Optimizing Battery Life
Proper care extends the battery’s life, keeps it operating at optimum efficiency, and preserves the
highest possible storage capacity. Please observe the following.
Charge the battery fully before using Dark Fire. Even if Dark Fire seems charged upon
arrival, that was done for testing at the factory. Initially charge Dark Fire for at least an hour.
Caution: Do not use any charger other than the one supplied with Dark Fire. Li-Ion
batteries require specific charge rates..
Avoid full discharges that drain the battery completely. Li-Ion batteries like to be
discharged somewhat, then recharged back to full capacity. Dark Fire provides a good
environment for Li-Ion batteries, as you’ll typically discharge it about halfway during the length
of a concert. Charging the battery back to full charge after playing provides optimum battery
life.
Avoid elevated temperatures. You don’t want to expose any guitar to high temperatures, but
this also shortens battery life dramatically.
Store the battery properly. If you won’t be playing Dark Fire for several weeks or more),
discharge the battery partway (about 40-50% of its full charge), remove the battery, and store it
in a cool, but not cold, place. Do not store the battery either fully charged or fully discharged.
Either one can shorten battery life considerably.
After taking a battery out of storage, charge it fully before playing Dark Fire. This
promotes longer battery life.
Once the battery is fully charged, disconnect the charger. Li-Ion batteries are “smart” and
you can’t really overcharge them. However, leaving them connected to a charger when fully
charged uses power unnecessarily.
These tips don’t necessarily apply to laptop computers. Even if a laptop uses an Li-Ion
battery, there are computer-specific considerations. Follow the computer manufacturer’s
instructions for proper laptop battery care.
Tech Tip: About Charge/Discharge Cycles
An Li-Ion battery is typically rated for 300-500 charge/discharge cycles. In other words, you can
discharge the battery at least 300 times and charge it back up again before its useful life is over.
If you play Dark Fire and discharge it 50% during a concert, then charge it to full capacity, that is only
half of a charge/discharge cycle. If you play Dark Fire every day and discharge it to 75% of capacity
then charge it back to 100%, it would take four days before the battery would experience a full
charge/discharge cycle.
However, a battery has a finite life regardless of whether you’ve used up the full number of
charge/discharge cycles—after about 2-3 years its internal resistance rises to the point where it can
no longer deliver its rated voltage.
It’s important to remember that Li-Ion batteries like “exercise.” Leaving a battery on a charger all the
time will lead to lower performance than doing some degree of charging and discharging.
Gibson Dark Fire 4.0 manual, page 21
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