Li-Ion battery maintenance: to discharge or not to completely discharge?

[pctech]

Hi

I have a Sony Ericsson K800i which I'd like to keep going for the next few years as its a good solid phone just like my first phone, the Ericsson S868 which I'd still be using now if they hadn't stopped making the batteries!

Anyway, my phone (like almost all others) has a Lithium Ion battery in it and have read conflicting information about whether it is good practice to completely discharge the battery (to the point where the phone switches itself off) on a regular basis in order to maintain the battery's capacity to retain charge and if so how often should this be done?

Can anyone advise?

pctech

[Homer J]

This should help.

A lithium-ion battery provides 300-500 discharge/charge cycles. The battery prefers a partial rather than a full discharge. Frequent full discharges should be avoided when possible.

What was good advice with NiCd is completely wrong with Li-ion.

[pctech]

d'oh!!! (sorry couldn't resist)


Thanks Homer J

[Dr_Thurston]

Useful post, this. Wish I'd known about it sooner. It might also explain why I've been having problems charging my iPod recently...

[pctech]

should have corrected this, it's lithium polymer not ion

since I inadvertently fully discharged it I sometimes have problems switching the phone on when it has been charged and have to remove and reinsert the battery before it will boot.

Does it sounds like the battery has been damaged?

[Homer J]

Doesn't sound like a damaged battery, could be dirty contacts.

[pctech]

Originally Posted by Homer J

Doesn't sound like a damaged battery, could be dirty contacts.

I'll try polishing the contacts then.

Cheers

[pctech]

All looks OK

Made sure battery is seated properly, if it happens again I'll contact SonyEricsson and see what they reckon.

[re:charge]

as mentioned above, frequent full discharges discouraged... but it does help once every few months to do this: put on charge quickly after going flat, this recalibrates the battery meter to the actuall battery (as both are starting at zero). same with ipods & stuff