how bad is it to leave a phone on the charger overnight?

[lionrain]

I have heard so much conflicting information about batteries on the internet and abroad. how bad is it really to leave my phone on the charger overnight? I've tried charging before bed but it can be difficult sometimes...

 

[OverByter]

With modern lithium batteries it's not an issue at all, all batteries have a microchip built in to prevent over charging and also to prevent charging if the voltage level is too low to prevent the risk of fire. Older nickel based batteries suffered from a memory effect if left trickle charging. You can leave your battery attached to the charger 24/7 with no adverse effects.

 

[El Presidente]

Ywp, what overbyter says

I leave mine on charge overnight all the time.

 

[Digital Controller]

Typically with new age batteries anyhow you can leave them on charge for 20minutes and they'll be full charge, so if you are worried, you can, like me, put it on charge when you get up before you leave for like work. My morning routine of shower & breakfast takes about 20minutes, and my phone is always at 100% right when i leave

 

[lionrain]

Typically with new age batteries anyhow you can leave them on charge for 20minutes and they'll be full charge, so if you are worried, you can, like me, put it on charge when you get up before you leave for like work. My morning routine of shower & breakfast takes about 20minutes, and my phone is always at 100% right when i leave

That is actually a pretty good idea. Thanks! But what do you do if your phone is about to die, the night before? Do you let it run down?

With modern lithium batteries it's not an issue at all, all batteries have a microchip built in to prevent over charging and also to prevent charging if the voltage level is too low to prevent the risk of fire. Older nickel based batteries suffered from a memory effect if left trickle charging. You can leave your battery attached to the charger 24/7 with no adverse effects.

Is there any capacity lost though?

 

[Demache]

Is there any capacity lost though?

No. At least not any significant amount. All Li-Ion batteries will eventually lose the ability to hold a charge after so many charge cycles. But the number is several hundred times before it noticeably degrades.

 

[Rxpert83]

I always charge my phone overnight.

 

[Digital Controller]

That is actually a pretty good idea. Thanks! But what do you do if your phone is about to die, the night before? Do you let it run down?

Typically my phone's regular battery runs to about 30% from 7am to 11pm...i let it sit there all night on my bedstand and by the morning it is around 23% or so...from 7am-7:20 or 7:30am i let it charge, typically it is right around 100% when i pick it up, unplug it, and leave for work

If your device does not run down from one day, keep using it, charge it at work, i know i have an extra charger there.

 

[lionrain]

Typically my phone's regular battery runs to about 30% from 7am to 11pm...i let it sit there all night on my bedstand and by the morning it is around 23% or so...from 7am-7:20 or 7:30am i let it charge, typically it is right around 100% when i pick it up, unplug it, and leave for work

If your device does not run down from one day, keep using it, charge it at work, i know i have an extra charger there.

Oh okay, thanks!

 

[sdrawkcab25]

Very useful info here:

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_lithium_ion_batteries

It's technical but basically states its fine to leave the battery on the charger and you should basically ignore the battery info that comes with the phone.

Simple Guidelines for Charging Lithium-based Batteries
A portable device should be turned off while charging. This allows the battery to reach the threshold voltage unhindered and reflects the correct saturation current responsible to terminate the charge. A parasitic load confuses the charger.

Charge at a moderate temperature. Do not charge below freezing.

Lithium-ion does not need to be fully charged; a partial charge is better.

Chargers use different methods for “ready” indication. The light signal may not always indicate a full charge.

Discontinue using charger and/or battery if the battery gets excessively warm.

Before prolonged storage, apply some charge to bring the pack to about half charge.

Over-discharged batteries can be “boosted” to life again. Discard pack if the voltage does not rise to a normal level within a minute while on boost.

 

[dan330]

it is mostly correct that the damage by over night charge is soo small it is.. not really important. so it is OK.. do plug in at night.

but there is a very very very small reductions of battery life, when you plug in all night.
it is constantly charging up to full..then stop
let your phone drop a few percentage... then start charging again.
this may happen 2 - 5 times that night. (so not that much)

how long do you plan to have that phone? maybe 2 yrs.. worst 3 yrs?
over a 2 yr period.. it aint much!

 

[chrlswltrs]

I have left every cell phone I have ever owned charging at night (granted with old dumb phones sometimes it would go 2-3 days without charging) for the last 11 years. I've never had a problem. Based on my personal experience, I am going to keep doing it.

 

[lionrain]

haha okay, I guess I will continue to charge all night.

 

[jefboyardee]

If my droid in my pocket all day, when the •••• am I supposed to charge it? Run a cord up my leg?

 

[AustinTech]

If my droid in my pocket all day, when the

 

[bob60626]

How does a phone go from 20% to 100% in a half hour?? I'm happy with my S2's daily life (standby isn't so great, oddly) and it charges fast enough but it sure doesn't do that.

 

[OverByter]

it is mostly correct that the damage by over night charge is soo small it is.. not really important. so it is OK.. do plug in at night.

There's absolutely NO damage done to a Li-Ion battery left attached to the charger for 24/7. None. :banghead:

 

[Quessed]

I have left every cell phone I have ever owned charging at night (granted with old dumb phones sometimes it would go 2-3 days without charging) for the last 11 years. I've never had a problem. Based on my personal experience, I am going to keep doing it.

Same here. For the last 17 years! With a twist though:
I use the express charger for express charging! Duh! I.e. when my battery needs topping up fast, i.e. during waking hours when the level has gone down too fast.
This is rarely the case. Maybe once a month. Possibly because of my (re-)charging regimen:

Overnight I always charge my devices via USB cable on my laptop, i.e. 'trickle charge'. The slower the better. And they are also hooked up via USB cable when in the office for any length of time. Or in the car!

I SMS a lot with the free app MySMS, straight from my laptop or desktop, with a nice big screen and a comfortable fullsize keyboard, when the device is hooked up to it anyway.

 

[Shocky]

I've never left my phone to charge overnight, i've never needed too.

 

[dan330]

There's absolutely NO damage done to a Li-Ion battery left attached to the charger for 24/7. None. :banghead:

You may believe that if you wish

 

[LeoRexus]

How does a phone go from 20% to 100% in a half hour??

I was thinking the same thing. Either the battery is a wee one or that's one hell of a charger.

 

[xtianfriborg13]

Oh my, that's really bad, if you'd ask me. It could practically cause fire.

 

[EarlyMon]

If you buy normal market batteries, they have a safety circuit built-in, it's fine.

I was thinking the same thing. Either the battery is a wee one or that's one hell of a charger.

Or the battery is shot.