Datasheet

15
Chapter 1: Beginning at the Beginning
You’ll hear all kinds of “battery lore” out there that’s left over from ear-
lier battery technologies. For example, lithium-ion batteries don’t have a
“memory” like NiCad batteries did. So, you don’t have to be careful to allow
the battery to fully discharge before recharging it.
Your phone comes with at least one battery charger. When it comes to charg-
ing, Windows Phone 7 devices can be very different from one manufacturer
and cellular carrier to the next. In addition to the battery charger that comes
in the box with the phone, you may have several other charging options:
✓ Wall charger: A wall charger plugs in to the power port on your phone
and allows you to charge the phone from a standard electrical outlet.
Unplug the battery charger when you aren’t charging your phone. If you
leave the charger plugged in, there will be a small but continuous draw
of power.
✓ Travel charger: What distinguishes a travel charger from a regular wall
charger is that the prongs fold in to the wall bug (the plug that you stick
into the outlet). Some manufacturers ship a travel charger with the
phone; others don’t.
✓ Car charger: A car charger lets you charge your phone from an outlet in
your car (sometimes from your cigarette lighter).
✓ Fuel cell or photocell charger: Several companies make products that
can charge your phone if you don’t have access to a wall outlet or a car
outlet.
Only buy a charger that is designed to work with your Windows Phone and
that comes from a reputable manufacturer. A cheaper alternative to what you
can buy at the cellular store is not necessarily a bargain. Cheap chargers may
physically fit in the charging port on your phone and may charge the phone,
but lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to voltage, and your off-brand charger
may hurt the performance of your battery.
High heat shortens the life of your battery. Be careful not to leave your phone
on your car’s dashboard. In general, if you keep your phone with you —
except when you sit in a sauna or sweat lodge — you’ll be safe.
If you take good care of it, your battery should last about two years with a
drop in performance of about 25 percent from the condition it was in when
you took it out of the box. At that point, you can replace the battery or
upgrade to the newest Windows Phone.
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