MP3 players forum: Should I rechanger my battery fully or half way???

I've always heard that a full discharge is better since the days of NiCads. Using the full cycle is said to avoid memory effect, i.e., the battery thinking it has a shorter run time than it does. I can't think of any reason that this rule, which applies to laptop batteries, would be any different for MP3 players with hard drives.

As for my experience, I've had every generation of iPod and the batteries have all lasted for at least a year.

The hard drive used in an iPod is virtually identical to those used in laptops, so I don't see why they should be discharged in opposite ways. If someone offered a rational explanation for treating them differently, I might change my mind. I am not saying one should never recharge after partially discharging, only that a full discharge fairly often is probably a good idea.

As far as I can tell, Apple has not taken a position against full discharging, only saying people should recharge their iPods when it is convenient. It focuses on battery cycles, emphasizing the battery is designed with 400 full cycles prior to not being fully rechargeable:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=62018#6


Seems to me that Battery U needs to convince the biggest seller of MP3 players in the world that partial discharges are best, not just an individual.

Charge the battery fully, however, you should take it off the charger when it is fully charged.

as for how often to recharge, that depends on the battery type:

LiIon batteries can be recharged whenever it is convenient. Avoid fully discharging them, that shortens their life.

NiCad prefers full cycles, that is, full charge and full discharge cycles. Repeated partial discharges and recharges can cause a decrease in capacity that is termed "memory effect" (it "memorizes" a reduced capacity).

NiMH resists the "memory effect", they can be recharged frequently. Avoid fully discharging them. They will last longest if you can keep them between 90% and 40% of full charge - but that's difficult to do with small devices and simple standard chargers.