Battery Care

patrickt · 08-02-2019, 06:10 PM

Android Central had this advice in an article entitled "How long does the battery on a Kindle Paperwhite last?"

"As often as possible, allow the battery to run down to either empty or very near empty. Over-charging the unit will eventually lead to a shortened battery lifespan overall."
https://www.androidcentral.com/how-l...aperwhite-last

I'm no geek, techie, or engineer but I'm curious what you think of this advice. It isn't what I usually read about battery care.

Deskisamess · 08-02-2019, 06:26 PM

It doesn't agree with what I've been taught and have read concerning current battery maintenance. I didn't think it was possible to "overcharge" a healthy battery in a device that was working correctly.

I see other errors in the article too. Kindle Paperwhites aren't backlit for on thing.

Plugging a Kindle into a computer isn't how you transfer books, unless you've chosen that option to begin with. The article says that will save battery power over using WiFi transfer. It takes literally a few seconds to download a book over WiFi. Plugging into USB port, which causes the device to go into usb mode, then ejecting the Kindle to exit usb mode I'm guessing would require more battery power. Not to mention unnecessary wear and tear on the micro usb port on the Kindle.

They also suggest "shutting it down completely for a more responsive restart."

Whoever wrote the article knows very little about using a Kindle.

jhowell · 08-02-2019, 06:36 PM

The How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries page at batteryuniversity.com gives very different advice:

Quote:

Similar to a mechanical device that wears out faster with heavy use, the depth of discharge (DoD) determines the cycle count of the battery. The smaller the discharge (low DoD), the longer the battery will last. If at all possible, avoid full discharges and charge the battery more often between uses. Partial discharge on Li-ion is fine. There is no memory and the battery does not need periodic full discharge cycles to prolong life. The exception may be a periodic calibration of the fuel gauge on a smart battery or intelligent device. (See BU-603: How to Calibrate a “Smart” Battery)

lumpynose · 08-02-2019, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

"As often as possible, allow the battery to run down to either empty or very near empty."

That was definitely true back in the days of NiCd batteries. But with them it wasn't about overcharging but that the batteries developed a memory, if I remember correctly.

But with NiMH and Lithium it's not the recommended practice.

My previous phone, a Motorola G3 I think, developed the swelling battery problem that I didn't know about but which I read about iPhones having. I rarely use my cell phone so it was mostly plugged into the charger. The same thing was happening to the Nexus 9 tablet I had, also rarely unplugged. On both of them the glass in front was bulging up. My current phone and tablet I'm leaving unplugged until I notice that the battery is getting low, likewise with the ereader. It may not be necessary but better safe than sorry.

Deskisamess · 08-02-2019, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Try not to keep your device in overly warm or overly cold places, as this can lead to the dissipation of the battery power.

Dissipation? A tad overblown I think.

j.p.s · 08-02-2019, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpynose

That was definitely true back in the days of NiCd batteries. But with them it wasn't about overcharging but that the batteries developed a memory, if I remember correctly.

Battery memory is the urban legend that everyone remembers.

NiCd batteries had dumb chargers because such chargers were cheap and NiCd batteries are very robust, but not so robust that overcharging wouldn't eventually kill them, and it was definitely overcharging that killed them.

The reason users were told to run NiCd down then charge them for 12 to 14 hours then take them off charging that would minimize cooking. If the manufacturers hadn't been too cheap to put in voltage depression detection and automatically stop charging then, users could just put the battery on the charger and take it off whenever they felt like it.

NiMH need smart chargers to prevent quick death, and those chargers had to detect the voltage leveling off, which is more expensive and difficult than detecting voltage depression.

Lithium batteries need super smart chargers in order to not explode.

