charging battery question:

[thereforeiamx]

When the iPod is fully charged and plugged into my comp, will it still run on battery [except not decrease the charge on my iPod]? I'm a bit scared I'm using the battery and charging it way too frequently so I want to preserve its life.

Is it better to recharge once all the charge is gone? Is there even a difference?

[kornchild2002]

Even when an iPod's battery is fully charged and plugged in, it will run off of the battery. The power flowing into it is greater than the powered required to operate it though so your battery is getting filled almost the instant some energy is taken away.

I have had iPods ever since 2003 and this is what I have always done:
1. Keep the iPod battery full all the time. Wait until the battery meter reads about 7/8 full and then charge it.
2. Fully drain the iPods battery once every 30 days and fully charge it, do this in one sitting. You will have to leave your iPod playing with some headphones connected, this is also a good way to see if you are actually getting the advertised battery life from a single charge.

I have been doing that since 2003 and my 3G iPod still gets about 4-6 hours on a single charge (it was rated for 8 hours but the 3G iPod was notorious for having false battery life advertisements), my 4G iPod still gets a little over 12 hours (it is rated for 12 hours), and my 5G 60GB iPod gets about 21 hours (it is rated for 20 hours).

[imitchellg5]

There is no need to ever drain your battery. They just had a big article on this issue on this week's ask iLounge. Link (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/ask-ilounge-5-9-08/) Just recharge whenever it is convenient for you to do so.

[Ed2020]

There is no need to ever drain your battery. They just had a big article on this issue on this week's ask iLounge. Link (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/ask-ilounge-5-9-08/) Just recharge whenever it is convenient for you to do so.

I'm going to have to disagree with that advice. A full discharge helps to recalibrate the fuel guage:

http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

Ed.

[imitchellg5]

Yes but that doesn't mean you have to do it all the time. Only on occasion like the article said.

[kornchild2002]

Yes but that doesn't mean you have to do it all the time. Only on occasion like the article said.

Maybe, once every 30 days or so as I originally suggested? That was a quick change from "no need to ever" to "only on occasion." I guess we can all have a change of heart.

[imitchellg5]

The OP asked about preserving battery life, not the battery meter. FWIW I have not drained any of my iPods batteries and they still get what Apple advertises for battery life. And note, the article that I linked to said that once a month discharges were fine for keeping the battery meter accurate.