Author Topic: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge? (Read 8995 times)

DJ Omnimaga · « **on:** September 03, 2014, 06:14:37 pm »

So 3 years ago, I bought an iPod Touch 4 that I stopped using the next year, but back then I was not familiar with batteries in those devices so I just let the device sit in standby mode, unused, in the drawer after I "upgraded" to a Samsung i5510 phone.

I recently heard that leaving batteries of such devices at 0% charge for months could actually damage the battery in some ways but I was unsure which one exactly. I heard stories about swollen batteries and explosions, but a lot of Google posts mentionned that it happens when the battery is overcharged, overheated or if it's several years old. But without charging it I will never know if it can still hold a charge (so that I can trade-in my iPod Touch at the Gamestop store).

Should I take a chance and see if it will charge or should I just immediately discard the unit inside a Staples electronic recycling bin?

Eeems · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2014, 06:16:48 pm »

Quote from: DJ Omnimaga on September 03, 2014, 06:14:37 pm

So 3 years ago, I bought an iPod Touch 4 that I stopped using the next year, but back then I was not familiar with batteries in those devices so I just let the device sit in standby mode, unused, in the drawer after I "upgraded" to a Samsung i5510 phone.

I recently heard that leaving batteries of such devices at 0% charge for months could actually damage the battery in some ways but I was unsure which one exactly. I heard stories about swollen batteries and explosions, but a lot of Google posts mentionned that it happens when the battery is overcharged, overheated or if it's several years old. But without charging it I will never know if it can still hold a charge (so that I can trade-in my iPod Touch at the Gamestop store).

Should I take a chance and see if it will charge or should I just immediately discard the unit inside a Staples electronic recycling bin?

I'd suggest charging it, but keeping an eye on it, if it gets too hot disconnect it and let it cool off, then get rid of it.

Keoni29 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2014, 06:19:18 pm »

Take a chance, but put it inside a fireproof container whilst charging if you're worried about explosions. I have never heard about this phenomenon though.

Eeems · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2014, 06:21:42 pm »

Quote from: Keoni29 on September 03, 2014, 06:19:18 pm

Take a chance, but put it inside a fireproof container whilst charging if you're worried about explosions. I have never heard about this phenomenon though.

I've seen battery explosions, they aren't really all that big. They also don't really seem like they could easily start a fire, unless you put them inside something really flammable.

ben_g · « **Reply #4 on:** September 03, 2014, 06:53:18 pm »

As far as I know, only batteries that are overcharged or become to hit should swell.
Leaving a battery unused inside a device should be safe, though it can decrease the battery life if the battery isn't stored propperly. And if a device keeps using a little bit of power while it's turned off, it can drain the battery beyond it's 'empty' state (there always is a little bit of energy left in an 'empty' battery), which can cause the charger to reject the battery, because it is basically broken.
It is sometimes possible to 'restart' the battery by charging it during a short time by simply attaching it to a power source, however, this is rather unsafe, and it should only be done in a fully fireproof environnement and while you are constantly watching to see if the battery doesn't get too hot. But I'd suggest you to just get an other battery if this is the case.

Juju · « **Reply #5 on:** September 03, 2014, 07:22:30 pm »

Yeah, whay they said. I believe you guys for saying overcharged batteries causes swelling rather than undercharging as it happened not long ago to my Galaxy Note, the OS started to get really weird so I reinstalled Android and changed the battery.

So yeah:
1. Plug the iPod in
2. Check it out for weird stuff happening
3. If something weird happens (such as the device getting hot and/or not turning on), immediately unplug it
4. Take it to an Apple Store (without taking it in reparation) and figure out with the guy what's actually happening
5. Depending of what he answers, either sell it to GameStop, eBay or the recycle bin.

TIfanx1999 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 03, 2014, 08:10:36 pm »

It'll probably be ok. I'd just suggest keeping an eye on it as other's have advised.

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:27:14 pm »

Thanks for the advice. I'm still not 100% confident about the battery swelling thing, though, because my PSP3000 was not overcharged and it still got swollen, although it might be because it was quite old and I probably hit it somewhere or some short circuit occured when I tried to remove it from my PSP (it was pretty hard to get out). I'll try to get a safe container or something in case then if it doesn't even turn ON I'll just unplug it, same if it gets too hot.

ClrDraw · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2014, 09:13:39 pm »

If I were you I would charge it for five minutes, wait a half hour, and repeat until you're confident it works.

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2014, 10:24:59 pm »

Considering my Nspire remains at 0% for 4 hours during early stages of charging, I doubt charging for 5 minutes would do much

(other than maybe letting me see if anything bad can occur)

Princetonlion.tibd · « **Reply #10 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:01:38 pm »

Maybe it's a TI feature that tries to update the OS through the wall socket? :p

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:02:52 pm »

You never know in the future

Princetonlion.tibd · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:05:16 pm »

future: TI encrypts new anti-ndless n-spire OS' into all wall sockets, automatic updat ewhen plugged in

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #13 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:08:22 pm »

I am more thinking that eventually, TI will just make the calculator case so that it cannot be opened in any mean (for example soldering the back and the front together), almost like iPhones, to prevent people from modding the hardware to run Ndless (assuming one day that becomes the only possible way to run Ndless)

Eeems · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2014, 03:54:06 pm »

Back on topic. Have you tried this yet?

Author Topic: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge? (Read 8995 times)

DJ Omnimaga

Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Eeems

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Keoni29

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Eeems

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

ben_g

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Juju

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

TIfanx1999

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

DJ Omnimaga

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

ClrDraw

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

DJ Omnimaga

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Princetonlion.tibd

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

DJ Omnimaga

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Princetonlion.tibd

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

DJ Omnimaga

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?

Eeems

Re: Is it safe to charge old iPod Touch left 2 years unused with 0% charge?