Help Battery discussions, maintaining battery life

[Rose4uKy]

I woke up around 10 and after 2-3 hours I was on 49% weird and I've been getting about 12 hours. Well for somereason this am my wifi keeps disconnecting and going in and out from wifi to 3G and it's been storming here so maybe that's why it's going in and out. I don't want to have to use whatever setting you all are talking about if it uses more power. But is my wifi disconnecting and 3 G coming on and it keeps happening back and forth is that why my battery drained more than normal this am? I guess I need to see what's using the battery but it's always the screen. I went under task manager and it had a bunch of stuff open google services and lots of other stuff so I closed it all maybe that will help. I remember before always saying make sure google talk is exited out but I haven't even opened it to use it on my phone.

Question, does wifi disengage (while the phone sleeps) when the phone goes into battery-saving mode? I ask because my battery life simply tanked. It went from 53% to 7% within 8.5 hours (and absolutely no use!), but the wifi was disconnected when I picked it up, though it soon automatically reconnected with a full signal.

I'll post the screenshot later.

 

[Lord Vader]

Why does Maps seem to always be running in the background? I have yet to even use that app on my new EVO, but whenever I check power usage, Maps always shows it's running, taking up to 15% or more of my battery usage?

I can understand if I had opened Maps and began using it, that it would show as possibly still running in the background, but even after I reboot the phone, it runs.

 

[some.devil]

Why does Maps seem to always be running in the background? I have yet to even use that app on my new EVO, but whenever I check power usage, Maps always shows it's running, taking up to 15% or more of my battery usage?

I can understand if I had opened Maps and began using it, that it would show as possibly still running in the background, but even after I reboot the phone, it runs.

I'd say it's being used as part of Google's location services.

 

[some.devil]

Anyway, I'm in no need for constant 3G or WiFi data. I've been swithing both off when I don't need them. Seriously, the phone went almost 12+ hours with 91% battery remaining. This included light texting and phone calls. Also had the lowest setting for the brightness and screen timeout widget.

 

[Lord Vader]

I'd say it's being used as part of Google's location services.

Why didn't it ever do this on my OG EVO, though? Kind of strange that for the LTE EVO it runs all the time but on my OG EVO didn't run unless I deliberately selected it.

 

[NeoteriX]

As you can see, having the LTE radio option selected while on wifi does not have a negative impact on battery life (in fact, if anything it almost looks like section 2 might be more level than section 1).

However, section 3 is terrible. Turning on "best wifi performance" decreased the battery drain by nearly 600%! There was a decrease of about 0.8% per hour versus almost 5.5% per hour while sleep!

Yes, your phone on (regular) wifi is looking pretty good.

Do you have any thoughts on CDMA (no wifi) with LTE on?

 

[some.devil]

Why didn't it ever do this on my OG EVO, though? Kind of strange that for the LTE EVO it runs all the time but on my OG EVO didn't run unless I deliberately selected it.

Honestly, I'm not sure. That would be my best guess though. The only way to really know would be to factory reset the phone and dismiss all Google and locations services during the initial setup.

 

[spyder40]

My Xoom tablet running ICS also has Maps randomly showing up as running. Haven't figured out what is kicking it off. Thinking it's some ICS location thing.

 

[CriticalCritic]

Yes, your phone on (regular) wifi is looking pretty good.

Do you have any thoughts on CDMA (no wifi) with LTE on?

Not yet. I'll run that test very soon though. I honestly have not bothered activating my LTEvo yet (shhhh, don't tell anyone), because I've been waiting to see if XDA would finish the fix that I am looking for... and as of about 30mins ago I noticed that they did and it's being baked into some tasty ROMs! So... trying to activate right now

 

[caterham09]

so far ive had my LTEVO since thursday and up until today i have been extremely satisfied with it.
On saturday i had the phone on for 14 hrs with moderate use and i had 30 % at the end of the day

But today however the battery was draining very quickly. It is now at 55% after 5 hrs and that is a little disappointing. I didnt change anything since saturday except i enabled my google wallet account. someone please help me

 

[CriticalCritic]

Off the top of my head...

Check out
settings> accounts and sync
See if there's anything that jumps out at you.

Have you messed with your wifi settings?

If those fail, download alogcat and watch it too see if anything on there is repeating frequently.

 

[evofrompre]

Only had the phone a couple days, but so far the battery life has been ridiculously good. I'm at 90% now after 8 hours. Not heavy use, but certainly moderate use - email, facebook, a few downloads, etc. Battery would have been way less with the same use on my Evo 4G with either original batter or extended battery I used. If this keeps up I will be VERY happy with the battery.

 

[PattiCakeUS]

My Xoom tablet running ICS also has Maps randomly showing up as running. Haven't figured out what is kicking it off. Thinking it's some ICS location thing.

Off topic... my Xoom hasn't received the update to ICS yet

 

[Rose4uKy]

I need a good battery app that shows the percentage up top and is there one that also lets you see what's been using your battery. I saw some apps that even show you how many hours were left on your battery. I had circular battery before and I used some other different one on my 3D I forget what it was. I've been getting pretty good battery life too. I've been going to settings and power and seeing my battery stats now but I guess I need an app. I know HTC has one but my HTC Hub hasn't been connecting to the server and I called them today and they said it's been down for maintenance.

