The Mobile Phone Battery

Is the lifeblood of your phone

Mobile phones run on batteries. Even when not making a call, they keep listening to the network in case a call comes in. They keep in touch with the network so that it knows where they are, and transmit every so often to do so. It is no surprise that when the battery runs down, the phone stops working!
Because phones use their batteries hard, and are designed to be small and light, battery performance is a vital issue.
The

re are three aspects to a battery's performance:

Standby time - the time that the battery will keep the phone switched on, but not in a call.
Different phones use varying amounts of power when on standby, and if you move the phone around, it has to keep transmitting to log onto the new base.
Talk time - the time that the battery will power the phone during a call.
Calls in or out use the same power. The amount of power used depends on how near the base transmitter is. The max:min ratio is around 1000:1.
Battery life - how long you can continue to recharge and use the battery before you have to buy a new one.
To some extent, battery life depends on how bad you are prepared to let it get before you replace the battery. In general, mobile phone batteries are like toothbrushes: most people should replace them sooner than they do.
Although some phones can use non-rechargeable (primary) batteries, the vast majority depend on rechargeable (secondary) batteries, of which there are four main types:

NiCd - Nickel Cadmium
NiMH - Nickel Metal Hydride
Li-Ion - Lithium Ion
Lead Acid
Nickel Cadmium

These are the rechargeable batteries most people are familiar with. They are everywhere, and work well enough, but they are not very good for mobile phones because of one unfortunate trait: they like to be run down between charges.
If you recharge a NiCd cell without running it down first, it comes to expect recharging at that point, and if you do it regularly, the battery simply considers that point its "low water" point. See Battery Conditioning below for a cure for this. In general, you should discharge a NiCd before every other charge.

NiCd batteries are cheap, and give 500 to 700 charge cycles before they die of old age.

Nickel Metal Hydride

These batteries are similar to NiCd, but they do not suffer the "memory effect" or "voltage depression" as much as NiCd. In addition, they tend to give more capacity than NiCd batteries of a similar size or weight. They used to cost more than NiCd, but I don't think that is true any more. In general, you should discharge a NiMH battery once a fortnight if you charge it every day.

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries give a good power/weight ratio, and last between 300 and 500 charge cycles, at which point their standby time survives, but when you make a call, they fade away fast!

Lithium Ion

These are the latest and most expensive rechargeable batteries. They cost a lot of money at present, partly because the battery includes electronic charge and discharge control circuitry. They have an excellent power/weight ratio, and do not need to be discharged at all. In fact the electronics inside them stops them doing so!

Li-Ion batteries cost a lot, can be topped up repeatedly without ill effects, and last for around 1,000 charge cycles. As they age, the capacity falls away gradually, so the point at which they are worn out is hard to define. They should last a few years for most people using them in a mobile phone, particularly if you don't have to waste charge cycles conditioning them.

Lead Acid

This is the sort of battery that is used in cars. They are cheap, and don't have to be discharged before charging: they like regular topping up. In fact running them down can damage them. They tend to be very heavy for the power they give, and are not used in handheld mobile phones at all, but "transportable" phones did use them.

...and the rest
There is a lot of development work going on to develop other types of battery, ranging from fuel cells that use lighter fluid to tiny turbine generators that run on diesel, as well as solar-powered and others that I've not heard of, I expect. There's a huge and ever-increasing market for smaller, better batteries for all sorts of devices.

Battery Care

As mentioned above, you should discharge NiCd and NiMH from time to time, but that's not all there is to it. The life you will get out of your battery depends to a huge extent on how you treat it, and some of the advice you are given is just, plain, wrong.

Charging

The best way to charge your phone's battery is to use the charger supplied with the phone. The charger or the phone (depending on the make of the phone) will care for the battery far more carefully than some of the third-party chargers on the market.

This is a typical example - if you don't want the technical bit, skip to the next paragraph:
The charger of a Nokia phone gives 12v DC maximum, current-limited to 700mA. This is supplied to the phone, which checks the battery capacity (reading a labelling resistor build into the battery) and temperature (using a temperature sensor built into the battery). If the battery is too hot or cold, it refuses to charge it. As the battery is charged at a steady 700mA, the phone monitors the voltage, which rises steadily till the battery is full, then rises more slowly when the battery is full. At this point, the phone switches to trickle-charging, which involves switching the current on and off in short bursts, which helps prevent formation of whiskers within the cells (too technical to go into here). All the time, the phone checks the battery temperature, because if the cell gets hot, that's a sign that it is full and charging should be stopped

When you get a new NiCd battery, it is vital that you give it at least sixteen hours continuous charge before using the battery. NiMH don't depend on this as much, but it is still worth doing, to be on the safe side, and considering the price, I'd also do it for a Li-Ion.

