[Guide] Calibrating Battery {Rooted devices} - Samsung Galaxy S (4G Model)

*I had this posted over in the nexus forums and decided to move it over here for you guys to see now that I have this device as well*
I found a guide somewhere on the internet on the best way to calibrate battery stats on a rooted device (to fix incorrect battery reporting after flashing) when I had my old hero and I use it a lot to this day when flashing new roms/kernels so I decided to share the best way to do it here.
Step 1.
First and foremost charge the phone to 100%(Even if it says 100% wait about 5 minutes or so just be sure.)
Step 2.
Once it is at 100% go into data/system using your preferred explorer and delete the batterystats.bin file there.
Step 3.
Unplug the charger and reboot to recovery, wipe cache and dalvik cache and wipe battery stats once more while you're there just to make sure they're gone.
Step 4.
Power the phone down and plug it back in. Charge it to 100% while it's off (the battery bar can be deceiving so even once it shows it's full give it five more minutes or so to be sure) and then power up.
Once it is booted to the OS you should now see that the battery bar is at 100%. If not start back at step 1.
Final step.
It had come to my attention that this phone does not have a smart battery so fully discharging it is not a good idea. However I would recommend discharging it to below 20% before recharging. Thanks to hechoen for the info straight from Samsung.
After that you should have a fully calibrated battery and see correct battery stats.
Everybody enjoy! If this helped you please hit thanks!
*Thanks to whoever it was that wrote this up in the first place. If I knew who it was I would give proper thanks.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

https://plus.google.com/105051985738280261832/posts/FV3LVtdVxPT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1443108

eollie said:
https://plus.google.com/105051985738280261832/posts/FV3LVtdVxPT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1443108
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could care less what that dude says. I know for a fact my battery reporting has gone funky before during flashing and calibrating it fixed it. For instance, it would say 92% and after a reboot it would change to like 94%.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

I just realized that this would be a non-issue if you're using any roms that get installed using AROMA since the /data partition gets formatted with ext4, it'll also wipe the batterystats.bin file, assuming you didn't do a data backup/restore.

FBis251 said:
I just realized that this would be a non-issue if you're using any roms that get installed using AROMA since the /data partition gets formatted with ext4, it'll also wipe the batterystats.bin file, assuming you didn't do a data backup/restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh. I was unaware of that. Thanks for the info man.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Its actually not good on these batteries to drain them fully. If your battery readings start going crazy, such as losing 20% charge after a simple reboot, one simple wipe of the battery stats should fix that.
The whole process of charging fully before wiping, draining, recharging fully ect... isn't necessary.
I simply wipe stats once (at whatever my current charge is) and go on my way.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Joshhayes801 said:
I could care less what that dude says. I know for a fact my battery reporting has gone funky before during flashing and calibrating it fixed it. For instance, it would say 92% and after a reboot it would change to like 94%.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read through the comments there is some good info. Also this "dude" has boobs so Im sure SHE would rather be called dudette. One more thing, shes also one of the lead programmers on the Android Project.

eollie said:
Read through the comments there is some good info. Also this "dude" has boobs so Im sure SHE would rather be called dudette. One more thing, shes also one of the lead programmers on the Android Project.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Word
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Just got off the phone with Samsung to find out whether or not this battery has a fuel gauge chip and it does not. I've assumed for a long time that it was a smart battery and I was wrong. So fully discharging is a bad idea as there is no chip to reset. As far as resetting the battery stats it won't have an effect on life but may correct reporting errors. I personally used to wipe it and then stopped. I have noticed no difference either way.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

hechoen said:
Just got off the phone with Samsung to find out whether or not this battery has a fuel gauge chip and it does not. I've assumed for a long time that it was a smart battery and I was wrong. So fully discharging is a bad idea as there is no chip to reset. As far as resetting the battery stats it won't have an effect on life but may correct reporting errors. I personally used to wipe it and then stopped. I have noticed no difference either way.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very useful information. Thank you. I will edit the op to reflect this information.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Joshhayes801 said:
I could care less what that dude says. I know for a fact my battery reporting has gone funky before during flashing and calibrating it fixed it. For instance, it would say 92% and after a reboot it would change to like 94%.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, you should at least read a lot to get knowledge about how stuff works... and you obviously did not or you wouldn't call dudette a dude...
unless you have your own custom OS you just fogot step 8 - dance with rain stick around phone when it's charging...

FBis251 said:
I just realized that this would be a non-issue if you're using any roms that get installed using AROMA since the /data partition gets formatted with ext4, it'll also wipe the batterystats.bin file, assuming you didn't do a data backup/restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed Unnamed with Aroma, full wipe(s) no back ups and i'm having an issue sometimes when I reboot with between 60% - 90% I only have 10% - 20% once rebooted. So I would have to say that does not completely hold true even though it does make perfect sense.
So the "calibration" ritual may not actually calibrate the battery but it definitely is useful when having these issues.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Heres the deal doing this DOESNT improve battery life. All it does is get rid of "gremlins" in the file.
Better battery stats (that you can get here on xda) will do this for you each time you plug the phone in.

