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View Full Version : HERM100 (ATT 8525) - Sudden Battery Drain, 3G turning on without user interaction.


ToastJDK
17th March 2009, 04:29 AM
I recently acquired an AT&T Tilt for myself and an 8525 (HERM100) for my wife. Since getting the 8525 there were issues with the battery being depleted quicker than one would generally expect - the battery going from 100% to 0% in less than 3 hours with most of the time spent in an idle state.

I figured it might be a software issue and decided to look for a ROM that is reasonably power efficient. Using the WM6.1 BENCHMARKS (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=419530) thread I decided on loading PDACornerPro V27 RBSN 3G. Additionally I disabled 3G connectivity as we don't have data plans for the devices and have no need to run the more power hungry radios. I also diabled all the device's data connections using Modaco NoData so nothing would be triggered inadvertanly. I also ran the Battlog (http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-battlog.html) utility to get a record of general power consumption; idling w/ the screen dimmed/off at about 30ma, while running application it would top out at about 170ma. I was satisfied with this improvement as with 'normal' usage the phone could easily last the majority of the day without needing a charge (which was the goal), so I gave the device back to my wife to use again. The device was left idle for the remainder of the night, by morning it was dead. I checked the battlog utility's log and found that shortly after leaving the device to idle for the night it's power consumption jumped up to around 470ma, depleting the battery very quickly.

I verified that 3G was still off and that there were no unnecessary processes or applicaitons running in the background. No matter what I did the power consumption remained around 360 - 470ma. I finally decided to give it a rest and I pulled the battery from the 8525 and left it alone for about an hour (gave me some time to relax from the fustration). When I returned I reinstalled the battery and powered up the device, I checked Comm Manager and found 3G on again; I turned it off and I checked the Battlog utility and found that the power usage levels returned to the aformentioned 30 - 170ma. The following day this happened again - same jump in to the 400+ma range and after having the battery out for ~20 minutes power usage returned to normal; the only difference this time was that 3G had not inadvertanly been reinabled.

Any ideas on what would trigger the dramitic increase in power usage (an how one might prevent it) and why letting the phone sit in a powerless state for ~20 minutes would correct it?

Recap of the device:
ATT 8525 (HERM100)
ROM: PDACornerPro V27 RBSN 3G
Radio: 1.54.07.00 (Stock)
SPL: Olipro 2.30
Battery: HERM160 (3.7VDC, 1300mAh) & HERM161 (3.7VDC, 1350mAh) *tested with both batteries, same results.

Thanks for any insight you can provide. Attached is a zip with Battlog's log file of the first occurence of this problem in text format as well as in an xls file.

micheo
26th June 2009, 09:48 PM
Well, i did experience something similliar with a touch pro. Suddenly battery consumption increases like hell. I believe it happens, when changing cells of your provider. E.g. the device switches between GPRS and 3G back and force, because you are just in between. So, maybe this activates the SIM card - which would consume more power - I guess. I am not an expert for this. But I could observe sudden massive power drains when moving in a train or even in my flat, where one side is more GPRS and the other more 3G. You can watch e.g. by using http://www.commmgrpro.com/. There is a "save battery" mode. Ok. But this are just my non techie thoughts. Pls. post, if you got a solution.

Tada1228
28th June 2009, 09:43 PM
Hey I have exactly the same problem as you do. I just recently bought this phone on ebay, and I charged it full and left it idle for 2 days. I come back and the battery is completely drained. Also, the 3g icon keeps showing up. All I hope for is that this isnt a hardware problem.

FRAGEYE
10th July 2009, 09:54 PM
Same for me battery drains far too quick, maybe the batteries are slowly dieing, i have seen the other more powerful batteries what last a lot longer, i think my option is to ebay for a battery of twice the power. There is just so much going on with all the tech on the pda's i suppose these batteries just can't hack it. Like i say short life length on them.