None of those battery types have what is thought of as charge memory.

cerem0ny · 08-02-2019, 10:49 PM

I used to leave my kindle oasis 2 charging overnight (when it typically took 3 hours from 0 to 100) and after doing that about ten times, the battery would go from 100 to 0 in a few minutes. It was faulty and I had to take it back to the store to exchange it for a new one. I no longer leave it charging overnight and generally plug it into the wall socket once it hits about 30%. That and I only charge it to about 95%. So far so good!

Pjama · 08-03-2019, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Android Central had this advice in an article entitled "How long does the battery on a Kindle Paperwhite last?"

"As often as possible, allow the battery to run down to either empty or very near empty. Over-charging the unit will eventually lead to a shortened battery lifespan overall."
https://www.androidcentral.com/how-l...aperwhite-last

I'm no geek, techie, or engineer but I'm curious what you think of this advice. It isn't what I usually read about battery care.

I think this advice was relevant maybe fifteen years ago, but things have moved on, and fully discharging the battery is the opposite of what you should be doing. The modern batteries are happier being kept topped up, preferably before they drop below 40% or so. I put my Oasis on the charger for a top up every day, usually when it’s sround 65-70%.

barryem · 08-03-2019, 07:57 PM

Nicad batteries used to have to be drained before charging or they'd crystalize and develop what everyone called a memory effect, where the battery would only discharge to the point it which it was last charged.

No other battery chemistry has this problem. Nicads are still used in certain high-drain situations like power tools but almost no-where else. The advice quoted by the the OP doesn't apply to lithium ion batteries.

Battery University, quoted above, has been posting updated battery information for decades and has an excellent record for reliability.

Barry

avivs · 08-06-2019, 09:53 AM

I talked to Amazon about two weeks ago and asked how I should charge my new Oasis's battery.
They said keep it between 20%-100%. I believe that 30%-90% would be better, but that was close.
No need to drain the battery.

patrickt · 08-06-2019, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avivs

I talked to Amazon about two weeks ago and asked how I should charge my new Oasis's battery.
They said keep it between 20%-100%. I believe that 30%-90% would be better, but that was close.
No need to drain the battery.

I usually put my Paperwhite on to charge when I get the warning and take it off when the light turns green or when I notice it's green. It's usually between 96% and 100% when the light goes green.

tomsem · 08-06-2019, 08:15 PM

Kindles, by their nature, typically undergo far fewer charge cycles than a smartphone, which might get hooked up to charging several times a day. I doubt it is of large concern for a Kindle, provided you don’t let level get too low before charging it up.

For example, in forthcoming iOS 13, Apple is trying to prevent full charge from happening more than once a day, so as to slow battery aging. It goes to 80%, and to full charge as you approach heavy usage period.

barryem · 08-08-2019, 10:13 AM

Battery University says that the optimal way to use lithium ion batteries is to keep them between 40% and 60%. Or maybe it was 40% and 70%. It's been a while since I read it.

The saving grace is that these batteries are pretty tough and all these optimizing things only have a small effect. I don't worry about it much.

I typically charge my Kindles to 100% and I rarely let them get below 75%. I usually charge them around 85%. This is for convenience since I have a number of Kindles and I check the ones I'm not using every week or two.

I've been using Kindles since 2009. I've probably owned something like 20 of them in that time. I usually give older ones to my neighbors in my retirement home and I'm always helping them with them so I'm still in touch with most of the ones I've ever owned. In all that time only one has ever had a battery get to the point where it won't keep a charge very long, and it's still being used by the woman who cleans my apartment. All the rest are doing fine. I think these things are pretty reliable.

Barry

08-02-2019, 06:10 PM	#1
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	Battery Care Android Central had this advice in an article entitled "How long does the battery on a Kindle Paperwhite last?" "As often as possible, allow the battery to run down to either empty or very near empty. Over-charging the unit will eventually lead to a shortened battery lifespan overall." https://www.androidcentral.com/how-l...aperwhite-last I'm no geek, techie, or engineer but I'm curious what you think of this advice. It isn't what I usually read about battery care.

