iPod "Storage"
[184 byte] By [sonorsven] at [2007-11-9 12:08:00] 
I will be away from my iPod for 3 months! :( What should I do with my iPod when it is not used? Should I leave it plugged into an AC outlet or just turn it off (sleep mode)? Thanks.
# 1 Re: iPod "Storage"
myself i would just leave it unplugged in a safe place. the battery will be drained when you get home, but i would think that one the battery is drained, nothing bad could happen to it. i'd be alittle worried about leaving it plugged in for that long, even though nothing bad could happen, there would be more chances for something bad to happen it it had juice running through it
why so long without your pod? i would think you could take it anywhere with an AC outlet! rainforest?
dean0 at 2007-11-15 14:17:24 >
# 2 Re: iPod "Storage"
Not the rain forrest...that would be a nice trip though. I'm touring the country playing in a Drum Corps and am very afraid of it getting stolen and/or damaged. My mp3 CD player will have to suffice until the season is over. :(sonorsven at 2007-11-15 14:18:23 >
# 3 Re: iPod "Storage"
I would definately keep it unplugged out of fear that a power surge could end up getting it if I was gone that long. Although, it is unlikely to happen, it is better to be a little safer.Alyoshka at 2007-11-15 14:19:22 >
# 4 Re: iPod "Storage"
Although Apple recommends in this Knowledge Base article (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61385) the following:Charge the battery every 14 to 18 days when not in use. Even when iPod is off, it is in a sleeping state that requires power. Without use, iPod's battery needs to be charged about every 14 to 18 days to be ready for use.
I would definitely leave my iPod unplugged and in a cool, dry, safe place if I had to leave it unused for 3 months. Apple's recommendation is simply to insure that iPod is "ready for use", not to protect it from harm or anything. After all, what about if one sits on store shelf (or in a warehouse) for three months? Not that they don't sell quickly enough! ;)
Tom
tntracy at 2007-11-15 14:20:27 >
# 5 Re: iPod "Storage"
Originally posted by sonorsven Not the rain forrest...that would be a nice trip though. I'm touring the country playing in a Drum Corps and am very afraid of it getting stolen and/or damaged. My mp3 CD player will have to suffice until the season is over. :(
too bad, but better safe than sorry, at least you'll have your music (and be making music by the sound of it)
dean0 at 2007-11-15 14:21:26 >
# 6 Re: iPod "Storage"
Originally posted by sonorsven Not the rain forrest...that would be a nice trip though. I'm touring the country playing in a Drum Corps and am very afraid of it getting stolen and/or damaged. My mp3 CD player will have to suffice until the season is over. :(
Kind of off topic, but which corps are you marching with? I'm going to guess the Colts since you're in Iowa. What do you play? Is this your first year? If so, you're in for an amazing summer. I marched baritone in the Phantom Regiment back in '96 and that was probably the greatest experience of my life. I only wish I could have afforded to do it more than one year.
Good luck this summer and be sure not to forget your sunscreen. :) I'll cheer for you in San Antonio.
wickerbill at 2007-11-15 14:22:28 >
# 7 Re: iPod "Storage"
Lithium Ion batteries don't like to be run flat.I'd go to Home Depot and pick up a light timer switch. It's the kind of thing that you plug a table lamp into, set it and it turns on the light at a preset time of day for a set amount of time. Set the timer to turn on once a day for about 15 or so minutes to top off the iPods charge. To be safe, you could plug the timer into a surge supressor. Be sure to activate the "Hold" switch as well.
clintb at 2007-11-15 14:23:32 >
# 8 Re: iPod "Storage"
Originally posted by clintb Lithium Ion batteries don't like to be run flat.
I'd go to Home Depot and pick up a light timer switch. It's the kind of thing that you plug a table lamp into, set it and it turns on the light at a preset time of day for a set amount of time. Set the timer to turn on once a day for about 15 or so minutes to top off the iPods charge. To be safe, you could plug the timer into a surge supressor. Be sure to activate the "Hold" switch as well.
Now, that's a good idea!
Tom
tntracy at 2007-11-15 14:24:24 >
# 9 Re: iPod "Storage"
little more expensive than "put it in a cool dry place" ;)but once it runs out of juice, isn't the damage done? i've unfortunately run my ipod out of juice on a couple occasions, and i know that it is not the best for it, but once it runs out, does it matter if it's for a couple hours, or a couple months? my ipod didn't come with a charge, does that mean that the entire time it was waiting on the shelf for me to pick it up it was slowly dieing?
dean0 at 2007-11-15 14:25:34 >
# 10 Re: iPod "Storage"
Lamp timers are only around $5 for a cheapie and around $20 for a digital with 15 programs. I'd say $5 is very cheap for the insurance it provides. I won't however say that I know how much damage will occur if you leave a Lion battery without a charge. If you really want to know about batteries, go to www.rcuniverse.com and check out the battery forum. Yes, it's for radio controlled vehicles, but those guys with airplanes are trusting a cheap battery for the safety of a multi-thousand dollar bird. You bet they know what's good and bad for batteries! They've got a bit more invested than what we've got in an iPod.clintb at 2007-11-15 14:26:34 >
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