Hardware Just got my 3DS XL. Had a question about the battery.

[Wolvenreign]

Howdy, ya'll. I remember back when I got the DS Lite, someone (can't remember who) told me that I should charge the battery all the way before I turn it on for the first time, or else the battery life will be permanently shortened. I didn't listen, and to this day I wonder if that was just superstition of if there was any truth to it.

I've got my 3DS XL (Blue/Black, thank you very much ), and I can't wait to boot up Super Mario 3D Land. However, out of vaution this time, I'm letting it charge up all the way before turning it on.

I'd like to settle this in my mind once and for all, but the terms behind this question seem a bit too obtuse for Google. Anyone care to put my curiosity to rest?

 

[WhiteMaze]

Wasn't it the other way around? Burning through all the battery until it dies and THEN recharging it fully?

 

[Wolvenreign]

Yeah, see, this sort of thing, where there are two polar opposite pieces of information floating out in the wild, is what always makes me want to do fact checks to see what is and isn't an urban legend.

Edit: Found this. Can I get any confirmation of what the last post on this topic is saying?

 

[WhiteMaze]

Yeah, see, this sort of thing, where there are two polar opposite pieces of information floating out in the wild, is what always makes me want to do fact checks to see what is and isn't an urban legend.

A-freaking-men to that.

Look just play the damned thing. No sense waiting any longer. And even IF your battery ends up suffering too much because of it (which I highly doubt), you can just buy a replacement one later on.

GO PLAY DAT THING!

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

Older battery tech, different story back then. Even in the time frame of the release of the DS lite, that reference was already considered old and incorrect with what is used in the DS lite.

You have to go back to the 1990s when that was still true for the majority of commercially available rechargeable batteries. Prevalent to the laptop batteries and cell phone batteries then.

 

[CrimzonEyed]

That's an old myth. That' simply not the case with modern days lithium batteries.
However a few tips.

* it's better to charge at 50-35% than from nearly empty. Helps expanding the battery life.
* around once a month you let the battery drain dry.
* if you are not going to use the console for a long period (2-3+ months) make sure the battery is around half charged and not fully charged. But neither being empty. (If you dont plan on using it for a year or more remove the battery about half charged, and put in a cool environment around 5-10 degree's Celsius)

 

[WhiteMaze]

That's an old myth. That' simply not the case with modern days lithium batteries.
However a few tips.

* it's better to charge at 50-35% than from nearly empty. Helps expanding the battery life.
* around once a month you let the battery drain dry.
* if you are not going to use the console for a long period (2-3+ months) make sure the battery is around half charged and not fully charged. But neither being empty. (If you dont plan on using it for a year or more remove the battery about half charged, and put in a cool environment around 5-10 degree's Celsius)

Holy crap I didn't know ANY of those things helped.

 

[how_do_i_do_that]

The batteries with the memory effect were Ni-Cd based.