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Thread ID: 50267 2004-10-15 12:10:00 Off Topic- Phone battery queries from an ignoramus Laura (43) Press F1
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281362 2004-10-15 12:10:00 This post breaks all of the rules about declaring your hardware & software - simply because I don't know...
My sister, who lives in Auckland, left today for more than 3 weeks in China.
There is a faint chance that a sick relative in Dunedin may die while she's away. If so, I need to contact her to return for a funeral.
She has a fairly up-to-date mobile she bought for emergencies, but hasn't needed to use. So she doesn't know much about what it will & won't do.
I have no idea what model this phone is (I have no mobile, so am even more ignorant) but do know she has organised Vodaphone Roaming stuff, as the places she is staying in may not only be hard for me to track down, but may not have many English-speakers.
I checked time differences on the Net yesterday & we arranged a test run tonight, when she's in Singapore en route -5 hours behind us.
I got her on the 3rd attempt ( she had trouble working it out) & we tried to establish a time frame for her to turn her phone on for a while each night - just in case I needed to speak to her .
That's when I found she hasn't taken the battery charger with her.
She says she bought a lithium battery - and seems to have faith in its life for an hour a day for 34 days.
What I want to know is - is that realistic?
Or can't you tell without knowing the model of phone?
(Plus presumably if I phone her with progress reports & we talk in that one hour a day, that will flatten her battery?)
Any help gratefully received by this non-mobile person.
Laura (43)
281363 2004-10-15 13:02:00 I suppose I charge my battery about once every 6 days and it is on 24/7. If she doesn't play games and only talks briefly in that one hour per day she should have no trouble as long as it was fully charged when she left. Some phones will accept alkaline batteries but not many. mikebartnz (21)
281364 2004-10-15 14:02:00 Thanks Mike for your reply.
Well, she sure won't be playing games (Like doesn't in NZ )
And who would waste time on that with the chance to visit China?
So where do alkaline batteries come in?
She says she bought a lithium.
Now I'm getting confused.
Laura (43)
281365 2004-10-15 18:09:00 Laura,

The enterprising folk in singsing, and chukoko, have coppies of ever charger on earth.

I am sure the hotel staff can help her get a cheap spare, that will work on her travels.

D.
drb1 (4492)
281366 2004-10-15 18:51:00 a cheap spare charger,a dozen phones,a rolex,400 dvd'd yet to be released and a bowl of plain rice all for 12c. metla (154)
281367 2004-10-15 19:19:00 I think everyone's on the right track here. No doubt there are dusty lanes in the wop wops that haven't got broadband but China is now modern. Buy another cellphone, or a dozen, like metla says :D mark c (247)
281368 2004-10-15 19:30:00 Metla,

NOOO NOOO you too pensive , YOOU SELLL me for 9C NOW, chlop chlop.

D.
drb1 (4492)
281369 2004-10-15 20:33:00 Hi Laura,

I got a new mobile for my wife last month, (yes I know it was a good trade). But seriously she doesn't use it much as nobody knows the number yet, it is on continually and lasts for 14 days, so I'm sure you should be fine as long as she is within the coverage zone.
Hope all works out well.

Pibs
Pibs (1560)
281370 2004-10-16 07:38:00 Thanks Everyone
Between the lot of you, you've reassured me I don't have to worry about flat batteries.
Laura (43)
281371 2004-10-16 09:37:00 We assume that the phone has a lithium-ion battery here, as they have a self-discharge rate of about 5% or more per month, in addition to use.

If its a NiMh (Nickel Metal Hydride) battery that can be as high as 20 - 30% per month. This discharge occurs even with the phone off and the battery removed. I would not always expect a useable phone after a month with NiMh and an occasional use.
godfather (25)
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