Inaccurate battery reading, won't charge to 100% - like many others, I need help

[Badmeat]

I've seen a LOT of people having this issue, on multiple forums, and yet to find a fix that works for myself and several other TB users. My phone never charges to 100%, and the 'green' LED light never turns on. I've made posts on TeamBAMF, DroidForums.net, and Android Central...no one has a fix...

The conclusion that I've came to, as of today, is that my phone is mis-reading the voltage on my battery, regardless of the battery (I have the stock TB, extended TB, and Rezound batteries). All three have the same issue, the phone reads a max of approximately 4000mv (according to the batt. calibration app) and won't charge past there. On the Rezound battery, which I've had for roughly a week, it's reading that voltage and near 80-85% max.
Today, I found an odd discovery though. My phone was reading roughly 53% on the way home from work, so I plugged it into the car charger and periodically checked my Battery Calibration app to monitor voltage. The voltage peaked at 57% where it was at 4009mv. It stayed at 57% for some time(15-20 minutes), then, as the battery percentage started to climb again, the MV reading dropped below 4000. The battery % climbed up to around 65%, without the voltage climbing with it before I unplugged it, knowing it wasn't doing any good.

Once I got home, I plugged the phone into the charger, while powered off.....booted it up roughly an hour later, and the phone read 84% at just under 4000mv. I pulled the battery and checked it on my voltmeter. It read 4170mv. I put it back into the phone, rebooted, to double check.....it read around 3930mv. That's the discrepancy in the voltage reading...nearly 200mv!

I am rooted via Revolutionary, running BAMF 1.0.8 as of last week, but this issue has been occuring since right around when the Gingerbread update hit my phone 3-4 weeks ago. I didn't decide to root my phone (4th Android that I've rooted) until the battery charging issue did not go away, and I read that it may need calibrated, which requires rooting.

Here are my findings so far:

-Chargers are not the issue. I've used an HTC charger, Motorola charger, Blackberry charger, and car charger
-Batteries are not the issue. I've used the standard, extended, and Rezound batteries.
-Rooting vs. stock is not the issue. The phone wasn't charging to 100% before and after root.
-Charging powered on vs. powered off is not the issue. The phone never has the green LED turn on, whether on or off while charging.
-Bump charging does not get it past 4000mv.

I've tried the battery calibration, when my phone read 87%, even though it says to wait until 100% charged, which mine will not get to. Should I try this again, through Clockworkmod Recovery, after validating with the voltmeter that it is 100% charged? It should be a 4220mv reading at 100% charge, correct?

Other than that, which I'm going to begin tonight, what are your thoughts/suggestions?

I'm determined to find a fix for this, other than sending my phone in for a warranty replacement, and could use any insight available.

Thanks in advance.

[Ads]

[plumcrazy]

i have determined you gave this too much thought...lol

[Badmeat]

i have determined you gave this too much thought...lol

No one has a solution...it's insane. All of these Thunderbolt users and people making custom ROMs that can do about anything, and no one knows how to fix a battery reading lol. I'm not a programmer, or I'd attempt to dive in and find the issue.

My OP just goes to show how much this damn issue bothers me. I'm on TB #3, I don't wanna go to phone #4...

[plumcrazy]

#4 here. go for it, join the club

[Apex]

When you boot up or reboot the phone it drops about 5-7 percent.

Sent from my HTC ThunderBolt using Tapatalk

[Badmeat]

When you boot up or reboot the phone it drops about 5-7 percent.

Sent from my HTC ThunderBolt using Tapatalk

Please read my entire post before commenting. Your point is null.

Thank you.

[Apex]

Once I got home, I plugged the phone into the charger, while powered off.....booted it up roughly an hour later, and the phone read 84% at just under 4000mv. I pulled the battery and checked it on my voltmeter. It read 4170mv. I put it back into the phone, rebooted, to double check.....it read around 3930mv. That's the discrepancy in the voltage reading...nearly 200mv

The phone drains the battery when you reboot. If you knew this already you failed to mention it so i chimed in.

Sent from my HTC ThunderBolt using Tapatalk

[Badmeat]

The point is the phone is reading the battery voltage incorrectly. Before powering on, the battery tested 4170mv. After powered on, it read 3930mv on the phone. Fully charged, the battery reads ~4200mv. The phone shuts down once it reaches ~3700mv.

A 240mv drop after powering on is 48% of the battery capacity, not 5-7%. Again, your point is null.

[dharel1705]

Calibrate your battery as such, wipe battery stats, then please report back:

(1) Turn device ON, charge it for 8 hours (or until LED turns green), (2) unplug and turn it OFF, plug it back in and charge for 1 hour (or until LED turns green), (3) unplug and turn it ON, wait 2 minutes, turn it OFF, plug it back in, and charge for 1 hour (or until LED turns green), (4) unplug it, turn it ON, and use normally.

Also, HTC has a safety feature built into their charging logic to prevent overcharging. Without bump charging and calibrating, the phone will never actually charge to full capacity. Sounds irrational, but it is true.

Lastly, full mv on my phone/battery is 4206.

[Badmeat]

Thanks. Here's what I've done so far- the phone was charged, while off, and the battery periodically checked with a voltmeter. Until no voltage increases thru 15 minute intervals was found. Phone was started into recovery, wiped of battery stats, powered on, and I've been using it normally since. Once its dead, I'll charge it until it can power on, then run your steps listed below.

Calibrate your battery as such, wipe battery stats, then please report back:

(1) Turn device ON, charge it for 8 hours (or until LED turns green), (2) unplug and turn it OFF, plug it back in and charge for 1 hour (or until LED turns green), (3) unplug and turn it ON, wait 2 minutes, turn it OFF, plug it back in, and charge for 1 hour (or until LED turns green), (4) unplug it, turn it ON, and use normally.

Also, HTC has a safety feature built into their charging logic to prevent overcharging. Without bump charging and calibrating, the phone will never actually charge to full capacity. Sounds irrational, but it is true.

Lastly, full mv on my phone/battery is 4206.

I'm assuming step four is where the battery stats would need to be cleared in your description above?