Hacking DSLite 1st Time Charge

[Haruspex]

Is it true that the 1st time you charge a dslite you must let it charge at least 6 hours instead of the normal 3 hours?

I heard that if you only let it charge for 3 hours you might degrade the overall battery life time.

 

[chuckstudios]

You just charge it until the light goes out.

 

[lagman]

Yeah, it will disconnect itself when it's ready.

 

[Destructobot]

It will stop charging when it has a full charge. It shouldn't even take 3 hours, because it already has a partial charge right out of the box. You should charge it before using it the first time though (according to the manual).

 

[Verocity]

Yeah, but I don't know about yall, but I turned it on out of the box and killed it then charged it.

And right now shes charging :]

 

[Destructobot]

Yeah, but I don't know about yall, but I turned it on out of the box and killed it then charged it.

Same here. It didn't seem to have any negative effect, but the manual does say to charge it first.

The biggest thing you should never do is drain the battery, then not charge it for a long time. Completely draining a lithium battery is bad. The DS shuts off before that happens, but the battery is always slowly losing charge.

Never leave it drained without charging it, and if you don't play it for a long time, charge it every month or two.

 

[lblk32]

just charge it until its 100%

 

[squeaks]

Charge it like there's no tomorrow.

 

[Haruspex]

Thanks for the replies.

I thought that would be the case. I just wanted to be sure.

 

[bobbyk724]

Lithium Ion batteries have no "memory" effect like NiCD batteries did. Draining the batter shouldn't have any adverse effects. All batteries though have a certain rechargeable cycle life. Eventually you will have to replace that battery. Until you notice a serious degradation in play time, it's not something to particularly worry about.

 

[4saken]

I've never really gotten what all this fuss is about. It wouldn't change battery life significantly would it?

 

[TLSpartan]

NiMh also have no memory effects as well. I always get asked at my work(Jaycar) what the differnce between NiCd(Nickel Cadmium) and NiMh (Nickel Metal Hydride)

 

[Rayder]

All I know is that, as per the NDS manual, it says to fully charge the battery when you first pull the unit out of the box to guarantee the best battery life. So that's what I did.

 

[Darkspark]

Don't assume it is fully charged once the light goes out. As with all chargers that use transformers, check that the charger has cooled down. When that happens, the unit is fully charged. If the charger is still hot, it is still charging on reducing the charge rate.

I do this on my mobile phones, mouse charger, ds lite etc...

 

[yukine]

Also, I only charge it once the light starts blinking red. You want to get as much battery life out of each use, as each time you charge it degrades the battery.

 

[ahtin]

8 hrs will be better

 

[Destructobot]

Also, I only charge it once the light starts blinking red. You want to get as much battery life out of each use, as each time you charge it degrades the battery.
Wikipedia dissagrees with you:
WikipediaGuidelines for prolonging Li-ion battery life

  * Unlike Ni-Cd batteries, lithium-ion batteries should be charged early and often. However, if they are not used for a longer time, they should be brought to a charge level of around 40%. Lithium-ion batteries should never be "deep-cycled" like Ni-Cd batteries.

 

[OSW]

Meh i didn't read the manual when i bought mine so i played it for quite a while (Not till red though.. i think) then charged it LOL. didn't seem to have any adverse side effects

 

[yukine]

Also, I only charge it once the light starts blinking red. You want to get as much battery life out of each use, as each time you charge it degrades the battery.
Wikipedia dissagrees with you:

Guidelines for prolonging Li-ion battery life

  * Unlike Ni-Cd batteries, lithium-ion batteries should be charged early and often. However, if they are not used for a longer time, they should be brought to a charge level of around 40%. Lithium-ion batteries should never be "deep-cycled" like Ni-Cd batteries.

Yes, you can charge it as often as you want but Li-ion batteries have a charge/discharge life of about 300/500 cycles. Hence my reason for getting as much power out if it before each recharge, when the DS starts blinking red it's at about 40% or so.