Help The correct way to charge?

[Katieg2006]

Hello, so im collecting my new Asus today after my other new one not charging. I want to make sure i dod everything right on opening.

If i connect the tablet to the docking station and then charge, will that charge both the tablet and the docking station? Or do i need to charge both seperately 8 hours each?

I would really appreciate some advice on this, i just want to play with my new toy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

 

[eddiewawa]

apparently the BEST way to condition the battery and ensure it's life is to charge each seperately.

personally, im just lazy, all I do is drain the dock to 3%, which then uses the battery off the main tablet, and drain that, and charge both at the same time

 

[clgwli]

apparently the BEST way to condition the battery and ensure it's life is to charge each seperately.

personally, im just lazy, all I do is drain the dock to 3%, which then uses the battery off the main tablet, and drain that, and charge both at the same time

That's exactly what I do too. Though the first time for each of them I did charge them seperately for 8 hours min each.

 

[mihaelb]

I spoke to Asus support, and they said that this battery has no memory. They said to just charge as often as you can, and keep it fully-charged as often as you can. Further reading on these type of batteries confirmed it--longer charge cycles are actually harder on these than shorter ones.

Also, just to add to this, keeping the tablet docked, even when fully-charged, will drain the dock's battery within 3-4 days (this is from experience, not from support).

 

[Deleted User]

That's exactly what I do too. Though the first time for each of them I did charge them seperately for 8 hours min each.

I don't know why they still print that "8 hours min" crap in manuals these days. Li-Ion batteries do not have memory effect issues, nor do they benefit from longer charge times for the first charge - their internal microchips prevent overcharging so charging till 100% is the same as charging it for 8 hours and will not add any extra charge to the battery. Li-Ion batteries also work best when topped up regularly rather than draining them completely, as posted above. There is no need to "condition" or cycle Li-Ion batteries. Just use them.

As for charging them separately, it's simply not necessary. Just connect the tablet to the dock and plug in the dock for charging. It will charge both batteries to 100%. Once fully charged, the dock battery is used first to power the tablet, that way the tablet will always have a full charge (between 96-100%) when you remove it from the dock. The battery is considered to be "full" when it's at 96% or higher. Once the battery drops to 95% or less, it will top up again to 100%.

To see battery levels of both units, download the "dual battery widget" by Artiom Chilaru from the Market. It was made for the TF and works great. It's also a resizeable widget so you can adjust it as needed. You can make it larger, smaller, one battery or both, percent levels, etc.

 

[Deleted User]

Also, just to add to this, keeping the tablet docked, even when fully-charged, will drain the dock's battery within 3-4 days (this is from experience, not from support).

That's correct, the dock battery is always used first to power the tablet, that way the tablet always has a full charge when removed from the dock. That's a great design idea and I applaud ASUS for doing it this way!

 

[fldude99]

I spoke to Asus support, and they said that this battery has no memory. They said to just charge as often as you can, and keep it fully-charged as often as you can. Further reading on these type of batteries confirmed it--longer charge cycles are actually harder on these than shorter ones.

Also, just to add to this, keeping the tablet docked, even when fully-charged, will drain the dock's battery within 3-4 days (this is from experience, not from support).

3-4 days? 3-4 hours is more like it.

 

[eddiewawa]

3-4 days? 3-4 hours is more like it.

lol what on earth are you doing to it? from personal experience I drain the dock in around 2-3 days, thats with at least 2 hours of dungeon defenders, 2 hour browsing and emails, a few youtube vids each day.

 

[Deleted User]

lol what on earth are you doing to it? from personal experience I drain the dock in around 2-3 days, thats with at least 2 hours of dungeon defenders, 2 hour browsing and emails, a few youtube vids each day.

I think he means with continuous usage...I've never used it continuously for longer than about 3 hours (first day with it), and it went down to about 60% at that time from a full charge. Since then, I leave it on all the time but in standby when not used, and I top it up every few days. I pull the TF out of the dock about 40% of the time such as during lunch at work.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Also, just to add to this, keeping the tablet docked, even when fully-charged, will drain the dock's battery within 3-4 days (this is from experience, not from support).

Look at the serial# on your keyboard. If it starts with B50 or B60 there could be a bad chip on it which doesn't shutoff the charging when it's supposed to. B70 is newer and ok. There's a thread on XDA developers about it- you can RMA then ship the keyboard in and have it repaired so it drains much much slower.

I have a B50 but can't live without my keyboard the 3-4 weeks it would take to get it through overseas mail..