Isn't it a bad thing to completely discharge lithium ion batteries?

NekoNyapii said:
Isn't it a bad thing to completely discharge lithium ion batteries?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer yes. Detailed answer see post #9.

NekoNyapii said:
Isn't it a bad thing to completely discharge lithium ion batteries?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is. I was unaware of this before but hechoen brought it to my attention and now the op states that you should not fully discharge.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Related

Proper wipe/install procedure for good battery (driver) stats/life

I recall seeing a post within a thread for a kernel or battery life comparison detailing the exact order of ROM/kernel flashing, battery stats wipe, and charging/discharging to get better life. Do you only wipe and flash on a full battery, a dead one, what is it? Does it even matter, and it all evens out over many charge/discharge cycles?
There would seem to be a method that for whatever reason yields the best life.
I did a factory restore made a world of difference for me.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
KRAZYADROIDMASTER said:
I did a factory restore made a world of difference for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 a world of difference
Looking around it seems the best is to wipe battery stats right after flashing a new kernel and only when the battery is at 100%. Letting it run down until shut off and charging it back up a couple of times will give more and more life with each run down. (?)
Will try this.
KRAZYADROIDMASTER said:
I did a factory restore made a world of difference for me.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you factory restore before or after flashing a new ROM?
I flashed the stock Gb 233 rooted update a few days ago and had the best battery life I've ever had ... After a whole day I was still at 72% battery at around 7 pm... this was one moderate use but still I had never had that good battery life ever .. ran it a couple days all was great ... Then I started getting crackflasher withdrawals and changed ... all I ddid was a full wipe factory reset, wiped cache, formatted system, wiped dalvick.... fully charged first of course and wiped battery. Stats... hope this helps...
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Phone stuck at 95%

I have a problem, I'm rootted and I installed many Tom's and I cleared battery stats still nada
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
richielasalsa said:
I have a problem, I'm rootted and I installed many Tom's and I cleared battery stats still nada
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude im sure when you made that title name, it suggested threads where this was answered?
Anyway, it's a samsung feature, stops charging there so not to damage the battery.
If you want to force it, charge to 95%, then set the screen to always on and it will go to 100%
richielasalsa said:
I have a problem, I'm rootted and I installed many Tom's and I cleared battery stats still nada
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
o_o ????
wat
I don't think the extra 5% is worth it. Your battery will heat up toward the end of the charging which will reduce it's lifespan. The developer Ezekiel is actually working on a kernel mod to stop the charge at 80% to improve lifespan even further.
Sent from the future to put right what once went wrong.
Its already made lol and actually if you check the charging plan it gets the hottest and charges the most from like 0-60 and then slows
bedalus said:
I don't think the extra 5% is worth it. Your battery will heat up toward the end of the charging which will reduce it's lifespan. The developer Ezekiel is actually working on a kernel mod to stop the charge at 80% to improve lifespan even further.
Sent from the future to put right what once went wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sent from my nexus s on a kang from simms

[Q] Battery Reset after each flashing to new rom? If yes, how is it done?

Hi
Am I suppose to RESET the battery (or whatever that procedure is called) after I flash to a new ROM?
If yes - how is it done?
Happy thanksgiving - and I give you my thanks
benyben123 said:
Hi
Am I suppose to RESET the battery (or whatever that procedure is called) after I flash to a new ROM?
If yes - how is it done
Happy thanksgiving - and I give you my thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should charge your baterry to 100% and then go to cwm>advanced>batter stats wipe or you can download batterycalibration app
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
I flash different roms all the time and I've never reset my battery stats on this phone and I always get great battery life, easily making it through a day with the stock battery. YMMV but I've never had any issues.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
phburks said:
I flash different roms all the time and I've never reset my battery stats on this phone and I always get great battery life, easily making it through a day with the stock battery. YMMV but I've never had any issues.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still think it's a good habit to have because it does happen occasionally and when it does, people complain that the ROM is the cause when in reality some change was made that somehow affects how the battery is read.
I was in the same boat as you, phburks, until I flashed EB 2.4 and I was convinced it was the ROM that was causing intense battery drain because I never had to wipe battery stats before.
You can simply delete the batterystats.bin from /data/system and it's virtually the same thing as using one of those apps from the market.
LostSoulFly said:
You can simply delete the batterystats.bin from /data/system and it's virtually the same thing as using one of those apps from the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should this be done when the battery is at 100%? And should you let it completely drain once after that?

wiping battery stats DOES improve battery life!!

