to 1 within a day or so of it hitting 3 bars. Have any of the other 900 owners seen this themselves? EDIT: And if I shut off the device in this state, it powers back on with 3 bars again.

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12-29-2009, 04:38 PM	#2
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	If it's the same as the 600, the battery indicator probably needs to be calibrated. This may take a few cycles for the firmware to realize the battery is not really draned, but wait until the battery is completely dead then do a full charge (ideally with a mains/wall charger) overnight. Once it is charged then use as normal until the battery completely dies again. You may need to repeat these steps a few times before you begin to see an expanded battery life. Also, I notice prolonged life if I shut down the device each night before turning off my bedside lamp. My battery lasts 2-3 days longer than using just the standby mode.

12-29-2009, 04:41 PM	#3
Kolenka <Insert Wit Here> Posts: 1,017 Karma: 1275899 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puget Sound Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Forma	The main reason I bring it up at all is because the behavior is totally unlike the 600 when I had the chance to use it. Fresh unit as well. :/ Even without calibration, it shouldn't be jumping from 3 to 1 bars instantly (assuming it is on some sort of voltage scale like 99.9% of all battery meters).

12-29-2009, 04:45 PM	#4
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	Brand new, my 600 battery meter never displayed correctly. It took me a few charges to calibrate. I'm assuming the 900 is similar to the 600 in this respect.

01-11-2010, 12:32 PM	#6
Kolenka <Insert Wit Here> Posts: 1,017 Karma: 1275899 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puget Sound Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Forma	Yeah, yeah, I get that. What I don't get is why it takes a day to drop 1 bar, and then later that day it drops 2 more at the same time. I've never seen an algorithm for a battery meter where the voltage for 2 states could be the same thing. It's as if Sony tried to overcomplicate the algorithm, and as a result, it can do things that make no sense to other software developers.

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