When should I charge the battery?

[charlyee]

Ok so I have decided I am going to charge it every two weeks starting today when I am in town.

In special circumstances like trips etc, I will charge as needed.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[Cinisajoy]

Depending on how much you read, it may need charged sooner.
Note battery life for ereaders is estimated at 30 minutes a day reading time.

[charlyee]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Depending on how much you read, it may need charged sooner.
Note battery life for ereaders is estimated at 30 minutes a day reading time.

True and I do read 1-2.5 hours every night. I picked the two weeks because the battery light came on at just about 4 weeks last time, so I decided to give 2 a try.

It looked like the battery was about 2/3 down, I will definitely make it sooner if 2 weeks doesn't work.

Thanks very much.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by CDG1

Thank you very much everyone. It was very helpful, no idea what I will do yet though.

On the subject of battery, is there an "hack" that will show the actual percentage on the battery?

You are better off getting into a habit of regular charging rather than waiting until your battery reaches a certain point. You never know when you are going to be gone for hours and need your reader. Let me tell you what a bummer it is to go to the ER and finding out you only have 10% battery left (it shuts off at 8 or 9%). The average ER visit has been about 6 hours, most of it waiting for tests to come back. What that regular charging schedule looks like depends on your reader and how you read. My kindle keyboards and Nook ST only needed charging every other week, so I just wrote it on the calendar. More complicated now...

[charlyee]

Originally Posted by Tarana

You are better off getting into a habit of regular charging rather than waiting until your battery reaches a certain point. You never know when you are going to be gone for hours and need your reader.

My kindle keyboards and Nook ST only needed charging every other week, so I just wrote it on the calendar. More complicated now...

Thanks, I just entered it as a bi weekly task in my Reminders.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by CDG1

Is there a recommendation on what level to charge the battery at? The battery on my Voyage lasts so much longer than my iPad that I often forget that the Voyage does have a battery that needs charging.

Charge it whenever you like. It doesn't matter.

Another battery related question - at what percentage charge does the first low battery warning come on?

The Kindle doesn't show a percentage, but my estimate is around 10%.

Will it be detrimental on the life of the battery if I wait until that warning comes on before I charge it?

No. Just don't let the Kindle turn off because of low power and then stash it in a drawer for half a year. That'll kill your battery. Also, don't keep the battery at 100% all the time. This happens a lot with laptops that are mostly stationary. That will kill it too.

Modern batteries are designed to have the best life spans when they're used normally. Draining a battery completely and not recharging it, or keeping it at 100% all the time is anathema to normal use, so it's bad for the battery.

[charlyee]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

The Kindle doesn't show a percentage, but my estimate is around 10%.

Just don't let the Kindle turn off because of low power and then stash it in a drawer for half a year. That'll kill your battery.

Thanks very much. 6 months, not a chance. My Kindle are rarely separated even if I am not using it.

Sorry for my battery obsession, I am so thrilled to finally get a true reader as opposed various tablets that I used previously, that I want to make sure it lasts a good long time.

Reading on the Kindle is so much better and I hope we have a long and happy life together.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by CDG1

Thanks very much. 6 months, not a chance. My Kindle are rarely separated even if I am not using it.

Sorry for my battery obsession, I am so thrilled to finally get a true reader as opposed various tablets that I used previously, that I want to make sure it lasts a good long time.

Reading on the Kindle is so much better and I hope we have a long and happy life together.

My Kindles are older and they are still going strong. Well 2 out of 3.
Just don't read humor in the bathtub.
Your kindle may or may not survive.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by CDG1

Thanks very much. 6 months, not a chance. My Kindle are rarely separated even if I am not using it.

Same here; reading in public transport is one of my biggest ways to get some reading in each day.

Sorry for my battery obsession, I am so thrilled to finally get a true reader as opposed various tablets that I used previously, that I want to make sure it lasts a good long time.

My Kindle Paperwhite 1 is three years old now. It holds up very well. If the battery life has shortened, it's not enough to be really noticable. Maybe it would if I'd paid attention to it specifically.

Reading on the Kindle is so much better and I hope we have a long and happy life together.

Put it in a book-style cover to protect it, and that won't be a problem. If the need arises, you can replace the battery in under 10 minutes, with some patience and careful handling.

[charlyee]

Thanks Katsunami, glad to know that the battery can be replaced if the need arises.

Ah cases, that's one of my addictions . I have 3 book style cases and a slip cover, so I am all set.

[HarryT]

Perhaps worth noting that keeping WiFi turned off will roughly double the battery life. Unless you're reading your books on multiple devices, and hence want to sync the reading position between them, I'd suggest leaving it turned off.