Leaving my phone charging at 100%

[Saltine713]

So, I keep my phone plugged into my computer when I get home and work at my desk. After it charges to 100%, I still leave it plugged in. Would this hurt the battery life at all? (HTC Inspire by the way)

 

[JessMulholland]

So, I keep my phone plugged into my computer when I get home and work at my desk. After it charges to 100%, I still leave it plugged in. Would this hurt the battery life at all? (HTC Inspire by the way)

From what I've read online, I've seen both positive and negative- so no definitive answer. Personally, I haven't noticed any issues with my battery life, and I do the same.

 

[Scur]

Everything I've heard or read about batteries points to the fact that manufacturers know that people leave their phones plugged in when fully charged, don't discharge their batteries fully before recharging, etc. and have been steadily improving them to the point where these things aren't really much of an issue anymore. The only time I've ever caused my battery to fail early the past few years has been by using the wrong charger.

 

[EarlyMon]

No problem.

After it's at 100%, it runs off of the battery until it hits a set point, between 92 to 96%, and then starts charging again - even though it may show 99 to 100% charge when that's happening.

Depending on when you take it off charging, it takes a few minutes to show the real charge. This leads to the rumors that leaving the phone on the charger causes it to lose charge rapidly, but as you can see, that's not what is happening.

These things don't trickle charge at all.

What you're doing is no problem.

 

[AngelArs]

It won't hurt your battery. Heat is usually what hurts a battery.

 

[jefboyardee]

No problem.

After it's at 100%, it runs off of the battery until it hits a set point, between 92 to 96%, and then starts charging again

A quasi-confirmation: when my phone is charging in the car with the radio on, the radio squeals like a pig. But when the charge hits 100%, the squealing stops -- I assume that means the charging stopped.

 

[EarlyMon]

Correct. Don't know what to say about that squealing tho.

 

[AngelArs]

the radio squeals like a pig.

...it must be a ham radio... (sorry, couldn't resist)

On the serious side, it sounds like a feedback loop of some kind. A bad ground wire could cause this.

 

[aysiu]

It's fine:
How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

 

[jefboyardee]

...it must be a ham radio...

_That_ was funny.

it sounds like a feedback loop of some kind. A bad ground wire could cause this.

Possibly, but I think it’s Sprint’s way of reminding me that the Optimus is the cheapest Android they sell, and it only occurs on weaker stations.

 

[AndroidAdvntge]

I've had heat issues when tethering and charging but I still get good battery life... thank god.

 

[dan330]

yes.. it does hurt the battery...

it keeps getting recharged and hitting full .. after it drops down a few...
hitting full each time does hurt it some.

but...

it is sooooo damn minuet/very very very small... that is does not really matter.

 

[UssjTrunks]

Some older/cheaper electronics are affected by this (I had an electric shaver where this practice completely destroyed the battery). However, I doubt it has much effect on modern cell phones. Think of it this way, you probably keep your laptop plugged in at all times, and nothing happens (well my battery actually died, but only after 2 years of use, which is pretty standard).

At the end of the day, one of the advantages of owning an Android phone is being able to replace your battery.

 

[GrenW]

My 20 month old Desire has been charged this way every night. Left plugged in for around 8-10 hours so a good proportion of this time it must be at 100%.

Has also used various kernels that claim to change the way that the 100% limit is reached - stock it used to show between 90% and 100% depending on when you unplugged it. Now I always get 100%.

I've not noticed any bettery deterioration over this time

 

[biggpat86]

no issues whatsoever leaving your phone plugged in