Blackjack II Battery Charge at 90%??

[Guest sb0611]

Are there any BJ II owners who always get a 100% charge from either AC or USB? AC usually tops out at about 90% while USB only sometimes charges to 100%. Battery life seems good, but it would be nice to know how much charge is really left!

[Guest b o o]

I noticed that myself when checking the status.... i cant explain it either

[Guest MadSci]

Are there any BJ II owners who always get a 100% charge from either AC or USB? AC usually tops out at about 90% while USB only sometimes charges to 100%. Battery life seems good, but it would be nice to know how much charge is really left!

I get to ~90% pretty fast, but the last 10% take a while.

When it has reached 100% the LED changes from RED (Charging) to GREEN (Battery full).

At that point, I show a 100% charge in both the Power Management (both numbers and the bar graph) and Voice Command Report.

If you don't ever get the LED to green, then you have a problem.

Try fully discharging the battery (turn on Bluetooth, GPS and play some music until the phone turns itself off), then fully charge from the charger (not the USB). A few cycles like this should fix it. If not, take it back to the store for an exchange.'

Hope this helps!

MadSci

[Guest lilbuddha]

I get to ~90% pretty fast, but the last 10% take a while.

When it has reached 100% the LED changes from RED (Charging) to GREEN (Battery full).

At that point, I show a 100% charge in both the Power Management (both numbers and the bar graph) and Voice Command Report.

If you don't ever get the LED to green, then you have a problem.

Try fully discharging the battery (turn on Bluetooth, GPS and play some music until the phone turns itself off), then fully charge from the charger (not the USB). A few cycles like this should fix it. If not, take it back to the store for an exchange.'

Hope this helps!

MadSci

My Blackjack has the same problem. It has nothing to do with how long one leaves the device charging. The indicator light turns green and the charging indicator disappears. Leaving it plugged in does nothing further.

As far as fully discharging the battery completely, this should have no positive effect. Lithium ion batteries are not supposed to have a memory. To the contrary, what information I can find suggests that fully discharging a lithium battery actually shortens its lifespan.

[Guest thelostsoul]

Lithium batts don't have a memory, but the device's battery sensors do need calibration. If you are having the 90% issue, which I noted when I first got my device, let it discharge fully and charge it completely over night or so. I did a full cycle twice, then just stopped caring and eventually realized that it seemed to work itself out.

Yes, it is true that lithium batteries do prefer to hold a charge longer than to have no charge. So this does mean that a complete discharge could shorten its lifespan, but as long as you get it plugged in shortly after the discharge, you should be fine. Just don't keep discharging it too often.

So my suggestions:

Completely discharge the battery twice over the course of 2 days. Should this not work, just keep using the device normally for a week or two. Finally, keep the device plugged in as long as possible. Any chance you get, plug it in. Try to keep the charge as full as possible. You should eventually notice that it's holding a charge >90%. But if none of this works, take it back to the ATT store. You should have 30 days from the time of purchase.

[Guest eman006]

Lithium batts don't have a memory, but the device's battery sensors do need calibration. If you are having the 90% issue, which I noted when I first got my device, let it discharge fully and charge it completely over night or so. I did a full cycle twice, then just stopped caring and eventually realized that it seemed to work itself out.

Yes, it is true that lithium batteries do prefer to hold a charge longer than to have no charge. So this does mean that a complete discharge could shorten its lifespan, but as long as you get it plugged in shortly after the discharge, you should be fine. Just don't keep discharging it too often.

So my suggestions:

Completely discharge the battery twice over the course of 2 days. Should this not work, just keep using the device normally for a week or two. Finally, keep the device plugged in as long as possible. Any chance you get, plug it in. Try to keep the charge as full as possible. You should eventually notice that it's holding a charge >90%. But if none of this works, take it back to the ATT store. You should have 30 days from the time of purchase.

I tried discharging and recharging twice per your recommendation, and I'm still seeing the same thing where it will show charged via LED Green Light, but the Power Management will show about 90-95%. What's weird is that I'll charge with USB cable and sometimes get it to 100% but then check again later without ever unplugging it, and it will go down to 90-95% again but the LED is still Green. My suspicion is that this is just a glitch in the software since it takes a while for the bar to get down to the 75% range. I may take it back to the store and exchange just the battery for a new one and see what happens.

Anyone already try exchanging out the battery for a new one to see if this fixes this meter problem?????

[Guest jdm0830]

i did and they send me one threw the mail and nothing.

Juan.

[Guest thelostsoul]

Hmm...it seems like the BJII's not configured properly for power management. Between the inability for 3rd party apps to read what charge level the battery's at properly to the problems discuss here added with nothing that if my LED turns green, I unplug it and immediately plug it back it, it goes back to 90% then recharges the full 10% again for the full time it would normally take, it really seems like Samsung did something wrong here.

Between the battery problems and the GPS problems, anyone up for a petition? lol

[Guest thelostsoul]

--doublepost; please delete--

Edited January 31, 2008 by thelostsoul

[Guest Sed8ed]

Nah....No petition required. I still think it gets good battery life. Personally the GPS had issues at the start (not recognised by anything...driver gets screwed up by different apps)..but it's good now. I have no issues with the GPS now, it works fine for me. The problem really lies in the lack of software that's any good for the smartphone. There's lots of small apps that do a great Job but when it comes to things like GPS programs companies are trying to now bundle for a monthly cost along with data plans when really poeple want standalone GPS with only a yearly update to the map (or at least 6 months)....