 

[Dr_bgc123]

This will help everyone manage their batteries better.

To get back to the main topic of TF-specific tips: anyone who has the keyboard dock should definitely get Dual Battery Widget. ( http://bit.ly/kMo3GV )

 

[fldude99]

lol what on earth are you doing to it? from personal experience I drain the dock in around 2-3 days, thats with at least 2 hours of dungeon defenders, 2 hour browsing and emails, a few youtube vids each day.

Try docking the tablet when its at about 30% and you'll see fully charged dock deplete its charge in a couple of hours. I seldom charge the tab separately

 

[Deleted User]

Try docking the tablet when its at about 30% and you'll see fully charged dock deplete its charge in a couple of hours. I seldom charge the tab separately

You do realize the dock battery has a lower capacity than the tablet? So even if the dock is fully charged, it can only transfer about 60% or so into the tablet.

 

[fldude99]

You do realize the dock battery has a lower capacity than the tablet? So even if the dock is fully charged, it can only transfer about 60% or so into the tablet.

Yea I've noticed that, but it's no big deal. When the dock gets to 3% the tab is pretty close to fully charged. I'll usually put the dock on charge overnight then when the tab is docked the next day it pushes the tab to 100% and keeps it there for a pretty good amount of time

 

[sid52]

To improve battery life when on standby, set wifi to only turn on when the screen is on.

Sid

 

[fldude99]

To improve battery life when on standby, set wifi to only turn on when the screen is on.

Sid

Will it receive email if it's set up that way? Anyway, this thing has such awesome battery life I see no need to conserve

 

[sid52]

Will it receive email if it's set up that way? Anyway, this thing has such awesome battery life I see no need to conserve

No it won't, but as soon as the screen is turned on all updates and downloads occur within a few seconds. I find that both batteries are discharged within a couple of days if it is hunting for a signal when left in a drawer overnight. Emails will arrive on my phone anyway.

 

[Deleted User]

No it won't, but as soon as the screen is turned on all updates and downloads occur within a few seconds. I find that both batteries are discharged within a couple of days if it is hunting for a signal when left in a drawer overnight. Emails will arrive on my phone anyway.

I have a B60 tablet and B60 dock without the battery drain issue, but once I enabled the wifi sleep with the screen off, battery life has increased dramatically (in standby/sleep mode). The dock battery used to drop about 15 percent in 8 hours, but now it only drops a few percent over 8 hours. Big difference when in standby! And like you said, as soon as I open the tablet it connects and downloads my email immediately. Cool.

 

[Katieg2006]

Thanks everyone. I charge both seperately for a few hours and that lasted a few days... happy bunny! xx

 

[fldude99]

To improve battery life when on standby, set wifi to only turn on when the screen is on.

Sid

So if you're doing something like streaming music wouldn't you lose the steam when the screen turns off? Seems like a little big of a hassle for a bit longer battery life

 

[sid52]

So if you're doing something like streaming music wouldn't you lose the steam when the screen turns off? Seems like a little big of a hassle for a bit longer battery life

I agree if that's the case, although I don't stream music. It's really what works best for each user.

 

[madixxx]

I don't know why they still print that "8 hours min" crap in manuals these days. Li-Ion batteries do not have memory effect issues, nor do they benefit from longer charge times for the first charge - their internal microchips prevent overcharging so charging till 100% is the same as charging it for 8 hours and will not add any extra charge to the battery. Li-Ion batteries also work best when topped up regularly rather than draining them completely, as posted above. There is no need to "condition" or cycle Li-Ion batteries. Just use them.

As for charging them separately, it's simply not necessary. Just connect the tablet to the dock and plug in the dock for charging. It will charge both batteries to 100%. Once fully charged, the dock battery is used first to power the tablet, that way the tablet will always have a full charge (between 96-100%) when you remove it from the dock. The battery is considered to be "full" when it's at 96% or higher. Once the battery drops to 95% or less, it will top up again to 100%.

To see battery levels of both units, download the "dual battery widget" by Artiom Chilaru from the Market. It was made for the TF and works great. It's also a resizeable widget so you can adjust it as needed. You can make it larger, smaller, one battery or both, percent levels, etc.

hi,
i have a question ( never posted a post in my life though -hope this will work)

should i after charging (take your adv and charge both for the first time together not separately)- always use the pad without keeping it plugged? i am so use to plugging my laptop ( ibm) when i work on it as its in its dock which is always connected to powert.
i understand that is not a good idea with the pad???


grateful for a reply!
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