08-02-2019, 06:26 PM	#2
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,752 Karma: 45301087 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	It doesn't agree with what I've been taught and have read concerning current battery maintenance. I didn't think it was possible to "overcharge" a healthy battery in a device that was working correctly. I see other errors in the article too. Kindle Paperwhites aren't backlit for on thing. Plugging a Kindle into a computer isn't how you transfer books, unless you've chosen that option to begin with. The article says that will save battery power over using WiFi transfer. It takes literally a few seconds to download a book over WiFi. Plugging into USB port, which causes the device to go into usb mode, then ejecting the Kindle to exit usb mode I'm guessing would require more battery power. Not to mention unnecessary wear and tear on the micro usb port on the Kindle. They also suggest "shutting it down completely for a more responsive restart." Whoever wrote the article knows very little about using a Kindle. Last edited by Deskisamess; 08-02-2019 at 06:37 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
enTourage eDGE/Pocket eDGe battery care best practices	kveroneau	enTourage Archive	9	12-22-2010 09:00 AM
Kobo Customer Care - they really do care!	HarleyB	Kobo Reader	2	08-03-2010 05:49 AM
Battery care for the PRS-505	Armaced	Sony Reader	10	09-25-2009 05:33 PM
Lithium-Ion battery care	Wetdogeared	Sony Reader	16	12-02-2008 08:52 PM

08-02-2019, 10:49 PM	#7
cerem0ny Evangelist Posts: 449 Karma: 3059202 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Scribe 2024	I used to leave my kindle oasis 2 charging overnight (when it typically took 3 hours from 0 to 100) and after doing that about ten times, the battery would go from 100 to 0 in a few minutes. It was faulty and I had to take it back to the store to exchange it for a new one. I no longer leave it charging overnight and generally plug it into the wall socket once it hits about 30%. That and I only charge it to about 95%. So far so good!

08-03-2019, 07:57 PM	#9
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	Nicad batteries used to have to be drained before charging or they'd crystalize and develop what everyone called a memory effect, where the battery would only discharge to the point it which it was last charged. No other battery chemistry has this problem. Nicads are still used in certain high-drain situations like power tools but almost no-where else. The advice quoted by the the OP doesn't apply to lithium ion batteries. Battery University, quoted above, has been posting updated battery information for decades and has an excellent record for reliability. Barry

08-06-2019, 09:53 AM	#10
avivs Member Posts: 11 Karma: 2075226 Join Date: Jul 2019 Device: Kindle Oasis	I talked to Amazon about two weeks ago and asked how I should charge my new Oasis's battery. They said keep it between 20%-100%. I believe that 30%-90% would be better, but that was close. No need to drain the battery.

08-06-2019, 08:15 PM	#12
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,939 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	Kindles, by their nature, typically undergo far fewer charge cycles than a smartphone, which might get hooked up to charging several times a day. I doubt it is of large concern for a Kindle, provided you don’t let level get too low before charging it up. For example, in forthcoming iOS 13, Apple is trying to prevent full charge from happening more than once a day, so as to slow battery aging. It goes to 80%, and to full charge as you approach heavy usage period.

08-08-2019, 10:13 AM	#13
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	Battery University says that the optimal way to use lithium ion batteries is to keep them between 40% and 60%. Or maybe it was 40% and 70%. It's been a while since I read it. The saving grace is that these batteries are pretty tough and all these optimizing things only have a small effect. I don't worry about it much. I typically charge my Kindles to 100% and I rarely let them get below 75%. I usually charge them around 85%. This is for convenience since I have a number of Kindles and I check the ones I'm not using every week or two. I've been using Kindles since 2009. I've probably owned something like 20 of them in that time. I usually give older ones to my neighbors in my retirement home and I'm always helping them with them so I'm still in touch with most of the ones I've ever owned. In all that time only one has ever had a battery get to the point where it won't keep a charge very long, and it's still being used by the woman who cleans my apartment. All the rest are doing fine. I think these things are pretty reliable. Barry