More of Those “Understanding How Your iPod Nano Battery Works”: Battery Degradation

From the time you unpack that sleek tiny work of wonder called the iPod nano from its equally sleek box (the package itself is already a sight to behold) and plug it to begin charging, your iPod nano battery life begins to deteriorate.  This is because its activation is stimulated either by connecting the battery to a device, charging, opening a battery or any action that would set off a chemical reaction.  A closed pathway, meaning current and the electrons flow through the device to the positive electrode.  This electrochemical reaction that replenishes the electrons is the actual creation of electrical energy.

After this initial action, (first incidence of electrochemical reaction) battery degradation starts and nothing can stop it anymore whether you use your battery or not.  Meaning, using your iPod sparingly is not the issue.  The point is, you bought it so you can use it, right?  Besides, if you just keep your battery and not use it for months or years, it would still continue to degenerate and will not function according to specifications because of age. 

Your iPod nano battery was made to be used to power your device, and by your using it, you are consuming its natural life.  And it is destined to expire as it is simply the designed life cycle of your battery.  So, whether you use it or not, it would expire.  What matters here is about how you use your battery.  Do you overwork it by your constant manual operation? (backlights turning on more often, alarms on, equalizer on, fast)

To sum it up, constant use of your battery’s accessories and other functions, large uncompressed audio and video files stored for playing (below 9Mb is recommended), constant and unnecessary exposure to heat, etc. are the main enemies of your battery.  This makes it expire earlier than expected.

While we have presented here that over time, your iPod nano battery degrades and eventually dies, and that the more complex reasons for its being so is way beyond user control under ordinary circumstances.  The concepts of Declining Capacity, Increasing Internal Resistance, Elevated Self-discharge, and premature Voltage Cut-off on Discharge are the primary factors that cause battery degradation and power loss.  These are programmed internal specifications that determines the blue print of any battery’s destiny.

Declining Capacity is when the amount of charge a battery can hold gradually decreases due to usage, aging, and with some malfunctioning internal chemistry of the battery.  When your battery’s capacity has reached below 80%, it means you have used its practical life.  Most devices could no longer detect a battery with less than 80% capacity.

Loss of charge acceptance of your iPod nano battery is due to cell oxidation when cells of the battery lose their electrons.  Every time you use your battery a loss of charge acceptance occurs (which is what it is supposed to do) to allow your battery to power your device. 

Internal resistance, known as impedance, determines the performance and runtime of a battery.  The aging of the battery cells, not usage, contributes primarily to the increase in resistance.  Elevated self-discharge is inherent in all batteries.  It discharges power even when not in use (notice that after prolonged storage of your iPod without usage, you find the battery empty?)  Higher temperatures, age and usage, increase self-discharge.  Another consideration is Premature voltage cut-off.  This factor actually is more equipment-related than battery related.