Aura H2O My battery is draining way too fast

ottdmk · 03-11-2019, 01:31 PM

Hey folks,

So, I've got the latest o-t-a firmware release (12.12.12111) and lately I've been seeing odd things.

To be perfectly honest, it might just be because my reader is old-ish. I got my H2O back in April 2015 to replace a busted Aura HD. In that time my Kobo has been well-used, to say the least.

But today, for example... I left the H2O plugged in all weekend (not a normal occurence, but I was busy doing other things.) I took it with me on my morning commute and by the time I reached work it had gone from 100% to 71%. Believe me, I was not flipping *that* many pages!

Just thought I'd ask here if anyone's seen anything similar. I keep the wi-fi off. I keep my light around 20% during the day, 10% at night.

ottdmk · 03-12-2019, 11:40 AM

Replying to my own thread. *rolls eyes* Anyways, there's been enough views that I wanted to let folks know I've written something new.

I think that perhaps my reading lately is having an effect. I've been reading a lot of PDFs on the Kobo. Lots of zooming, lots of panning. Might be what's going on. It's a theory, anyways.

rashkae · 03-12-2019, 11:24 PM

Sometimes, a background process can get stuck, which will have no visible symptoms, but prevents the processor form entering sleep state. I haven't seen this on a Kobo in a long time, but still theoretically possible. If you notice an unusual amount of battery drain, the first thing to try is to turn off and restart the Kobo. (Not just the usual sleep, but shut it right down. You'll know you got it when you see the booting up squares when you turn it back on.)

meeera · 03-13-2019, 03:51 AM

Definitely do the off-and-on-again etc - address the usual suspects. But I'd not be at all surprised if a device nearly four years old has a wearing-out or worn-out battery. Even if not well-used, these batteries have a limited life measured in years, not just in charge cycles. It's often quoted as "two to three years", though I've seen plenty of somewhat older devices still in use.

rashkae · 03-13-2019, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Definitely do the off-and-on-again etc - address the usual suspects. But I'd not be at all surprised if a device nearly four years old has a wearing-out or worn-out battery. Even if not well-used, these batteries have a limited life measured in years, not just in charge cycles. It's often quoted as "two to three years", though I've seen plenty of somewhat older devices still in use.

2 - 3 years is/was the expected life of laptop batteries... Not only was battery tech less refined when those estimates were common, but laptop batteries are often used in the worst possible environment for LiOn,, (kept at a near full charge and at heated temperatures when the laptop is in use.)

Devices that do not generate heat and do not cycle charges over 2-3 days should last twice as long easy.

ottdmk · 03-13-2019, 05:05 PM

Just to mention: It doesn't appear to be a runaway process. I've rebooted the H2O a few times while trying to figure this out. When I plugged it in last weekend it had shut itself off due to low battery.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that my PDF reading is stressing a battery that is no longer top-notch due to age. I've left the H2O asleep for extended periods of time without any battery drain whatsoever.

meeera · 03-13-2019, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashkae

2 - 3 years is/was the expected life of laptop batteries... Not only was battery tech less refined when those estimates were common, but laptop batteries are often used in the worst possible environment for LiOn,, (kept at a near full charge and at heated temperatures when the laptop is in use.)

Devices that do not generate heat and do not cycle charges over 2-3 days should last twice as long easy.

So 4-6 years, and this device is four years old and still alive - just draining more quickly than when it was new. It's pretty typical of my experience with e-ink readers. I think we may also not notice it as readily as with a laptop battery, because the battery life is so long already.

Quoth · 03-14-2019, 07:32 AM

My H2O original has been used heavily since new. However I quickly gave up on PDFs. All mine are either too large, or print too small. Even a 10" tablet is challenging on some. I now only have some PDF manuals where original is about A5 sized, mostly for Japanese Ham Radio products with non-intuitive menus!

I've no battery issue at all, though it does seem to be not quite as long life as it used to be.

GlenRunciter · 03-21-2019, 04:08 PM

I use a small powerbank for my old glo.

03-11-2019, 01:31 PM	#1
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,199 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	My battery is draining way too fast Hey folks, So, I've got the latest o-t-a firmware release (12.12.12111) and lately I've been seeing odd things. To be perfectly honest, it might just be because my reader is old-ish. I got my H2O back in April 2015 to replace a busted Aura HD. In that time my Kobo has been well-used, to say the least. But today, for example... I left the H2O plugged in all weekend (not a normal occurence, but I was busy doing other things.) I took it with me on my morning commute and by the time I reached work it had gone from 100% to 71%. Believe me, I was not flipping that many pages! Just thought I'd ask here if anyone's seen anything similar. I keep the wi-fi off. I keep my light around 20% during the day, 10% at night.

03-13-2019, 03:51 AM	#4
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,670 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Definitely do the off-and-on-again etc - address the usual suspects. But I'd not be at all surprised if a device nearly four years old has a wearing-out or worn-out battery. Even if not well-used, these batteries have a limited life measured in years, not just in charge cycles. It's often quoted as "two to three years", though I've seen plenty of somewhat older devices still in use. Last edited by meeera; 03-13-2019 at 03:56 AM.

03-21-2019, 04:08 PM	#9
GlenRunciter Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 10000 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Stuttgart Device: Kobo Sage	I use a small powerbank for my old glo. Last edited by GlenRunciter; 03-23-2019 at 11:24 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Aura H2O battery problems, fast draining while reading cbz files	hkckoo	Kobo Reader	4	07-18-2016 11:21 PM
Glo Fast draining battery issue & Kobo's response	itsmir	Kobo Reader	14	01-06-2015 02:04 PM
Glo Battery draining really fast	SirLucas	Kobo Reader	6	03-28-2013 05:19 AM
PRS-950 Battery draining too fast??	petercreasey	Sony Reader	5	04-10-2012 05:51 AM
People with fast draining PRS-500 batteries...	AprilHare	Sony Reader	0	12-18-2009 06:02 PM

03-12-2019, 11:40 AM	#2
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,199 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Replying to my own thread. rolls eyes Anyways, there's been enough views that I wanted to let folks know I've written something new. I think that perhaps my reading lately is having an effect. I've been reading a lot of PDFs on the Kobo. Lots of zooming, lots of panning. Might be what's going on. It's a theory, anyways.

03-12-2019, 11:24 PM	#3
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,195 Karma: 5372239 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	Sometimes, a background process can get stuck, which will have no visible symptoms, but prevents the processor form entering sleep state. I haven't seen this on a Kobo in a long time, but still theoretically possible. If you notice an unusual amount of battery drain, the first thing to try is to turn off and restart the Kobo. (Not just the usual sleep, but shut it right down. You'll know you got it when you see the booting up squares when you turn it back on.)

03-13-2019, 05:05 PM	#6
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,199 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Just to mention: It doesn't appear to be a runaway process. I've rebooted the H2O a few times while trying to figure this out. When I plugged it in last weekend it had shut itself off due to low battery. I'm becoming more and more convinced that my PDF reading is stressing a battery that is no longer top-notch due to age. I've left the H2O asleep for extended periods of time without any battery drain whatsoever.

03-14-2019, 07:32 AM	#8
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,609 Karma: 87456643 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	My H2O original has been used heavily since new. However I quickly gave up on PDFs. All mine are either too large, or print too small. Even a 10" tablet is challenging on some. I now only have some PDF manuals where original is about A5 sized, mostly for Japanese Ham Radio products with non-intuitive menus! I've no battery issue at all, though it does seem to be not quite as long life as it used to be.

Advert

Advert