Cellular Phone Battery FAQ
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How should I charge my battery the first
time?
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How long does it take to fully
charge a battery?
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Will overcharging my battery hurt
it?
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What is "Memory Effect"?
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What is the difference
between a Lithium-ion and a Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery?
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Why is my battery performance less
than the advertised Talk and Stand-by times?
-
How can I maximize the performance
of my battery?
-
How long will a battery last?
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How can I find out the size and capacity
of a battery?
-
Why can’t I find a Lithium-ion
battery that matches the voltage specified for my phone?
-
What is the difference
between battery models (Slim, Super, Extended, Auxiliary etc.)
?
How should
I charge my battery the first time?
For the first 3 charge cycles, a new battery should be fully charged
before being used and then allowed to fully discharge before recharging.
This will help ensure a true "full charge" of the battery during
the first few cycles and will condition the battery for optimal
performance. Proper conditioning of a new NiMH battery is
critical to achieving optimal performance. While less critical
for Lithium-ion batteries, proper conditioning will provide benefits
to new Lithium-ion batteries. Note that when a new battery
is first charged, it is not unusual for the battery to show a full
charge after only a short period of time. If this occurs,
keep the battery on the charger overnight to help ensure a true
full charge. Removing the battery momentarily from the charger
and then replacing it may also help.
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How
long does it take to fully charge a battery?
The time required to charge a battery depends on the battery type,
the capacity of the battery, and the type of charger being used.
A higher mAh battery will take longer to charge than a lower mAh
battery. In general, it will take 3-4 hours to "rapid charge"
a battery to the 80% level, and an additional 8 hours to “slow
or trickle” charge a battery to the 100% level. A good
approach is to charge your battery overnight for about 12 hours.
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Will
overcharging my battery hurt it?
Yes, overcharging a battery causes it to overheat and can result
in damage to the battery, causing degraded performance and eventual
failure. As a general rule, do not charge a battery for more
than 24 hours.
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What is "Memory
Effect"?
"Memory Effect" is a condition of reduced battery performance (and
eventual failure) due to a battery only using those cells that are
fully discharged and charged on a regular basis. In other
words, if on a regular basis a NiCd or NiMH battery is only partially
discharged before being recharged, it "forgets" that it has usable
capacity to further discharge all the way down. The result
is degraded battery performance and shorter battery life because
the battery is using less than it's true full capacity. Lithium-ion
batteries do not develop "memory effect". NiMH batteries,
while considerably better than their NiCd counterparts, are prone
to developing "memory effect." However, proper care and conditioning
over the life of a NiMH battery will significantly reduce the potential
negative impacts.
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What
is the difference between a Lithium-ion and a Nickel-Metal Hydride
(NiMH) battery?
In general, a Lithium-ion battery will provide slightly higher
performance at a lighter weight than a NiMH battery (a Lithium-ion
battery will typically offer 10-20% better performance and weigh
20-35% less than a NiMH battery with equivalent mAh). In addition,
Lithium-ion batteries are the only batteries not susceptible to
"memory effect". As a result, you will typically pay a premium
for these qualities. NiMH batteries, while much better than
their NiCd counterparts, may develop the "memory effect" and experience
degraded performance over the life of the battery. Proper care and
conditioning of a NiMH battery will significantly reduce the potential
negative impact of the "memory effect.".
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Why
is my battery performance less than the advertised Talk and Stand-by
times?
Many factors affect the actual talk and stand-by times of a battery.
The conditioning of the battery, the type of service – digital
or analog, the options selected on the phone, service area signal
strength, the accessories used, the typical operating temperature,
etc., all affect battery performance. The manufacturer’s
specified talk and stand-by times typically represent "up to" or
maximum battery performance under optimal conditions. Depending
on these factors, the performance you experience may be more or
less than the specified talk and stand-by times.
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How
can I maximize the performance of my battery?
There are several things that can be done to maximize battery performance:
In summary,
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Properly "condition" your battery when it is new (this is particularly
important for NiMH batteries)
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Keep your phone, batteries, and the contact terminals clean.
The contacts can easily be cleaned with cotton swab and rubbing
alcohol.
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Avoid exposing the battery to extreme heat and cold.
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Use the battery. If possible, avoid letting your battery
sit dormant for long periods of time.
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Use only the phone options and accessories that you really
need.
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If the battery is to be idle for an extended period (a month
or more), store it in a cool, clean, dry location. Charge
and re-condition it upon re-use.
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How long
will a battery last?
In general, the life of a regularly used battery is between 300
and 500 charge/discharge cycles. Depending on the battery,
this translates into a 1-to-2 year timeframe. As a battery
nears the end of it's productive life (typically considered 50%
of its original capacity), the talk and stand-by times of the battery
will be noticeably shorter. It is interesting to note that
a Lithium-ion battery will, over it's useful lifetime, maintain
more of a full capacity charge and then "die" rather suddenly; a
NiMH battery will demonstrate a more gradual decline in performance
as it nears the end of it's productive life.
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How can
I find out the size and capacity of a battery?
Size and performance specifications for batteries are found in
the product tables. Where available, specifications for Weight,
Thickness, Talk and Stand-by time, milli-Ampere hours (mAh), and
Voltage are provided.
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Why
can't I find a Lithium-ion battery that matches the battery voltage
specified for my phone?
Lithium-ion batteries typically operate at slightly higher voltage
levels than their NiMH counterparts (for example, a 7.2V Lithium-ion
is the typical equivalent for a 6.0V NiMH). The higher voltage Lithium-ion
batteries are completely compatible and will not adversely effect
the phone.
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What
is the difference between battery models (Slim, Super, Extended,
Auxiliary, etc.)?
Different battery models provide
different performance advantages. In general:
Slim: A thinner, lighter battery
manufactured to still provide excellent capacity.
Extended: A battery manufactured
for increased capacity (longer talk & stand-by times).
Main: Main battery for phone
models that allow for simultaneous use of a main battery and a second,
auxiliary battery.
Auxiliary: The second (“piggyback”)
battery for phones that allow a main and auxiliary battery.
Super: A battery manufactured
with “extra, extra” performance, such as a Slim Super.
Vibrational: A battery manufactured
to enable “vibration mode” on phones that support this
function.
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Phone Batteries
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