Charging rules
If you start using a fitness tracker, you need to learn some rules for recharging on forums or from videos so that you don’t have problems in the future. The device comes with a special cable that should be connected to a power source. To do this, connect to a power source, such as a wall outlet or PC.
The manufacturers themselves say that it is better to charge the bracelet from a computer. Mi Band 3 should be connected to it using a USB cable. The device is recharged at a voltage of 5V. It takes about 3 hours to fully recharge in this way.
To charge the watch correctly from a power outlet, you will need the same charger that came with the device. The bracelet charges similarly to a regular smartphone.
The third way to recharge is to use a wireless Power Bank. Manufacturers and tracker owners note that this charging method significantly reduces the discharge rate, which is why the Mi Band 3 can function for a longer time.
How to charge correctly
To properly charge the bracelet, just read the user instructions included in the kit. It says in black and white:
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
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“Charge your Mi Band as soon as the low battery indicator lights up. It takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery."
Where else is it more accessible? The battery icon flashed (appears when there is 10% charge remaining) - connected. Charged - turned off. The charge level can be monitored using the display built into the bracelet or using a mobile application installed on a smartphone.
But we are not looking for easy ways, and therefore we go to the Internet, start raking up the trash and reading all kinds of horror stories and cleverness. After just 15 minutes of searching, you can find so many myths that it’s terrifying. Let's look at the main ones.
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask a Question
Popular questions and myths with expert comments
Do not discharge the battery below 20%
Yes, lithium-ion (including polymer) batteries do not like deep discharge, but where does this figure come from? 20% is a fifth of the battery capacity!
We charge the battery to 80% of its capacity
Lithium-ion batteries do not like to be overcharged, but it will begin (if it starts at all - more on that below) only after reaching full capacity - 100%. But we stubbornly discharge at least 20%, and charge up to 80%, having read stupid horror films. Then we go to the forum and are indignant that instead of the stated 20 days, our gadget works for a week - and asks for charging. Why wouldn’t he ask if we only use 60% of the useful battery capacity?!
The gadget has no charge limit
That is, if you leave it in the outlet for more than 2 hours, the battery will recharge. Well, we sit with a stopwatch in our hands, with bated breath we watch the indicator of the state of charge of our pet - after all, a lithium battery when overcharged can not only break, but also explode. But we are sitting in vain, since there is a controller in the watch and there has never been a case where the Xiaomi Mi Band 3, left to charge all night, exploded. Those who don’t believe it connect their bracelet through, say, a USB tester and observe that the current decreases during charging, and as soon as the battery is 100% charged, it becomes zero. Well, whoever is too lazy to buy a tester, but can’t take my word for it, should stock up on stopwatches and hourglasses.
You only need to charge from USB
As if the manufacturer recommends it. Where does he recommend? From what sources does this wild information come? The voltage on the USB port, network adapter and power bank (working, of course) is the same - 5 V. This means that the charging current for the same gadget (in our example, a fitness bracelet) is the same. And such myths are launched by the same “bloggers”, some of whom are completely unfamiliar with electronics and prefer to fantasize, while others (also not in the subject) simply copy what they find - if only there were more letters. Using a personal computer to charge a fitness bracelet when you have an AC adapter at hand is like hammering nails with a microscope.
You only need to charge from a power bank
Well, this supposedly also recommends it. An absolutely wild explanation, in which horses and people, current and voltage are mixed. You see, the computer port produces 500 mA of current! And the deadliest power bank, I’m afraid to ask, how much? Whoever has the Bank at hand, read the output power (this is precisely the load capacity, and not the “output” current) - it is written near the USB power bank socket. Load capacity of power bank ports 2.4 and 3 A
You can charge from the mains only with an adapter that delivers a current of up to 700 mA
Firstly, why is it not possible from a PC or laptop that “produces” a current of 500 mA (see above), but from a network adapter with a power of 700 mA is it possible? And secondly, all these 500, 700, 1,000 mA, etc. are not the “output” current, but the load capacity of the port or adapter, which is in no way related to the charging current. This parameter on adapters and power banks means HOW MUCH CURRENT THE device CAN PRODUCE. So, do we have a network adapter or power bank with a load capacity of 3 A and an output voltage of 5 V? Feel free to connect and charge. The fitness bracelet will take the current it needs. Those who don’t believe and have the money buy a USB tester or connect their bracelet through a multimeter in current measurement mode.
Such pearls and miracles can be listed endlessly. Here you need to store the bracelet in the freezer (in all seriousness!), charge it less often, and turn it on infrequently so that the battery lasts longer.