The first few times you use a new battery, it should get a good long recharge, preferably 16 hours each time. The capacity of a NiMH or Li-Ion develops over a few charge cycles, so don't expect miracles at first!

To reduce the power your phone uses (and therefore increase how long a charged battery lasts), turn the lights off, and try to leave the phone in good signal conditions. Moving in and out of coverage will gobble power: see how long a battery lasts on a train journey, and you'll see what I mean! When making a call, extend the antenna, and remain in good signal, possibly near a window.

Where possible, recharge your battery overnight. When you charge a battery, it fills up in a non-linear manner: the battery will be 60% charged within 15 minutes, 90% within an hour or two, but completely charging it will take several hours, despite what the phone display tells you.

Never take your fully-charged battery off charge and then back onto charge a few minutes afterwards, because this can confuse the way the phone monitors the battery's charge state. This is a particular problem for car kit users, so take care!

Battery Conditioning

To prevent a NiCd or NiMH battery losing capacity, or to restore one that has suffered this, you can "condition" the battery. This involves running down all the cells that make up the battery. A cell is an individual element of the battery, and several are wired in series to form each battery. This is the problem: you have to just empty every cell, without overdoing it and reverse-charging any of the cells.

Conditioning a battery can prevent the capacity of the battery from falling, but it uses up one of the battery's recharge cycle "lives", so don't overdo it!

Conditioners run the battery down by taking a current out whilst carefully monitoring the voltage that the battery gives. When the voltage drops to 1.0 volts per cell, the discharge stops. If you try to save money by using a bulb and a wire, you will almost certainly destroy the battery. Email me for the gory details of how and why!