I think the phone is leaps and bounds over my AT&T 8525 although the device is a good one and has advantages over the Blackjack II the 8525 cant beat it in ease of use...The fact that I dont have to pull out the stylus is a comfort.

I just wanted some of the apps from the 8525 to work on the smartphone and unfortunately you cant have your cake and eat it too...The battery life on the HTC Hermes (AT&T 8525) was dismal...I really suffered with it. Something I dont suffer from with the BJII

I would have liked to see the inclusion of WiFi for home use...although Data is available it's at a high cost for very little MB for some. Unless you are a business user with an unlimited type plan your going to be counting the pennies everytime you fire up the browser or use something like telenav, this of course is something the provider wanted and for good reason as it makes cashflow and also attracts the type of business user that AT&T really wants.

The thing I would like to see in a petition is user ideas crafted into a device the poeple really want...problem is if we had what we wanted we wouldnt buy anymore phones LOL. Cant see that going far.

[Guest eman006]

Nah....No petition required. I still think it gets good battery life. Personally the GPS had issues at the start (not recognised by anything...driver gets screwed up by different apps)..but it's good now. I have no issues with the GPS now, it works fine for me. The problem really lies in the lack of software that's any good for the smartphone. There's lots of small apps that do a great Job but when it comes to things like GPS programs companies are trying to now bundle for a monthly cost along with data plans when really poeple want standalone GPS with only a yearly update to the map (or at least 6 months)....

I think the phone is leaps and bounds over my AT&T 8525 although the device is a good one and has advantages over the Blackjack II the 8525 cant beat it in ease of use...The fact that I dont have to pull out the stylus is a comfort.

I just wanted some of the apps from the 8525 to work on the smartphone and unfortunately you cant have your cake and eat it too...The battery life on the HTC Hermes (AT&T 8525) was dismal...I really suffered with it. Something I dont suffer from with the BJII

I would have liked to see the inclusion of WiFi for home use...although Data is available it's at a high cost for very little MB for some. Unless you are a business user with an unlimited type plan your going to be counting the pennies everytime you fire up the browser or use something like telenav, this of course is something the provider wanted and for good reason as it makes cashflow and also attracts the type of business user that AT&T really wants.

The thing I would like to see in a petition is user ideas crafted into a device the poeple really want...problem is if we had what we wanted we wouldnt buy anymore phones LOL. Cant see that going far.

LOL. I guess we'll finally get everything we want after buying BJ's III through LXVIII. LXVIX is always a good number - it was the year I was born! :)

You'll need to brush up on your Roman numerals to get that one. :D

[Guest jdm0830]

unmm, get the 20 media max . dont tell them u have a bjII

[Guest eman006]

unmm, get the 20 media max . dont tell them u have a bjII

20 media max??? Please explain. thanks.

[Guest eman006]

FYI. Got a replacement, and I am still seeing the issue. Minor issue since the battery monitor in the home screen seems to indicate the battery life better, and I'm satisfied with the battery life that I'm getting.

[Guest jdm0830]

20 media max??? Please explain. thanks.

first off if u neeed the plan for your 100 bucks back then go for the 29.99 unlimited family text messagin plan. (only two options) after u get ur 100 bucks, call them up and tell them you want the media max bundle. its unlimited internet and 200 texts and mms. if they say u need the PDA what ever say no i want media max. if they say youll be paying for internet that wont work, dont listen be like idc, and if its needed tell them you have a razr you sold ur bjII. but im sure they will do what ever u ask :)

Juan

[Guest su6oxone]

FYI. Got a replacement, and I am still seeing the issue. Minor issue since the battery monitor in the home screen seems to indicate the battery life better, and I'm satisfied with the battery life that I'm getting.

I can't believe you'd replace it just for such a minor issue. Incidentally, mine does this too, and while it is mildly annoying, the battery life itself seems to be fine so I don't really mind.

[Guest eman006]

I can't believe you'd replace it just for such a minor issue. Incidentally, mine does this too, and while it is mildly annoying, the battery life itself seems to be fine so I don't really mind.

The main reason why I exchanged was that the USB door came off - the glue that attaches the plastic to that rubber stuff came undone from inadvertently leaving phone's weight on the door when setting on the table. Word of advice. Flip the door up (towards you) before setting on the table for a charge.

In addition. I noticed that this 90% issue is only when you charge with the phone on. Once you turn off the phone, the LED will turn Red again and then charge to green a few minutes later. When you turn on the phone again after the LED turns green, then the meter will read 100%. Weird, huh?

BTW, another plus for me is that the previous BJII could only be overclocked to 264. This replacement is now running with no issues at 276. WOOT!

[Guest totoymola]

In addition. I noticed that this 90% issue is only when you charge with the phone on. Once you turn off the phone, the LED will turn Red again and then charge to green a few minutes later. When you turn on the phone again after the LED turns green, then the meter will read 100%. Weird, huh?

Hi. That is how I charge my phone (while turned off) but I still cannot get the meter to 100%. I left it charging for 12hrs last night, the LED was green, but the meter was not 100% when I turned it on. :)

[Guest su6oxone]

In addition. I noticed that this 90% issue is only when you charge with the phone on. Once you turn off the phone, the LED will turn Red again and then charge to green a few minutes later. When you turn on the phone again after the LED turns green, then the meter will read 100%. Weird, huh?

That is weird, but a good work around. Also, I've noticed when using my OEM car charger, the charge will go to 100%, but with just the wall charger, it stops at 90%. Doesn't seem to be a difference in battery life, but who knows. It would suck to have 10% less charge due to some odd bug.