Battery
Mon, 03/03/2008 - 12:55am
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17 years
|
Should I keep the unit with a full charge or with a empty charge?
![]() |
17 years
|
Should I keep the unit with a full charge or with a empty charge?
Full Charge
Why on earth would you keep it with an empy charge? That would make it useless if you wanted to do anything outside of the car.
Glenn - Southern MD; SP C330 / Nuvi 750 / Nuvi 265WT
Full Charge
Why on earth would you keep it with an empy charge? That would make it useless if you wanted to do anything outside of the car.
And it tends to reduce the life of LI-I batteries too.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
Yes, keep it fully charge,
Yes, keep it fully charge, it won't hurt anything.
Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -
Thanks, will keep it fully
Thanks, will keep it fully charged.
Garmin Nuvi 40LM
charge whenever
I usually charge mine whenever I get a chance regardless of the charge meter bar. Li-ion Batteries don't like to be discharged all the way empty all the time. If you use your GPSr a little, throw it on the charger and charge it back up again...you will be doing the battery a favor.
Keep it full
I keep mine full charge all the time.
Val - Nuvi 785t and Streetpilot C340
batteries...
"A unique drawback of the Li-ion battery is that its life span is dependent upon aging from time of manufacturing (shelf life) regardless of whether it was charged, and not just on the number of charge/discharge cycles".
source... wikipedia.
also Lithium Ion batteries should never be fully discharged.
To clarify your never fully discharge statement...
also Lithium Ion batteries should never be fully discharged.
To clarify what you said in case other people start to panic. What that statement means is you should never discharge a Li-Ion battery below what is considere the safe, or lower voltage limit, which is usually about 3V or so for a 3.6V cell.
But when properly used in a devices designed to use Li-Ion batteries, like our GPS units, cell phones, iPods, etc. the internal circuitry will monitor the battery level and shut down the device when the battery gets to this level so you are safe from ever discharging your battery below the minimum level.
So feel free to allow your battery to run down to shut-off in your Nuvi or other GPS, iPod, Cell Phone, etc. device. There is no harm is normal proper discharge and shut down of the device. It is if you have a bare battery and try to hook it up to something with out the proper Li-Ion battery monitoring circuitry that you can get into trouble (at best a ruined battery, at worst explosion and fire!).
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
Wowie-
Wow! That is good to know!!
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
Battery Life
So feel free to allow your battery to run down to shut-off in your Nuvi or other GPS, iPod, Cell Phone, etc. device.
One additional comment: Once the unit shuts off, you should NOT try to turn it on again until it is connected to external power or recharged. Trying to defeat the safety shut-off can have BAD results.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
In Device or In Battery?
It is [a concern] if you have a bare battery and try to hook it up to something with out the proper Li-Ion battery monitoring circuitry that you can get into trouble (at best a ruined battery, at worst explosion and fire!).
I agree that there should be no possibility of GPS users discharging their batteries below the safe level. However, I thought that the monitoring circuitry was always built into the battery itself to avoid the scenario you mention. I've had R-C airplane pilots who become experts in batteries tell me that no Li-Ion batteries are made without such circuitry being included within the pack. ????
Nuvi 660 -- and not upgrading it or maps until Garmin fixes long-standing bugs/problems, and get maps to where they are much more current, AND corrected on a more timely basis when advised of mistakes.
Fused Battery
I've had R-C airplane pilots who become experts in batteries tell me that no Li-Ion batteries are made without such circuitry being included within the pack. ????
Two different things, I think.
A total discharge, while not good for the battery is not likely to cause a dangerous failure.
High current, rapid discharge however IS the cause of LI-I fires or expolsions. I think a fuse (or similar) is now included in an attempt to prevent a short from causing a fire.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
idiot-proof?
Sounds nearly idiot-proof (if there's any such thing).
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
Battery Life
Temperature is one of the things that shorten the life of Li-Ion batteries so it helps if you don't leave your unit in the sun. Also if you normally operate a notebook computer with the power cord connected it is best to remove the battery so it isn't subject to the heating.
New and improved idiots...
Sounds nearly idiot-proof (if there's any such thing).
Unfortunately as technology continues to improve and evolve, so do the idiots. They keep coming out with new & improved idiots every year.
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
FULL CHARGE
FULL CHARGE
Battery
In the manual Garmin states:To increase the accuracy of the battery meter you should fully discharge the battery and recharge to full. Unfortunately the unit doesn't tell you when the battery is fully charged....I would charge it for at least 4 hours.