 

[PattiCakeUS]

I need a good battery app that shows the percentage up top and is there one that also lets you see what's been using your battery. I saw some apps that even show you how many hours were left on your battery. I had circular battery before and I used some other different one on my 3D I forget what it was. I've been getting pretty good battery life too. I've been going to settings and power and seeing my battery stats now but I guess I need an app. I know HTC has one but my HTC Hub hasn't been connecting to the server and I called them today and they said it's been down for maintenance.

I use Battery Indicator Pro by Darshan Computing. It puts a small number with the percentage in the top bar and also has an option to show what's been using your battery. The "pro" version costs something (I don't remember what but I'm sure it's not much) and they also have a free version which does include both the % left and battery usage. The pro version just gives you some additional options.

 

[Rose4uKy]

I just had too many apps om my 3D. On this phone I want just one good app for everything. Not 3 weather apps and 2 grocery store apps and 3 bar code scanner apps. One battery app I saw showed you how much time was left too on your battery like how many hours according to your usage I think it said. But Ok Thanks I'll check out Battery Indicator. I forgot which one I had before but I've used Circular one before I got off XDA. But on my 3D I had this widget of a battery and it was like pink and orange but I never used it always just looked up top at my task bar it was just there looking pretty. LOL!

I use Battery Indicator Pro by Darshan Computing. It puts a small number with the percentage in the top bar and also has an option to show what's been using your battery. The "pro" version costs something (I don't remember what but I'm sure it's not much) and they also have a free version which does include both the % left and battery usage. The pro version just gives you some additional options.

 

[toddpedersen]

Please understand that it will take 3 to 5 charges and discharges to fully optimize your battery.

It is also critical that you rarely let the battery drain lower than 25% to 30%, as it can harm the battery permanently.

First day I got my phone battery drained quick. I had needed to use navigation and it locked signal right away and took me there without me having to turn on GPS so I am guessing it was on. It must of stayed on with the icon and i didn't have auto sync off or anything set. I do have mine on CDMA only is that bad? But yesterday I got like 12 hours and same with today. What's mostly using my battery is the screen. I did turn auto sync off and I have let my phone drain twice to 14% then it tells me battery low need to charge. Mine alerts me but is there no power saving mode like in the 3D? My EVO sucked and my 3D was a little better but I am happy with this. I got 12 hours and didn't do a whole lot but was pleased. My friend got 15 on hers. I've been getting up in the am and not charging it till it gets low. I am usually always near a plug at home and at work. But I am getting one of those battery packs and I'll be good for when I am out for the night or out of town.

 

[3vodroid]

Please understand that it will take 3 to 5 charges and discharges to fully optimize your battery.

It is also critical that you rarely let the battery drain lower than 25% to 30%, as it can harm the battery permanently.

Not to sound dense but.... Why does letting the battery drop lower than that harm the battery? Does that mean we can't take advantage of the full runtime and instead consider the phone dead when It hits 25%? I've seen a few people say this and I would really like to understand why

 

[NeoteriX]

Not to sound dense but.... Why does letting the battery drop lower than that harm the battery? Does that mean we can't take advantage of the full runtime and instead consider the phone dead when It hits 25%? I've seen a few people say this and I would really like to understand why

It's not correct, that's why.

What damages a lithium ion battery is FULL discharge. However, most modern electronics have built in, regulation that shuts the device off at something like 2-4% battery. The way you end up damaging the battery is letting it discharge until it shuts off, and then letting the device idle around long enough for the natural discharge to finish off the last 2-4%.

Having the battery drain to less than 25% or even to shutoff won't harm the battery. It's doing that and then leaving your phone around for another week or few weeks.

 

[novox77]

The only conditioning technique relevant to our phones is temperature. Never leave your phone somewhere where it can get really hot, like inside a car on a hot sunny day. High temps will drastically damage Li-ion capacity. The end result is that they won't hold as much charge.

Likewise, if you're doing something with the phone that is data intensive and you anticipate you'll need it doing this for hours (like a long navigation, or playing a game), you'll want to try to keep the phone cool, since the heat from the CPU will heat the battery and cause the same type of charge reduction damage.

 

[Lord Vader]

I use Battery Indicator Pro by Darshan Computing. It puts a small number with the percentage in the top bar and also has an option to show what's been using your battery. The "pro" version costs something (I don't remember what but I'm sure it's not much) and they also have a free version which does include both the % left and battery usage. The pro version just gives you some additional options.

I use this as well but have noticed that on my LTE EVO, the icon in the upper left of the notification bar is EXTREMELY tiny, so tiny that I simply cannot read it without my reading glasses, and even then it's a strain. Is there any way to make it bigger?

 

[NeoteriX]

Edit: Accidental repost.

 

[3vodroid]

Edit: Accidental repost.

Well that's what I had thought... For example I have numerous tools at work with rechargeable li-on batteries... When my old nickel cadmium batteries would die for example drills would run extremly slow.... Loose power.. Etc... But the li-ion batteries seem to not act that way.. They simply shut down when they reach a pre determined low level.. And I know to charge them.. I assumed this technology would have to be in cell phones..

 

[PattiCakeUS]

I use this as well but have noticed that on my LTE EVO, the icon in the upper left of the notification bar is EXTREMELY tiny, so tiny that I simply cannot read it without my reading glasses, and even then it's a strain. Is there any way to make it bigger?

Take a look at my screenshots in the screenshot thread, you should see the battery icon on my screen. Is it smaller on your screen?

 

[Lord Vader]

Take a look at my screenshots in the screenshot thread, you should see the battery icon on my screen. Is it smaller on your screen?

Yes. It's in the far left part of the notification bar and smaller than yours. I mean, it's tiny, MUCH tinier than on my OG EVO.