Correct Way to Charge an iPod?

JAHA wonders: "I've seen two schools of thought regarding the proper method for charging an ipod so as to maximize the lifetime of the battery: let the iPod completely drain before re-charging; or keep the iPod completely charged as often as possible (i.e. leave it charging while you listen to it if you can). There doesn't seem to be any official word from Apple on their website, so I was hoping the smart people here could clear it up for me." For those looking for a definitive resource on the proper care and feeding of your iPod batteries, try this site.

Comments

Battery Rundown

[Leroy_Brown242]

This is my understanding from what I have picked up as time has gone by. Correct me if I am wrong.

• NiCd
• Short overall life span.
• Developed "memory" easily.
• Needed to be fully charged and drained every single time.

• NiMH
• Longer overall life span.
• Develops a memory over time, but hard cycling of power and draining can remove it.
• Best if fully charged and drained, but not required every time.

• Li-ion
• Longest life of most comercial batteries.
• Much harder to develop a memory. Most people it wwould take months.
• Hard on the battery if it's left full charged constantly.
• Still best if fully drained and charged every time, but very forgiving.

Some general info on rechargeable batteries

[BeatdownGeek]

Here.

I think the consensus is Li Ion and NiMH batteries are better kept close to full charge, and NiCads should be drained fully before recharging.

iPods use a Li-Ion battery.

Re:batteries

[dougmc]

I might be wrong thought.

No, you're pretty close.

No battery likes being overcharged. NiCds handle it best, but it slowly eats away at them (assuming a slow charge.) Smart chargers will stop the overcharging, but most chargers for NiCd devices are not smart. So take them off the charger once the battery starts getting warm!

If they are overcharged, or never discharged fully, they'll start to show voltage depression (often mistakenly called memory.) A full discharge will usually resolve this, at least until the battery wears out.

NiMH cells are very like NiCds, but they have more capacity and handle abuse less well. They also don't suffer from voltage depression (often called memory) so there's no need to fully discharge them ever.

Never completely discharge either sort -- go down to 1.0 volts per cell and then stop. Going further can cause the weakest cell to be `reverse charged' making it even weaker. For normal users, this means just use the item until it needs to be charged, but don't just turn it on and leave it going overnight.

Li-Ion cells can *explode* if overcharged, so any decent charger will stop charging them before that happens. So they should be fine to leave on the charger forever.

They'll also die if fully discharged. Fortunately, most things that use them will turn off before this happens, for exactly that reason.

To be complete, lead-acid batteries (like used in your car) should not be overcharged, as it evaporates electrolyte. Good chargers will prevent this, and your car has a good charger in it. Do not leave them discharged for any length of time -- this will ruin them. Fortunately, they self-discharge very slowly, so they can be left alone for a year or so after a full charge and won't die (as long as there is no load.)

iPods and most laptops and cell phones have Li-Ion cells, though some older cell phones and laptops have NiMH cells (and even older ones may have NiCds.)

Re:Not good advice

[spaceport]

If you listen to your Brittany Spears songs for EXACTLY 30 minutes, then charge your iPod, repeated for a few weeks, you'll get a memory effect.

However, in addition to the memory effect, you will suffer from an even stronger lack of taste effect.

Oops, I posted again...