E1H
ALCATEL – Altset MS, Altset S GAP, Biloba 570,
ERICSSON – DECT230, DT200,
E2H
BT - Synergy, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2100, 2120, 2200, 2210, 2220, 2250, 2300,
CABLE & WIRELESS - CWD250, CWD2500, CWD2700, CWD4100,
PHILIPS - KALA 300, KALA 3353,
NTL - D4000, D4001, D4100,
SAGEM - DPC300, Pack Trio 21300
E3N
BT - Clarity 600, Synergy 600, Synergy 700,
E5H
BT – ON AIR 1000, ON AIR 1100, ON AIR 1250, ON AIR 1800, ON AIR 2000, ON AIR 2100, ON AIR 2250,
E6H
BT - ON AIR 1000 EXEC, ON AIR 1100 EXEC, ON AIR 1250 Classic, ON AIR 1300 EXEC, ON AIR 2300,
E7H
SAGEM – Mistral 10-200, Mistral 20-200, Mistral 20-220,
E8H
BT – Synergy 1000, Synergy 1400, Synergy 1500, Synergy 900,
E9N
AUDIOLINE – CDL20, Freelance 1, Freelance 100, Freelance 2, Freelance 200, Freelance 300, Freelance 500, Freestyle 600, Freestyle 1000, Freestyle 500,
COBRA – 100SA, 110S, 115A, 120SA, 130SA, 140SA, 205SA, CP110, CP115SA, CP120SA, CP130SA, CP140SA, CP310, CP310S, CP320, CP320S, CP355, CP355S,
DORO – 970, 980, Walk & Talk 970, Walk & Talk 980,
GEEMARC – 2000,
NORTH WESTERN BELL – Excursion 255, Excursion 6000,
PANASONIC – KX- A36, KX-T3806, KX-T3835, KX-T3846, KX-T3865,
PHILIPS – GOLF, MEMO, TD9236, TD9804,
SAMSUNG – 915, 918, CLA985, CLT980, CLT982E, CLT985, COCOON, SP-R915,
SANYO – CLT80, CLT880, CLT980, CLT981E, CLT982, CLT985, CLT990,
SHARP – CLA400E, CLA500E, CLS200E,
SOUTH WESTERN BELL – FF1150, FF1175, FF1735, FF1750, FF650, FF675, FF680,
UNIDEN – EX2100, EX255, EX3101, EX3102, EX3800, EX4100, EX4101, EX4102,
E10N - Also E23N (Hi-Cap)
Answercall - Apollo, CT100, CT500,
Audio Line - CDL150, FF555, FF788, FF893,
Betacom - Discovery, Quest, Roma,
Binatone - Airlink, Airlink 600 TAM, Airlink 8, Airlink 80. Airlink 800 TAM,
BT - Freestyle 100, Freestyle 1025, Freestyle 1050, Freestyle 1100, Freestyle 120, Freestyle 1200, Freestyle 130, Freestyle 1500, Freestyle 50, Freestyle 500, Freestyle 520, Freestyle 60, Freestyle 320, Freestyle 70, Freestyle 75, Freestyle 80, Freestyle 90, Quartet 1000, Quartet 1100, Quartet 1500, Quartet 2010, Quartet 2012, Quartet 2015, Quartet 2020, Verve 100,
Bush - 201,
Cable&Wireless - CWR 100. CWR 200, CWR 300, CWR 400, CWR 500, CWR 600, CWR 700, CWR 800, CWR 900
DIALATRON GEEMARC - Caracas 1000, Caracas 2000, Caracas 3000, Miami, Phoenix,
Emerson - TEC 3000,
GEEMARC - Atlanta 100, Atlanta 150, Atlanta 200,
General Electric - 2-9630A
JVC - TNE77, TNE88
Modulophone - CM15, CS20,
Morphy Richards - Additions 1, Additions 2,
Opedys - 36,
Panasonic - 1005, 37, 38, KX- A36A, KX-T3610, KX-T3611, KX-T3620, KX-T3620 MX, KX-T3621, KX-T3640, KX-T3705, KX-T3710, KX-T3720, KX-T3720 MX, KX-T3725, KX-T3730, KX-T3730 MX, KX-T3800, KX-T3816, KX-T3820, KX-T3822, KX-T3823, KX-T3824, KX-T3832, KX-T3848, KX-T3850, KX-T3855, KX-T3870, KX-T3875, KX-T3880, KX-T3900, KX-T3910, KX-T3910 MX, KX-T3920, KX-T3930, KX-T3932, KX-T3935, KX-T3940, KX-T3950, KX-T3960, KX-T3965, KX-T3980, KX-T4035, KX-T4050, KX-T4060 FR, KX-T4065, KX-T4300, KX-T4330, KX-T4330 FR, KX-T4340, KX-T4350, KX-T4370, KX-T4400, KX-T4600, KX-TC1005,
Philips – 5250, SONATA 5200 , SONATA 5220, Icana 5250, Icana 5350, TD9228, TD9949, Xalio 6100, Xalio 6200, Xalio 6400, Xalio 6600, Xalio 6600 VOX, Xalio 6800, Xalio 6820, Xalio 6850,
Sanyo - CAS 120, CAS130, CLA serie, CLT sries 4/5/6, CLT3200, CLT340, CLT3600, CLT440, CLT520, CLT6100, CLT6300,
SONY - SPP- D15, SPP-20, SPP-22, SPP-55, SPP-57, SPP-65, SPP-90, SPP-A20, SPP-A40, SPP-A57, SPP-A60,
South Western Bell - FF700, FF750, FF760, FF770, FF780, FF790, FF800, FF880, FF884, FF888, FF888 -2 or 3 Black, FF889 ADHS, FF890, FF894 TAM, FF895, FF895 TAM, FF896, FF880, FF900, FF901 ADHS,
UNIDEN - CT301, XC310, XC315, XC320, XC340,
E12N
AUDIOLINE – F888, F988,