Bobby....Garmin 2450LM
I do the same-
I do the same-
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
New and improved idiots...
Sounds nearly idiot-proof (if there's any such thing).
Unfortunately as technology continues to improve and evolve, so do the idiots. They keep coming out with new & improved idiots every year.
PT
Isn't that the truth.
The thing should...
The thing should tell when it's fully charged! They should add such a feature, since that would be very usefull-
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
Garmin Batt
In case the built-in batt in Garmin 650 dies out, is there a way we can just replace it ourselves?
As already mentioned, high
As already mentioned, high temperatures, both operating and storage, will reduce the life of the battery.
While any consumer device using Lithium Ion has circuitry to prevent over discharging, you'll still get longer battery life if you don't run it down to the cut off on a regular basis. I've seen data that shows about 3x the number of cycles when discharging to only 50% capacity.
ka1167 posted some very good advice. If you hit the low battery cut off, don't try to turn the unit on again until it's connected to a power source or it has been at least partially recharged. When you turn it off, the battery voltage recovers a bit. When you turn it back on the monitoring circuitry will allow it to run for a while before it senses the low voltage limit again but you're pushing the battery below it's safe charge level and will affect battery life.
For long term storage, it's best to keep Lithium Ion batteries at 50-70% of capacity. Fully charged cells will degrade quicker. Unfortunately device manufacturers don't provide easy ways to do that. Some devices also draw a small amount of power even when the device is "off". That becomes a big issue when the battery is not removable.
I fly electric RC helicopters and none of the Lithium Polymer packs have protective circuitry due to weight and cost issues. However most of the electronic speed controls used to control the motors have a configurable low voltage cutoff. I time all my flights and check battery voltage afterwards. That said, the "resting" (no load) voltage is only a rough indicator of whether a cell has been over discharged. It's the voltage under load that matters.
keep it fully charge
keep it fully charge
charged or when to stop
My house is full of batteries in some state of being charged. What I would like to know is, will all these things shut themselves off after being charged and can they be left plugged in indefinitely? This includes my toothbrush, screwdriver, charger for AA cells, a couple of digital cameras, a camcorder an external camera battery pac. the wife's mini carpet sweeper, a beard trimmer and, oh yes. the GPS. Are they all idiot-proof enough to be trusted to quit when they've had enough, or should they be unplugged when I think that they are fully charged? I don't notice any excessive heat, but how can I tell if the battery is internal?
nuvi 785 nuvi 350, nuvi 270, GTM 20, jag in dash, mercedes in dash.
When to stop
, will all these things shut themselves off after being charged and can they be left plugged in indefinitely?
Probably not, in most cases. If the device is "smart" enough to tell you "charging complete", then it is pretty much OFF.
Things "dumber" than that usually never really stop charging and should be unplugged.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
I always keep mine fully
I always keep mine fully charged
lithium-ion batteries do have a charge cycle life
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. Instead, charge the battery more often.
Batteries with a fuel gauge (GPS's) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.
Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level during storage.
Source
http://tinyurl.com/2ev5x2
Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.
lithium-ion batteries do have a charge cycle life
Great advice!
Yea, thanks for the great
Yea, thanks for the great posts, everyone!
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
I leave it fully charged by itself
I have it mounted when driving. Sometimes I turned it off when I do not need guidance. The device goes to charging mode, and will have a beep when it is fully charged in about two or three minutes. I think my device is always fully charged.
Battery Charge
The nuvi 200 has a maintenance mode screen. Your 750 probably does also. To access this screen you place you finger on the battery charge indicator on the main screen. Hold your finger there for at least 10 or 15 secs. maybe longer. It is sometimes difficult to enter this mode, so the procedure may need to be repeated several times. When the maintenace mode screen appears one of the items is the battery charge in % of full charge, i.e. 78%, etc.
That's interesting
I am learning a lot about my GPS from this site. I'm amazed that the Garmin has so many features that don't seem to be documented anywhere. The manual that comes with it isn't very descriptive about stuff like this.
Problems with hardwiring?
Has anyone had any battery related problems with hardwiring a Garmin Nuvi?
battery
I am learning a lot about my GPS from this site. I'm amazed that the Garmin has so many features that don't seem to be documented anywhere. The manual that comes with it isn't very descriptive about stuff like this.
