Question about Dell x50v

[chuckywang]

The instructions says that you have to charge the battery for at least 8 hours before first using the PDA. Is this absolutely necessary?

EDIT: Read down for one more question. Thanks!

 

[meltdown75]

I think the reason they say that with battery powered devices (ie. my digital cam recommended a full charge as well) is so you get that full first charge and are less likely to have battery life problems in the future. they are basically saying that without the full charge off the get-go, your device will not last as long per charge as it would with the first full charge. then again, if you let it run out of battery power 100% and fully recharge after that, it should have the same effect of kinda "breaking in" the batteries. does that make sense? ehhehe as far as it being *absolutely* necessary, i doubt it.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I think the reason they say that with battery powered devices (ie. my digital cam recommended a full charge as well) is so you get that full first charge and are less likely to have battery life problems in the future. they are basically saying that without the full charge off the get-go, your device will not last as long per charge as it would with the first full charge. then again, if you let it run out of battery power 100% and fully recharge after that, it should have the same effect of kinda "breaking in" the batteries. does that make sense? ehhehe as far as it being *absolutely* necessary, i doubt it.

Oh really? I didn't know that about battery life. Do you have any links that verify this or is this just an "urban legend"?

 

[NiKeFiDO]

No, he is correct about that. I dont have a link, but I had a high school chem teacher teach us all about batteries, and why you should always wait until your battery is dead before recharging. What the manufacturers say about charging first before using is accurate.

 

[meltdown75]

Actually it's from the manual of my Sony Cybershot digital cam. I was surprised as well about this, and they rambled on about it quite candidly in the manual too. There wasn't much mention about it only applying to their specific batteries which were included with the camera - it was just worded almost common sensical - like, "you should always do a full charge at first beCAUSE..."

i have a pocket PC also which is getting slightly archaic and was given to me from work, and instead of doing the full charge when i got it, i plugged it in and let it charge but was simultaneously playing solitaire - it's an iPAQ H3900.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Actually it's from the manual of my Sony Cybershot digital cam. I was surprised as well about this, and they rambled on about it quite candidly in the manual too. There wasn't much mention about it only applying to their specific batteries which were included with the camera - it was just worded almost common sensical - like, "you should always do a full charge at first beCAUSE..."

i have a pocket PC also which is getting slightly archaic and was given to me from work, and instead of doing the full charge when i got it, i plugged it in and let it charge but was simultaneously playing solitaire - it's an iPAQ H3900.

Did you notice any appreciable decline in battery performance for your PDA?
This website here:
http://www.zbattery.com/zbattery/memoryeffect.html

says that Li-Ion batteries are not affected by the memory effect, and that is the type of battery for the x50v.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Originally posted by: meltdown75


Did you notice any appreciable decline in battery performance for your PDA?
This website here:
http://www.zbattery.com/zbattery/memoryeffect.html

says that Li-Ion batteries are not affected by the memory effect, and that is the type of battery for the x50v.

None whatsoever. this PDA uses the same type of bats too - Li-Ion. when it's fully charged, it lasts the same amount of time, depending on what i'm doing. if i am playing a SMS emulator on it, recording, or using any app with sound, the charge fades slightly quicker. I'd have to side with the knowledge in your link - it sounds like they know their stuff on batteries.

edit: oh and just so you know Sony used the exact terminology in their manual - 'memory effect'.

 

[Arcuivie]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO
No, he is correct about that. I dont have a link, but I had a high school chem teacher teach us all about batteries, and why you should always wait until your battery is dead before recharging. What the manufacturers say about charging first before using is accurate.

Bad idea, that only applies to the older rechargeable batteries (I forget the material they are made out of) that allowed the life to be prolonged (even though it had a life-span of about 1/4th that of a Lithium Ion Batter) with full charges.

The best way to go about taking care of a lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery is to charge it up to its full capacity and not let it drop below half its life, unless you are in a situation where you can't charge it. Li-ion batteries can only experience so many charge cycles (300-500 full discharge/charge cycles, I believe the newer ones have more). Keeping it above half keeps you from completing one charge cycle, even if you go to 50% one day, charge, and go 50% the next. That a little under a whole charge cycle, somewhere around 3/4ths. Some people will argue: Oh, if you listen to it and then stop it, then listen to it until it's discharged it's like charging it in both days from 50% because it one whole charge cycle. This false because a lithium ion batter looses its charged if plugged into any device, slowly but surely.

So yea, charge that thing up and keep it that way!

 

[chuckywang]

I plan on charging up the lithium ion battery and just keep the PDA on the USB cradle whenever it's not in use. The cradle charges the PDA as well as synchronizing it, either through the USB line or through the AC Adaptor that plugs into the cradle.

 

[chuckywang]

One more question: the power button is now green, and from the user manual, that means "the main battery is fully charged." Is it good to remove it from the outlet now and start using it, or should I wait for the full 8 hours?

 

[Arcuivie]

I would wait, but thats just me.

 

[meltdown75]

with a new Pocket PC or PDA i'd wait... for my camera i didn't... it's your call. no biggie

 

[Grant]

I would wait also.

There is a good website for the Dell Axim users it is



Aximsite