Cell phones

[Droopy]

I don't use a cell phone a whole lot. I'm a trucker and I basically have it for emergencies, breakdowns and calling my dispatcher. You wouldn't think that I'd be having a problem keeping the battery charged. But when I am feeling chatty and I talk on my cell phone for a while, it's only good for about 20 minutes. I've had the phone for a year and it started doing that not too long after I bought it. Is the battery they give you with free phones just low quality? One thing, though, that might be affecting the battery is that I never turn the phone off. But it goes on a charger every night when I get home from work. So, what's the deal?

[sir_captain]

1. Batteries stink

They get old and don't last very long--overcharging it (which is what you're doing, but which is also inevitable) actually reduces its life as well. Simply replacing the battery ought to do the trick.

[Droopy]

2. Oh ok

So I guess it's just not my cell phone then. I will see about procuring a new battery.

[sir_captain]

3. Yeah, almost definitely not the cell phone

probably your cell phone company will just give you a new battery for free, but if not, you can probably find one that'll work at radio shack.

[Droopy]

4. Thank you, sir captain

My captain, my captain.

[The Great Escape]

5. Probably The Memory Effect...

wireless phone batteries will in essence memorize the point at which they are typically recharged. For example if you recharge your battery alot, they battery is only used to a certain amount of use before it is recharged. The battery will remember this and will go all the way down to nothing in a short amount of time. The best way to lessen the memory effect is to let your phone run all the way down several times in a row. (Two or three) Then try to charge your phone with a home charger ( I realize being a driver can make that difficult). Rapid automobile chargers can contribute to the memory effect. Now, if your wireless has a Lithium Ion battery, then everything I just said is probably moot. Lithium Ion batteries, almost never suffer from the memory effect.

[Droopy]

6. Thanks for the explanation

Makes sense. I don't know if I have a lithium ion battery, though. The cell phone was a freebie for opening the account so I doubt it's anything too fancy.

[The Great Escape]

7. Doing A Google Of The Make and Model Could Probably Tell You...

the freebie Nokia that I got with Alltel has a Lithium Ion. If your phone has a Lithium Ion then the problem could very well lie within the phone. If you replace the battery and still have the same problem then you would need to replace the phone. Of course Warranty Exchange is almost always a hassle. AT&T Wireless used to have a Warranty Exchange program. Since they merged with Cingular, I do not know if they have this any longer. Most of the other carriers make you go through the manufacturer to process an exchange. This is when they tell you they are in the business of airtime and not in the business of phones:eyes:

[sir_captain]

12. Memory effect is overstated

really, only NiCd batteries suffer from this phenomenon. Lithium batteries are somewhat better in this respect, but they still suffer from losing capacity, and from losing lifetime from overcharging.

[EvolvedChimp]

8. Try turning off the backlight

Go to sttings and then display. If yours is anything like mine there will be an option to allow you to turn off the backlight, it will save you plenty of battery as long as you don't need to read it in the dark.

[Droopy]

9. It only comes on when I have a call or an incoming message.

[EvolvedChimp]

10. and every time you dial. . .

or pretty much do anything. Well it cant hurt and it has done wonders for my battery life. It's worth a shot. Also you said you are a truck driver so why don't you get a car adapter.

[Droopy]

11. I do have a car adapter

But I have to slip seat (I'm in a different truck every day) and I hate to have to carry more stuff every day to get myself prepared for work. I very rarely talk on the phone for more than a few minutes so I really don't have to worry about the recharging issue. It would just be nice to know that I had more phone time if I needed it.