Phone battery drains suddenly

[ColinJ]

My laptop does the same thing. It only lasts about 2 minutes from a 'full charge', which is bad enough, but what is seriously annoying is that it happens so fast that it gives no warning and does not shut down properly. I sometimes forget to run it on mains power and get caught out. (The reason that I have not just replaced the battery is that I read that Win7 kills batteries; the problem appeared less that a week after installing Win 7.)

 

[mjr]

Why not just ask them to change the battery?

Oh you know how these phone shops talk: never utilise a single word when an entire contrafibularity of mots justes will endeavour to serve!

 

[swee'pea99]

My laptop does the same thing. It only lasts about 2 minutes from a 'full charge', which is bad enough, but what is seriously annoying is that it happens so fast that it gives no warning and does not shut down properly. I sometimes forget to run it on mains power and get caught out. (The reason that I have not just replaced the battery is that I read that Win7 kills batteries; the problem appeared less that a week after installing Win 7.)

Depending on the laptop replacements can be cheap enough to make it worth having a go. I got a new one for mine on ebay for a tenner or so, and though it's only good for an hour and change (with Win7, eg running a DVD), it's enough better than nothing to make it worth the investment.

 

[ColinJ]

Depending on the laptop replacements can be cheap enough to make it worth having a go. I got a new one for mine on ebay for a tenner or so, and though it's only good for an hour and change (with Win7, eg running a DVD), it's enough better than nothing to make it worth the investment.

Maybe, but it would be SO annoying if the replacement got killed off in a week or two! Rumours

 

[robjh]

An internet search shows that this is a well-known problem, at least on Sony phones on Android, eg. here.
Although many causes and repairs are discussed, the single most common remedy mentioned is replacing the battery.

 

[robjh]

So which apps are burning power? Settings > Device > Battery or Settings > Power > Battery

I haven't got yesterday's list any more, but there was no one obvious 'killer' there - mainly screen, Android OS, Android system, Chrome, and these added up to far less than 100%. Funnily, I noticed that I couldn't scroll down on this screen so wondered if there were more further down that I couldn't see, but obvs can't prove that.

I'm monitoring it again today - so far down to 64% with no sudden drop, but I'm expecting it.

 

[swee'pea99]

Maybe, but it would be SO annoying if the replacement got killed off in a week or two! Rumours

It would. I guess one thing that might sway you one way or t'other would be the age of your current battery. Mine was old enough when I died that I assumed it was just wore out with age. I'd say if yours is, say, 4 years+, it would be worth a punt. Always assuming your laptop's one you plan on having for awhile, and having battery backup has some value for you. (I use mine plugged in 95% of the time too - but the other 5% made the tenner worthwhile.)

 

[jefmcg]

mine was old enough when I died

Vale, @swee'pea99. RIP.

 

[robjh]

....when I died...

Vale, @swee'pea99. RIP.

Happily, even death can't stop people posting on CycleChat.

 

[PeteXXX]

About a month ago, my iPhone 5 started using most of the battery life within an hour when I was using Strava. The phone also started getting very warm, but it wasn't showing that this was the main app using power..
I deleted and reinstalled Strava and all was good in the world (unless you don't like Strava!)
Maybe other apps do similar?
Have you recently d/l'd anything new?

 

[RoubaixCube]

Why not just ask them to change the battery?

Choice is the spice of life. Maybe @robjh was thinking of a new handset anyway. I made two suggestions there mind you. Not 'get a new phone'

 

[mjr]

An internet search shows that this is a well-known problem, at least on Sony phones on Android, eg. here.
Although many causes and repairs are discussed, the single most common remedy mentioned is replacing the battery.

Digging into that and following links, it seems several Sony phones may have a problem where the slightest start of the good ol' battery bulge of death means the battery monitoring hardware loses its connection, the software then tries guessing the remaining capacity and it's not very good at it...

 

[robjh]

Digging into that and following links, it seems several Sony phones may have a problem where the slightest start of the good ol' battery bulge of death means the battery monitoring hardware loses its connection, the software then tries guessing the remaining capacity and it's not very good at it...

I'd wondered if it might be the charge monitoring that was at fault, as after a sudden drain, just a few minutes recharging may lead it to apparent levels of 70% or more full. Still, if it's a hardware problem - loss of connection as you've intuited - then a new battery may still be the way to go.

It got down to 53% before the drop this morning, and has recharged to an instant 74%.

 

[Milkfloat]

If it is not an app - which it seems you have proven then next question. Does the handset get really warm when the drain happens?

 

[robjh]

If it is not an app - which it seems you have proven then next question. Does the handset get really warm when the drain happens?

On one occasion yesterday, yes very - but not that I've noticed any other time. Not noticeably this morning.