Help Rapid Battery Drain

[jemmox21]

I bought my Bionic about 16 months ago, and have always been relatively satisfied with the battery life. About 3 months ago, I learned about Juice Defender, so I installed the free version just to see how it worked. I was delighted to see it increase my battery life significantly, to what seemed like double the normal life. Then after a few weeks, my Bionic battery began to drain quickly, even with moderate to little use and settings adjusted to prolong battery life. It's as if it drains 10% or so every hour. To test it, I went to bed one night with 100% charge, and woke up the next morning with about 40% battery life. I purchased a new battery thinking that might solve the issue, and I also installed the premium version of Juice Defender, etc., but nothing has helped. I have tracked battery stats as well, and can't seem to identify a culprit. Is there some function I have inadvertently engaged to cause my battery to suffer, or is something just wrong with the phone?

Thanks!

 

[Thom]

Welcome to Android Forums. Did you chyewck out ... Jelly Bean Battery Drain

In addition ... I do not use a task killer. Through the lifer of the Bionic every time it entered the conversation it ended up being identified as a problem. Fortunately Juice Defender is not a Task Killer ... but ...

... Thom

 

[jemmox21]

I checked the Developer Options from that post, if that's what you're referring to, but mine was "off". Also, is Juice Defender considered a task killer? Thanks.

 

[doogald]

I checked the Developer Options from that post, if that's what you're referring to, but mine was "off". Also, is Juice Defender considered a task killer? Thanks.

No t really. - as I recall, in its most basic use, it's supposed to turn off data options with the phone turned off, turning it on occasionally to allow apps to access data, sync, etc ,then switch data back off.

I'd try uninstalling JuiceDefender and see if that makes things better. If it doesn't, you can always reinstall.

My phone still has Gingerbread, but I did an experiment a few weeks ago, using a scheduling app called Llama to do something similar and found that my phone used slightly more battery than just having data and sync turned on all of the time.

 

[CKwik240]

If Google Now is running on your phone, try turning it off. I had a similar problem and turning off Google Now pretty much took me back to pre-JB battery life.

 

[jemmox21]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I seem to have figured out the problem, and I'll summarize it in case anyone else is having the issue. I read about several other issues users were having that were similar to mine, and I landed on the "wakelock" problem that appears to be fairly common. I downloaded Wakelock Detector, then went to bed with my phone 100% charged and off the charger. I woke up to find it (once again) around 40%. I looked at the Wakelock Detector results and discovered Slacker Radio, which came stock with the phone and I never use, was keeping the phone awake during the night for about 3 hours, even with the display off. I uninstalled the updates for Slacker and disabled the app, as well as some other stock apps I never use in case they too prevent the phone from sleeping. So far, so good.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[doogald]

I downloaded Wakelock Detector, then went to bed with my phone 100% charged and off the charger.

Thanks for the update. Can I suggest that from now on you charge your phone while you sleep? That way you'll wake up with a phone 100% charged.

Contrary to what anybody will say, your battery will not suffer degradation from "overcharging", as it contains circuitry to prevent that from happening.

 

[jemmox21]

I may have spoken too soon, as later in the day the battery drain started again. Android OS is taking up to 40-50% of the battery usage when viewing battery stats. Other people have had this problem it appears, but so far I haven't read about a solution. Any thoughts? I really want to get this figured out, as my phone is being rendered useless over the course of 10 hours.

 

[Thom]

Did you try turning GPS off?

... Thom

 

[jemmox21]

Yes, I've turned GPS off and adjusted the location settings for Google, etc. There's still just a steady, continuous drain whether I'm using the phone or not. I think it has to do with the latest updates my phone received, but I can't pinpoint the exact cause.

 

[rdsok]

If you haven't done it already... just in case backup your music, pics and data... you can't be too careful in case something messes up or you make a misstep and accidently select a wrong option....

I believe what worked on mine was clearing the cache... instructions are here http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid-bionic/421050-post-your-tips-bionic-here-3.html#post5739212

If that doesn't do it... perhaps there is another corruption elsewhere which may require a FDR to correct...