If people have been wondering...
I got a 3800mah sedio extended battery like a month ago and so far its been better then standard, when i got home i had about 20% more battery then before.
I thought i wiped my battery stats with app but now it turns out it didnt, i wiped it using CMW and i can already see the improvment.
Normally when I would use it for about 30 minutes moderate usage i would be down to about 94%... Now i only go down to aboit 97-98%
Wiping battery stats is the quicker alternative to using a ROM for a while.
Sent from my I727
How would I go about wiping battery stats? Sorry I'm a noob. Phones rooted btw
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Stang5_o2002 said:
How would I go about wiping battery stats? Sorry I'm a noob. Phones rooted btw
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to have CWM installed. Instructions are found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1340526
To the OP, I dont think it would actually improve battery life. When I had a Motorola I had this issue all the time. When I would get to 1% it would sit there for hours. I would wipe batter stats and it would be more accurate. Giving you the illusion that its better.
What a bunch of BS. delete this nonsense thread.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
I personally thought wiping battery states just let's your phone know the exact battery level if it got messed up. So in theory you aren't getting more battery its just your phone now knows the right right battery level. Lol
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
The battery stats is just a file that gives the info in the settings / battery stats .. this is a myth that's been disproved already ..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
Please do a bit more research before believing things
https://plus.google.com/u/0/105051985738280261832/posts/FV3LVtdVxPT
Holy mother.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
When I started out changing ROMs a few months ago, I used to wipe the battery stats and do the full charge/full drain thing. I've since stopped and can't say that I notice any change in how quickly the initial drain goes back to normal (or even that there is a an "initial" and a "normal").
That all said, if there is, in fact, truth to the idea that the battery drain indicator just needs a while to become accurate on a new ROM, it seems entirely likely that wiping stats and doing a full charge/full drain cycle is really only useful because of the full drain part of it providing the ROM time to calibrate.
I believe it has more to do with the physical battery getting juiced properly when you first get your phone. After that a mod shouldn't need to reflex the battery, but wiping the stats would give you a more accurate percent if it seems off.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
Good lord people. What's with the pointless threads? Please Do some research on the subject before posting nonsense.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
http://www.androidcentral.com/wiping-battery-stats-doesnt-improve-battery-life-says-google-engineer
There's an explanation of what the battery stats actually are. Your 'evidence' is purely anecdotal. That's all.
whosgotlag said:
http://www.androidcentral.com/wiping-battery-stats-doesnt-improve-battery-life-says-google-engineer
There's an explanation of what the battery stats actually are. Your 'evidence' is purely anecdotal. That's all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ding ding, we have a winner.
That source is tough to refute too.
Im not sure if its my new battery (generic thats SUPPOSED to have more mAh's) but the new 4.04 battery life just SUCKS. Trying it on the OEM battery to see how it compares after wiping th stats.
Everyone needs to stop responding to this thread! It's already been stated that it is all nonsense, so for the love of god people, stop bumping it!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
Well I WOULD have posted in the devlopment thread, but since Im a N00B and all I have to post my problems somewhere...
custommx3 said:
Im not sure if its my new battery (generic thats SUPPOSED to have more mAh's) but the new 4.04 battery life just SUCKS. Trying it on the OEM battery to see how it compares after wiping th stats.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
generic batteries are garbage
I had the same battery drain on my OEM battery. Flashed back to 2.3.5 and now I have a battery that lasts!

[Q] Need full battery before flashing?

Hey all. Thanks in advance. I have searched.
On my old moment, everyone was absolutely firm that you needed to charge your battery to 100% before flashing a new ROM. If you did not, the battery would lose performance as the ROM would assign 76% (or whatever your battery was at) as the new 100%.
In any case, just wondering if the S3 is the same thing. I would love to flash the new synergy, but I am at 54%... :crying: Some of the posts I have read suggest that I do not have to be at 100% just to have ample charge to make it though the flashing process...
So should I wait until 100%?
Is that the same as resetting your battery stats? If yes, it's been debunked. Flash away.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
ed hit said:
Hey all. Thanks in advance. I have searched.
On my old moment, everyone was absolutely firm that you needed to charge your battery to 100% before flashing a new ROM. If you did not, the battery would lose performance as the ROM would assign 76% (or whatever your battery was at) as the new 100%.
In any case, just wondering if the S3 is the same thing. I would love to flash the new synergy, but I am at 54%... :crying: Some of the posts I have read suggest that I do not have to be at 100% just to have ample charge to make it though the flashing process...
So should I wait until 100%?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I've flashed at like 10% and everything has ran fine, the only problem I would imagine happening is if the battery runs out while flashing.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Thanks to both! I have flashed away!
Hah! I flashed the other day at 3% and didn't catch it till it was already rebooting. Luckily I know that when I flash, which is just just about every day, that it only takes about 1 minute anyways!
Sent using Tapatalk
On the droid x, there's no way to boot into recovery from a powered off state. If you flashed a rom and it didn't work (which happened a lot) and had a low battery, you would either have to charge externally or use a different battery. People would freak when it happened for the first time.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Categories

Resources