That's true-
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
This site is great
I am learning a lot about my GPS from this site. I'm amazed that the Garmin has so many features that don't seem to be documented anywhere. The manual that comes with it isn't very descriptive about stuff like this.
That's true-
I keep my Nuvi fully charged at all times. Hardly ever use it without the cord. I have an AC adapter for use in my house and use the cord when I am travelling.
No matter where you are "Life is Worth Living".
Ahh, I wondered about that
Temperature is one of the things that shorten the life of Li-Ion batteries so it helps if you don't leave your unit in the sun. Also if you normally operate a notebook computer with the power cord connected it is best to remove the battery so it isn't subject to the heating.
Thank you for that bit of information. I am using my laptop plugged in, and the battery light is now blinking at me. I will buy a new battery, but not always leave it in the laptop when I'm plugged in.
There is a lot to learn about batteries.
"Making tracks..." {:)-<=| Nuvi 880
for storing li ion batteries
for storing li ion batteries its recommended to keep them half charged
Laptop battery = UPS
Thank you for that bit of information. I am using my laptop plugged in, and the battery light is now blinking at me. I will buy a new battery, but not always leave it in the laptop when I'm plugged in.
There is a lot to learn about batteries.
The downside to taking it out is what happens if/when a power interruption hits. I remember all the groans and cursing in the office from the desktop users when the power glitched in a thunderstorm. Then again, I wasn't paying when I needed a new battery...
Rapid Chargers
This may be an odd question but does the faster you are able to charge a battery weaken it's life span? As in, if the nuvi normal charges in 4 hours and you use one of those rapid chargers that can do it in say 1 hour, would that weaken the life span or possibly reduce the battery charge? Is it better to have the battery even laptop batteries take a longer period of time to come up to charge?
i.e. like the airport rapid chargers?
Just curious if that extra energy causes any loss anywhere.
Faster usually shortens the life
...does the faster you are able to charge a battery weaken it's life span?
With most battery types, yes, faster charging shortens the battery life because it heats up the battery more during fast charging versus normal charging.
Rapid Charge Bad, Slow Charge Good
Here's an excellent site for everything you want to know about batteries. I've linked the page discussing lith ion battery charging
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
Good Article
Here's an excellent site for everything you want to know about batteries. I've linked the page discussing lith ion battery charging
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
Thanks, that is a good article. I have even removed my laptop battery now since it is usually plugged in.
Thanks for the link, GadgetGuy
Here's an excellent site for everything you want to know about batteries. I've linked the page discussing lith ion battery charging
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
As prevalent as batteries are in our everyday world, it is good to have a discussion of how to care for them properly. I appreciate the link you provided, so I can finally learn how to maximize the life of my lithium ion batteries.
Once upon a time we kept a drawer for matches. But now, I have a drawer for batteries. ALL sizes.

"Making tracks..." {:)-<=| Nuvi 880
proper way to recycle them
we also need a proper way to have batteries no longer used or working recycled. dumping them is not a good idea.
Radio shack takes batteries, as do others...
we also need a proper way to have batteries no longer used or working recycled. dumping them is not a good idea.
One service offered by Radio Shack, as do some other retailers, is that you can drop off used rechargeable batteries for recycling. I believe Best Buy, Circuit City, Home Depot, and some others, also take old batteries. All free.
Cheers,
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
recycling battery locations
Thanks, PT.
Good to know Radio Shack and other stores taking old batteries. I do not have to go very far to government run recycling facility which is not so convenient to me and others.
City service
Thanks, PT.
Good to know Radio Shack and other stores taking old batteries. I do not have to go very far to government run recycling facility which is not so convenient to me and others.
Here in Montreal, the city will accept batteries to dispose of them properly, as part of the services offered at what they call eco-centers. (they also take empty paint cans, unwanted household chemicals, etc)
I keep a tin can in the garage into which I toss all my used batteries and I go to the eco-center every 6 months or so.
Simon
Great info everyone, very
Great info everyone, very usefull, thanks all!!!
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--
Rechargeable only
Thanks, PT.
Good to know Radio Shack and other stores taking old batteries.
Please note that he said "rechargeable".
I believe that applies to most (or all) places that take batteries for recycling.....rechargeable types only.
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X
Be careful
...
I keep a tin can in the garage into which I toss all my used batteries and I go to the eco-center every 6 months or so.
Simon
I hope you insulate each battery with some type of wrapping before tossing them into a conductive can...