If you do a FDR... clear the cache again just to ensure nothing corrupt is left in there as well.

 

[Duckster]

I think that it would be fair to say that there is something in Jelly Bean that has the phones losing their battery hang time. I had the exactly same issue and nothing that I did resolved the problem (including an FDR). I finally complained and received a new Bionic (yeah, they still have them). I had hoped for something different since it was my 4 Bionic but since they had them in stock, I got it. I still like this phone and sometime in the future, I will upgrade, but until then, I got the refurbished Bionic and it is loaded with JB with NO battery issues at all. I reloaded all of my apps one at a time and found them to be stable.

If a FDR does not solve your problem, and you still have warranty, you may want to use the warranty to get another one (or better).

Good Luck

 

[Thom]

In this case ... since a Factory Data Reset is being done ... don't install ANYTHING after that for a day or so. If the battery is still acting this way ... perhaps a replacement battery is in order. An OEM battery from Amazon is about $12.

... Thom

 

[jemmox21]

I think that it would be fair to say that there is something in Jelly Bean that has the phones losing their battery hang time. I had the exactly same issue and nothing that I did resolved the problem (including an FDR). I finally complained and received a new Bionic (yeah, they still have them). I had hoped for something different since it was my 4 Bionic but since they had them in stock, I got it. I still like this phone and sometime in the future, I will upgrade, but until then, I got the refurbished Bionic and it is loaded with JB with NO battery issues at all. I reloaded all of my apps one at a time and found them to be stable.

If a FDR does not solve your problem, and you still have warranty, you may want to use the warranty to get another one (or better).

Good Luck

Who did you complain to exactly? I'm afraid this may be my only option, as the FDR did not help, and I have already tried a new battery. Thanks to all!

 

[SirEagle]

In this case ... since a Factory Data Reset is being done ... don't install ANYTHING after that for a day or so.

Also don't put any widgets on your home screen that auto update, news, social media, pictures, etc.

 

[rdsok]

Who did you complain to exactly? I'm afraid this may be my only option, as the FDR did not help, and I have already tried a new battery. Thanks to all!

... and in addition... try clearing the cache if you haven't... you haven't mentioned it at least if you have tried it.

 

[jemmox21]

... and in addition... try clearing the cache if you haven't... you haven't mentioned it at least if you have tried it.

I have tried clearing the cache as well several times, I must have forgotten to mention that. Thanks for your suggestion, though. I honestly feel as if I have tried everything

I read last night about some Android users having battery drains due to problems with the phone constantly scanning the SD card? Has anyone experienced or heard about this? I don't use an external SD, so it would have to be internal.

 

[Duckster]

Who did you complain to exactly? I'm afraid this may be my only option, as the FDR did not help, and I have already tried a new battery. Thanks to all!

I called Verizon's 611 number from another phone. They didn't ask any questions (I still have the smart phone insurance)...just took down my information and sent me a different one. I wish that I would have called Asurion (cell phone insurance company) first! I had the refurb Bionic out the next day. I had tried several new batteries, several FDR's, and even not loading anything to no avail. The screen seems to take up a lot of power according to wakelock and my GSM battery monitor. I was taking a beat down from Google Services, motorola.android.server, and motorola.blur.service.blur. These were the biggest "wake ups" and battery drainers along with the screen (which I don't leave on).

Good Luck

 

[Thom]

If you still have the old Bionic ... something that was not tried ... run it in Safe Mode.

Safe mode in Jelly Bean disables all third-party apps that you added without uninstalling or freezing. This can give you an indication of hardware problem or added app problem.

Third-party widgets are not present in Safe Mode. If you have use one (like Fancy Widgets) and switch in and out of Safe Mode you will need to manually reset the widget on your home screen.

To enter Safe Mode ...
Press Power button
Dialog appears - long press Power off
Reboot to safe mode dialog appears - select OK
It will reboot into Safe Mode ("Safe mode" in lower left corner)

To exit Safe Mode ...
Press Power button
Dialog appears - press Power off
Press Power button

... Thom