Seasoned and others who might know about batteries and such.

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Hi,

My replacement li-ion cell phone batteries (not original equipment) came with the instructions to charge for 12 hours regardless if the charge indicator indicated full battery. This is to "calibrate" the battery.

I don't really believe this to be necessary, for one reason, once the charger says full it stops charging.

However I decided to Google it to see if it was necessary and found two camps.

Camp one- calibrate or die.

Camp two- Calibration is an unnecessary pagan ritual.

So, I ask knowing Warriors, to calibrate or not to calibrate, that is the question.

George Wright
  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Hi George,

    I am no expert and I know technology has changed.
    I used to sell mobile phones and batteries and I was trained to teach people to charge fully, let run down, charge fully, let run down and charge fully again...yes, that is not a stutter.
    The reason is that batteries had a "memory" and this needed to be done to ensure they had a long life.

    I remember not that long ago being told that this is no longer the case as they don't have this "memory" any longer.

    However, I would recommend asking a retailer about what today's truth is as you may get conflicting answers in here.
    Good luck and please let us know what you learn.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    George,

    I know what I am about to tell you, on its face,sounds MORONIC, but it seems to be true, and is considered FACT!

    The LAST major small high power battery technology, before the current one, was NiMH(AKA Nickle Metal Hydroxide). It was good, but had a MAJOR flaw! It had what they called a MEMORY! In order to get the best use out of the battery, you had to discharge it COMPLETLY, and RECHARGE it FULLY! If you failed to do so, the length of charge tended to drop pretty quickly.

    THEN, a NEW battery hit the scene! Li-ion(AKA Lithium Ion, AKA Lithium). Unfortunately, it was VERY expensive. So many components came with the then JUNK NiMH, and you could pay an average of $100 over the price for a NiMH battery to get a Li-ion version. Li-ion had THREE main benefits:

    1. Could hold more power for its size.
    2. Tended to have a narrow decline in power, and then a steep drop, as opposed to the steep, albeit gradual, overall decline of NiMH.
    3. NO MEMORY! So you did NOT have to deplete before charging!

    THEN, inflation happened and costs went down overall, due to labor, automation, and better yields, and NOW most widely used high power products are SHIPPED with lithium.

    BTW I have used the Li-ion batteries for well over a decade, NEVER discharged fully first, and had FEW go bad. So I am having pretty good luck.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    I say calibrate that first charge as they suggest.
    Signature

    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    I misread your question. I always DID charge it fully. I don't believe it necessary, but why.gyp yourself in any way. If you need to use it disconnected from the power, fine. If you are going out or some such, it is best to let it fully charge. If you end up staying out too long, you will be better prepared.

    Instructions probably cost a lot of time/money to word and translate, and they probably just didn't bother to reflect the new technology.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I once ignored the 12 hour instruction and the phone never stayed charged for more than an hour or so. With a new battery, after following the instructions and fully charging it, the sucker stayed charged for 10+ hours. Go figure, huh?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      I once ignored the 12 hour instruction and the phone never stayed charged for more than an hour or so. With a new battery, after following the instructions and fully charging it, the sucker stayed charged for 10+ hours. Go figure, huh?
      Well, I have been luckier with Li-ion. Like I said though, the NiMH acted like your experience. But who would think ANY batteries work like that?

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

    Hi,

    My replacement li-ion cell phone batteries (not original equipment) came with the instructions to charge for 12 hours regardless if the charge indicator indicated full battery. This is to "calibrate" the battery.

    I don't really believe this to be necessary, for one reason, once the charger says full it stops charging.

    However I decided to Google it to see if it was necessary and found two camps.

    Camp one- calibrate or die.

    Camp two- Calibration is an unnecessary pagan ritual.

    So, I ask knowing Warriors, to calibrate or not to calibrate, that is the question.

    George Wright
    Iam sorry I am not trying to hijack this Thread. So excuse me but I felt compelled to comment on something.

