Show CartCalibration, or “capacity re-learning”, refers to the process of correcting the tracking errors that occur between the battery and the digital sensing circuit while charging and discharging. The ideal battery application, as far as fuel-gauge accuracy is concerned, is a full charge followed by a full discharge at a constant current. In this case, the tracking error would be less than 1% per cycle. But we know that busy lifestyles and lack of planning result in many of us allowing a battery to discharge for only a few minutes at a time, which doesn’t allow a full discharge to take place. Long storage also contributes to errors because the circuit cannot accurately compensate for self-discharge. Eventually, the true capacity of the battery no longer synchronizes with the fuel gauge and a full charge and discharge (calibration) is needed to “re-learn” the battery.
Calibration is recommended once every three months or after every 40 short cycles. If your battery undergoes periodic full discharges as part of regular use, then this planned, periodic calibration is unnecessary. However, if you are like most of us, and our portable devices run through many short cycles, and no discharge reset has occurred for a few months, a deliberate full discharge is needed.
This can be done on a charger with a discharge function or a battery analyzer.