Help Low battery -- Phone turns off at 15%

[Jon_LTD]

Dear all

This is quite a common irk that really winds me up. When my battery is around the 20% mark and if I have no immediate way of charging it don't touch it as I know death is imminent. As soon as the battery hits 15% it just dies. Quite frustrating as it can take me 4 hours of light use to go from 100% to 85%. That's a lot of time for light browsing. So I don't really get any "Low battery" warnings. Just between 20 and 15% and that seems to drain a tad too quickly for my liking.

Is there anywhere around this? I appreciate the battery shouldn't literally be 100% drained of juice, however can it not be calibrated so when it is actually ~15% my reading says ~0%? This way it's A) more accurate and B) Gives me clear warning before it dies as opposed to dying instantly.

I'm using the Redux 1.2 Rom if that's any help but I feel not as it did this with Sense. Or could it be the health of my battery? Reports indicate that it is "Good". But I've had my Desire for little over a year now and generally speaking, the battery hasn't declined drastically.

Thanks guys!

Jon

 

[Yagz]

my desire does the same thing, except for me, when it hits 18% it turns off... quite frustrating

 

[lifeonmtv]

my 2 cents

I fixed this on my phone. You basically need to calibrate your battery properly, the only method that worked for me (phone now switches off at 1-2%) can be found here: Advanced Battery Calibration (tested and verified on Oxygen + bravoGSM (Page 1) / Tutorials, Guides and FAQs / Oxygen Forum with discussion here re:Advanced Battery Calibration Thread in the Tutorial Section (Page 1) / Help / Support / Oxygen Forum

requirements: a rooted phone and a compatible kernel.

 

[Jon_LTD]

my 2 cents

I fixed this on my phone. You basically need to calibrate your battery properly, the only method that worked for me (phone now switches off at 1-2%) can be found here: Advanced Battery Calibration (tested and verified on Oxygen + bravoGSM (Page 1) / Tutorials, Guides and FAQs / Oxygen Forum with discussion here re:Advanced Battery Calibration Thread in the Tutorial Section (Page 1) / Help / Support / Oxygen Forum

requirements: a rooted phone and a compatible kernel.

Thanks for the links and info. I will certainly look into it. Its quite frustrating and I hope I can get a more accurate reflection of my battery's status. An error of 15% is not really good in my book.

 

[SUroot]

I used the battery calibration tool on my phone. Although yes it turns off at 1% now instead of 15%, It is hard for me to change to this and I am just not used to it after 18 Months of it shutting down at 15%. I would almost actually want to set it back to how it was.

 

[Jon_LTD]

I used the battery calibration tool on my phone. Although yes it turns off at 1% now instead of 15%, It is hard for me to change to this and I am just not used to it after 18 Months of it shutting down at 15%. I would almost actually want to set it back to how it was.

I feel the same now! I'm used to it being 15% before it's death. I know it's not cutting out early but rather the battery calibration is just out. I guess it's like your're used to telling the time on a clock that is slow and you automatically adjust to it.
I know I'll be fine with it all when I actually sort it out though. My OCD isn't too bad.

 

[DesireMe]

I just noticed this for the first time this week. Was at 16%, then went into SMS and it switched to 1%, phone shutting down. Did you do the advanced calibration?

 

[Jon_LTD]

I just noticed this for the first time this week. Was at 16%, then went into SMS and it switched to 1%, phone shutting down. Did you do the advanced calibration?

I have used the app aptly named "Battery Calibration" from the market. I haven't had my phones battery down to red since I've had a busy weekend and hardly used my phone and it goes on charge every night regardless of it's life. I have noticed perhaps the battery is slightly lower than usual, so it could be correctly calibrated now. Its certainly worth a shot. I'll post back if I get my phone to less than 10% and it remains on.

 

[Sak01]

I found an easier method. Just wait for the phone to go down to 15% (or whatever percentage it shuts down at) and as soon as the 'shutting down' box pops up, quickly plug it into the charger and let it fully charge. That's it.

I couldn't believe it was so easy compared to the other methods but I've tried it twice and it works.

 

[SUroot]

and that actually sets that 15% as 1% the next time?

 

[Sak01]

Yep, I've run the battery all the way down to 1% 4 or 5 times just to make sure.

Maybe other people can try it to confirm it works for everyone.

 

[madhatter1689]

okay, giving this a try. Once the shutting down window popped up I plugged in the charger. Obviously the phone switched off and so I don't know when it will be charged but I will leave it off until the morning so it should be well charged by then. Will report back tomorrow.

 

[Jon_LTD]

Hmm, looking forward to the feedback. The battery calibration apps on the market didn't do anything, and not really looked into anything else as I'm a very lazy man. And this looks like a good way of recalibrating for a lazy man.

 

[madhatter1689]

Right, charged and ready to go. Now need to run phone down quickly. Had a random reboot after switching on. First one since DGB update, hope there is no connection.

Hmmm!! Didn't work. Got down to 15% and got the warning the battery was getting low so plugged charger in.

 

[Sak01]

Hmmm!! Didn't work. Got down to 15% and got the warning the battery was getting low so plugged charger in.

I get that warning too at 15% but it doesn't shut down until it gets to 1%. Next time try letting it shut down.

I tried it again and still working:

 

[madhatter1689]

Okay will try again.

 

[Jon_LTD]

Okay will try again.

Any feedback yet?

My battery is pretty low at the moment. Will whack in the charger at 15% and report back tomorrow. If I manage to run it down that is.

 

[madhatter1689]

I'll try again tonight, I got caught up with stuff today and forgot about it. Obviously works from the photo, so worth a try. Let you know tomorrow.

 

[Sak01]

Any feedback yet?

My battery is pretty low at the moment. Will whack in the charger at 15% and report back tomorrow. If I manage to run it down that is.

Remember to wait for the 'Shutting Down' pop up to appear before you plug it in.

 

[madhatter1689]

I did that last time but perhaps not quick enough.

 

[Abdur]

Quick question, are we supposed to not let this battery drain completely? (Wont this destroy the battery? (I remember reading that a lot))

So wont the calibration tool do that?

 

[Sak01]

Quick question, are we supposed to not let this battery drain completely? (Wont this destroy the battery? (I remember reading that a lot))

So wont the calibration tool do that?

No, as suroot explained to me, your phone is still shutting down at the previous level (10-15%) it just displays this as 1% instead.

 

[madhatter1689]

Well it looks like it has worked, or I should say, it worked first time. Sitting here waiting to try it again for second time, got the warning at 15% but no shutting down message yet and I am on 7 and no sign of it closing down.

Many thanks for this helpful tip.

 

[Jon_LTD]

Remember to wait for the 'Shutting Down' pop up to appear before you plug it in.

I caught it at that crucial point. Battery at 40% now and will report back hopefully tonight when my battery displays <10%

 

[madhatter1689]

I think I am a little muddled. The first time DIDN'T work as it started to shut down at 13% so I must have got charger in at the right time the second time. Anyway, it got all the way to 5% without switching off so I put the charger in and am charging it up now. So it DEFINITELY works as far as I can see.