    George, all these years I glanced at your Avatar and just surmised quickly that it was a chihuahua looking figure with distinct ears. Weird huh ?? I don't know why that image came to me like that lol

    I just never questioned it all these years until now ,and I see it is a man with glasses

    Anyone else make a glancing and erroneous error at what they see in an Avatar of a Member here ??
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Anyone else make a glancing and erroneous error at what they see in an Avatar of a Member here ??
      I bet everyone has, whether they realize it or not. Frankly, if I look at something like this, I just don't bother trying to figure it out. I have the WEIRDEST impressions sometimes and I eventually find out OTHERS had the same impression, or even that I was right. Of course, sometimes, I have been way off.

      Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Iam sorry I am not trying to hijack this Thread. So excuse me but I felt compelled to comment on something.

      George, all these years I glanced at your Avatar and just surmised quickly that it was a chihuahua looking figure with distinct ears. Weird huh ?? I don't know why that image came to me like that lol

      I just never questioned it all these years until now ,and I see it is a man with glasses

      Anyone else make a glancing and erroneous error at what they see in an Avatar of a Member here ??
      Alexa's Avatar looks different every time I see it. Sometimes, when I'm not cool, I can't see it at all.

      You can't hijack a thread in OT. There is only drift.

      Your Avatar looks like a butterfly. It sort of is. Butterfly>Freedom Fly>your kids are the wings for your freedom.
      Signature

      "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Anyone else make a glancing and erroneous error at what they see in an Avatar of a Member here ??
      At first I thought you were a man with three heads.
      Signature

      Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Your another one.
        Every time I have seen your Avatar, now and the old one, I think of Jude Law.

        Not sure why ?

        Don't know if it is your actual picture or that he is from UK too.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by discrat View Post

          Your another one.
          Every time I have seen your Avatar, now and the old one, I think of Jude Law.

          Not sure why ?

          Don't know if it is your actual picture or that he is from UK too.
          Well the old one in the sun glasses is me, I suspect it's the good looks rather then Englishness where you're getting us confused.

          This picture is fictional chap called Bertie Wooster played by Hugh Laurie. It's a funny series based on the books by P.G Wodehouse about a wealthy aristocrat and his man servant.

          I suppose he does look a bit Jude Lawy.
          Signature

          Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Discrat,

    Here is a post I made sometime back on another forum.

    Hi All,

    You can find inspiration for product ideas in the darnedest places and under the most unusual circumstances.

    Case In Point

    About 2, maybe even 3 years ago, I was walking down Wilshire Blvd. In K town. (That's Korea Town, a section of Los Angeles.) OK, so I'm strolling along taking in the color and soaking up the ethos of this vibrant melting pot, when I spot a Mickey D's. All of a sudden my mouth started watering for a cup of coffee, Mc Double and apple pie so I walked through the double doors up to the counter, ordered, paid and collected my mini feast.

    As I was enjoying my java refill and the burger and pie were only a memory, I noticed a homeless man walking toward my table.

    I braced myself for the often repeated discussion I have with homeless people in the area. (Rehearsing in my mind.) “No money for you sir, but I'll buy you a burger and drink if you want.”

    So I'm ready for him. As he gets closer I prepare for our little talk.

    Much to my surprise he sat right down catty corner from me at my table and looked right at me. For the first time I noticed that he had a pen, pencil, a stack of dog eared printer paper and an old magazine in his hands.

    He laid the paper and magazine down on the table and started drawing me on the top sheet of paper.

    I said, “Don't draw my picture.” He kept sketching. I said “Stop drawing my picture.” He just kept drawing me.

    He was fast and he was finishing my picture as I was finishing my coffee. For the first time he spoke to me. Holding up my picture he said. "I wanna get $6 for this." I said, “I told you not to draw me.”

    I got up and walked out of Mc Donald's. I noticed as I was getting up that he took my picture and stuck it inside of that old magazine. As I continued my walk east on Wilshire I couldn't stop thinking about that picture of me stuck inside of that magazine.

    So I decided to go back and haggle price on my unwanted likeness stuck inside that dirty old mag, on that dogeared paper.

    I got back to Mickey D's and walked in seeing him still sitting at MY table. By now he was drawing a picture of the children at the next table and another family was standing by my table. I didn't dare interrupt him so I just sat back down at my table across from him.

    When he finished drawing the first children at the table, Mom came over and handed him $6 and took her artwork.