PHILIPS – ALEOR, ALEOR ANA TD 9220, ALORIS 5100, EVALIA 5400, EVALIA 5500, EVALIA 5600, EVALIA 5600C, EVALIA 5800, ICANA, ICANA 5260, ICANA 5550,
SIEMENS – GIGASET 100,
E13N
AUDIOLINE – CDL4, CONCERTO, LIBEREO,
GEEMARC – Clearsound 1000, Clearsound 3000, Clearsound 800,
E14N
BETACOM – BC400,
BINATONE – CHEETAH RANGE, Easy Touch 100, Easy Touch 200, ICARUS 8, ICARUS 800, ICARUS 8000, PEGASYS 200, PEGASYS 400, PEGASYS 8,
PEGASYS 800, RANGER RANGE,
CABLE & WIRELESS – CWR 2200,
CASIO – 2500, 2600, T-2600,
DORO MATRA – DUNEA 160C, DUNEA 260C, DUNEA 350C, DUNEA 360, DUNEA 362C, DUNEA 60C, SOLEA 160C, SOLEA 250, SOLEA 350C, SOLEA 352C,
GEEMARC – CC40, CC50, CC60,
NTL – R66, R77, R88,
TELCOM – 810,
E15H
BINATONE – ADVANCE 100, E3300
BT – QUARTET 300, QUARTET 3000, QUARTET 3100, QUARTET 3500,
CABLE & WIRELESS – CWD 1000, CWD 2000, CWD 2700,
E17H
GEEMARC – CC10, CC20, CC30,
E40H
BINATONE – Eurotel 3100, Eurotel Series, MD Range, Modus Plus, Modus Series,
BT – Diverse 1000, Diverse 2000, Diverse 3000 Series, Diverse Solo, Diverse 3100, Diverse 3200, Verve 500,
GREAT – 830,
GRUNDIG – 850, VCP250 NOIR,
GTE – CLOU,
PANASONIC – KX-TCD700, KX-TCD705, KX-TCD706, KX-TCD715, KX-TCD725, KX-TCD735, KX-TCD755, KX-TCD775, KX-TCD777, KX-TCD915, KX-TCD920,
PHILIPS – KALA, KALA 200, KALA 200 Plus, KALA 200 VOX, KALA 200 VOX DUO, KALA 6120, KALA 6121, KALA 6123, KALA 6131, KALA 6133, KALA 6523, KALA 6523 DUO, KALA 6533, KALA 6622, KALA 6721, KALA 6721 DUO, KALA 6735, KALA 6822, KALA DUO, ONIS, ONIS 2, ONIS 6131 CS2, ONIS 6331, ONIS 6411, ONIS 6511, ONIS 6611, ONIS 6611 VOX, ONIS 6810, ONIS 6816, ONIS VOX 6611, TD6120, TD6311,
SAMSUNG – DECT, Eurotel 3000, Eurotel 3200, SP-R5200, SP-R5220, SP-R5250, SP-R5250SC, SP-R5260,
SIEMENS – Conversal, Gigaset 1000, Gigaset 1010, Gigaset 1012, Gigaset 1015, Gigaset 1020, Gigaset 1030, Gigaset 200, Gigaset 2000, Gigaset 2000S, Gigaset 2010, Gigaset 2011, Gigaset 2015, Gigaset 2016, Gigaset 2020, Gigaset 2021, Gigaset 2030, Gigaset 2031, Gigaset 2060, Gigaset 3000 Classic, Gigaset 3000 Comfort, Gigaset 3000 Pocket, Gigaset 3010, Gigaset 3010 Classic, Gigaset 3010 Comfort, Gigaset 3010 Pocket, Gigaset 3015, Gigaset 3015 Classic, Gigaset 3015 Comfort, Gigaset 4000, Gigaset 4000L Classic, Gigaset 4000L Comfort, Gigaset 4010 Classic, Gigaset 4010 Comfort, Gigaset 4015 Comfort, Gigaset 4015 Comfort DUO, Gigaset 910, Gigaset 912,
SKYPHONE – 7040,
VTECH – Mirage A100, Mirage A102, Mirage A110, Mirage C220, Mirage Z100,
E46H
ALCATEL – One Touch First 10, One Touch First 20, One Touch First 25, One Touch First 40, One Touch First 45, One Touch First H,
ASCOM – AVENA, AVENA 233, AVENA 233 PLUS,
BINATONE – Eurotel 3000,
BT – Calypso 1100, Diverse 5100, Diverse 5200, Diverse 5250, Diverse 5300, Diverse 5300, Diverse 5310, Diverse 5350 SMS, Freelance 3100, Freelance XA100, Freelance XD100, Freelance XD500, Freestyle 200, Freestyle 2000, Freestyle 2010, Freestyle 2100, Freestyle 4100 TRIO, Studio, Synergy 3000, Synergy 3100, Synergy 3105, Synergy 3105 Twin, Synergy 3106, Synergy 3200, Synergy 3500, Synergy 3505, Verve 3010, X*100, X*500,
DBTEL – Amethyst 620, Amethyst 640, Amethyst 660, Amethyst 720, Amethyst 730, Amethyst 740,
NTL – D5000, D5100, D8000, VS2000,
PANASONIC – 952, KX-A142ES, KX-A14EM, KX-A151, KX-TCD410, KX-TCD412, KX-TCD413, KX-TCD420, KX-TCD422, KX-TCD455, KX-TCD505, KX-TCD507, KX-TCD515, KX-TCD517, KX-TCD953EB, KX-TCD955, KX-TCD955ED, KX-TCD955EC,
PHILIPS – Onis 200, Onis 200 Handset, Onis 200 Vox, Onis 300, Onis 300 Vox, Onis 5321, Onis 5350, Onis 5351, Onis 5352, Onis 5371, Onis Vox, TD6326, TD6626, TD6726, Zena 200 Voice, Zena 6236, Zena 6626, Zena 6726,
SAMSUNG – SP-R5100, SP-R7000, SP-R7100,
E47H
SAMSUNG – SP-R6100, SP-R6150,
E49H
PHILIPS – XALIO 200,
E50H
PHILIPS – ALEOR 300, KALA 300 VOX, KALA 3322, KALA 3350, KALA 3351, KALA 3352,

Battery Information