    He started drawing the children that were standing by, finished their picture and collected another $6 from Mom #2.

    Me, now Mr. cheapskate who came to haggle price, spoke. “I'll give you $3 for my Picture if you pretend to be drawing while I take your picture with my phone. “OK,” he said.

    The artist removed my picture from the old magazine, laid it on the table positioned his pen over the pic and I snapped several pictures.

    Later I took a picture of the picture (the original now long lost) and enhanced it with my Smart Phone's Photoshop app.

    I've used it ever since as my Warrior Forum Avatar. It's my Avatar here also.

    I've never since seen the homeless guy. If I do, I wonder if I should tell him about fiverr. Hmmm.

    Anyway, this experience sparked an idea regarding product creation for me and I plan to include this along with other true life experiences when I finally get around to putting that product together.

    Maybe you can look for ideas in my experience and even grow some ideas from your own trips to Micky D's and other excursions.

    I hope so anyway.

    George Wright


    PROOF OF INCOME


    Signature
    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

      Discrat,

      Here is a post I made sometime back on another forum.

      Hi All,

      You can find inspiration for product ideas in the darnedest places and under the most unusual circumstances.

      Case In Point

      About 2, maybe even 3 years ago, I was walking down Wilshire Blvd. In K town. (That's Korea Town, a section of Los Angeles.) OK, so I'm strolling along taking in the color and soaking up the ethos of this vibrant melting pot, when I spot a Mickey D's. All of a sudden my mouth started watering for a cup of coffee, Mc Double and apple pie so I walked through the double doors up to the counter, ordered, paid and collected my mini feast.

      As I was enjoying my java refill and the burger and pie were only a memory, I noticed a homeless man walking toward my table.

      I braced myself for the often repeated discussion I have with homeless people in the area. (Rehearsing in my mind.) “No money for you sir, but I'll buy you a burger and drink if you want.”

      So I'm ready for him. As he gets closer I prepare for our little talk.

      Much to my surprise he sat right down catty corner from me at my table and looked right at me. For the first time I noticed that he had a pen, pencil, a stack of dog eared printer paper and an old magazine in his hands.

      He laid the paper and magazine down on the table and started drawing me on the top sheet of paper.

      I said, “Don't draw my picture.” He kept sketching. I said “Stop drawing my picture.” He just kept drawing me.

      He was fast and he was finishing my picture as I was finishing my coffee. For the first time he spoke to me. Holding up my picture he said. "I wanna get $6 for this." I said, “I told you not to draw me.”

      I got up and walked out of Mc Donald's. I noticed as I was getting up that he took my picture and stuck it inside of that old magazine. As I continued my walk east on Wilshire I couldn't stop thinking about that picture of me stuck inside of that magazine.

      So I decided to go back and haggle price on my unwanted likeness stuck inside that dirty old mag, on that dogeared paper.

      I got back to Mickey D's and walked in seeing him still sitting at MY table. By now he was drawing a picture of the children at the next table and another family was standing by my table. I didn't dare interrupt him so I just sat back down at my table across from him.

      When he finished drawing the first children at the table, Mom came over and handed him $6 and took her artwork.

      He started drawing the children that were standing by, finished their picture and collected another $6 from Mom #2.

      Me, now Mr. cheapskate who came to haggle price, spoke. “I'll give you $3 for my Picture if you pretend to be drawing while I take your picture with my phone. “OK,” he said.

      The artist removed my picture from the old magazine, laid it on the table positioned his pen over the pic and I snapped several pictures.

      Later I took a picture of the picture (the original now long lost) and enhanced it with my Smart Phone's Photoshop app.

      I've used it ever since as my Warrior Forum Avatar. It's my Avatar here also.

      I've never since seen the homeless guy. If I do, I wonder if I should tell him about fiverr. Hmmm.

      Anyway, this experience sparked an idea regarding product creation for me and I plan to include this along with other true life experiences when I finally get around to putting that product together.

      Maybe you can look for ideas in my experience and even grow some ideas from your own trips to Micky D's and other excursions.

      I hope so anyway.

      George Wright


      PROOF OF INCOME


      Fascinating as heck. Thank you George that is a good story

      And sorry didnt mean to infer you look like a Chihuahua
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