Does anyone know that lithium batteries age even if they are not used? Accordingly, there is no point in getting too carried away with “saving” their resource, much less sticking them in the freezer, knowingly killing the battery and the gadget itself with your own hands.
First charge
If you are planning to buy this device, then you need to know that the device arrives in stores in a discharged state. Immediately after purchase, charging should continue for at least 2 hours. The device must be connected to an energy source. You can tell that charging is in progress by reading “Charging” on the display.
When the process is complete, it should change to “Fully charged”. The device must be charged to maximum for the first time. Thanks to this, the battery is prepared for further work, and the battery life also increases.
You need to know how long the device should be charged. Third generation watches do not have overcharging protection, which is why the process should not last longer than 3 hours. If you do not follow this rule, then the battery will malfunction in the future.
How long to charge Mi Band 4
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 fitness bracelet can hold a charge for more than 20 days, but it happens that it still runs out of charge. As experience of use and reviews from owners have shown, it takes just under 2 hours to charge the Mi Band 4 to 100%; keeping the watch on charge longer is not recommended. You can, of course, charge the bracelet overnight, but this gradually kills the battery, so if you want the bracelet to serve you for a long time, then keep an eye on the charging time.
How to check the charge
This device from Chinese manufacturers has a button and a touch screen. With their help, you can find out the amount of battery charge. When turned on, you need to press the button and look at the display. If the level is not visible, you can find it by swiping from bottom to top.
When the device is turned off, the battery icon on the screen will indicate that it is low. If the picture blinks, it is charging. When the watch is fully charged, the display will show a full battery - 100%.
What you need to know about the Mi Band tracker
The third version of the Xiaomi Band has a fairly capacious 110 mAh battery, which is why it holds a charge for so long. But you shouldn’t blindly rely on the bracelet’s long battery life. It is better to make it a rule to regularly check your battery level. How do you know when you need to charge your Mi Band?
The general rules for using mobile electronic devices dictate that it is extremely undesirable to allow a situation where the battery is completely discharged. In the same way, charging your device 100% every time for the battery will also not be useful. Most manufacturers advise connecting devices to a power source when the charge level drops to 10%. To save battery life, it is enough to charge it to 85–90%. These recommendations also apply to Mi Band bracelets.
Where can I see how many percent the fitness tracker battery is charged or discharged? First of all, on the bracelet itself. It has a screen and a button at the bottom of the screen. Clicking the button activates the screen and displays the data the user has recently viewed. By swiping from bottom to top, the data scrolls to the menu for the pedometer, then swipe to the right, and information about the charge level appears. If the smart bracelet is paired via Bluetooth with a phone, then this information can be found on the phone in the Mi Fit application.
How to charge without native charger
Any original cable can break or get lost. The bracelet can continue to work, but for this you need to do some steps. One of the good ways to charge at home is to use additional wires.
No special effort is required here. You just need to follow the steps consistently and correctly:
- Take the USB cable;
- Strip the red and black wire;
- Press the wires tightly to the contacts of the tracker;
- Connect your device to your computer.
How to extend the life of a bracelet battery: useful tips
Having learned how to properly charge a fitness bracelet, you should also pay attention to how to extend the battery life:
- Do not use non-original memory. Yes, you can charge your watch without the original charger, but it’s still better to do it using the included cord;
- connect the tracker to the charger correctly. When connecting the device to charging, try not to press the elements against each other or move the cord;
- optimize battery charge. This is a very important procedure that allows you to extend not only autonomy, but also battery life. Here are a few recommendations: increase the interval for automatic heart rate measurement, lower the brightness of the screen in the room, do not connect the device to several programs at the same time, and also use mostly standard watch faces, and not those created by you.
If it's not charging
If you cannot recharge the fitness bracelet, then you need to check the following points:
- Make sure that you are using the charging adapter that comes with the device;
- If you use a laptop or PC for charging, you need to check that the cable is inserted into the appropriate port and does not come away from it;
- If an adapter is used for charging, you must ensure that its reading is no more than 700 mA;
- To check that the cable is working properly, you need to connect it to another power source, for example, to a Power Bank or laptop. If the bracelet does not charge even after this, then the contacts should be wiped with a lint-free alcohol wipe. If the method does not help, then the problem lies in a cable fault.
If the cable stops working and the situation has not changed after these checks, you will have to visit a service center where they will diagnose the device.
How to charge a Xiaomi fitness bracelet for the first time
As a rule, smartwatches are delivered completely discharged, especially if you bought them from Chinese platforms. Therefore, first of all, the device must be connected to power. To do this, connect one end of the charging cable to the capsule, and the other can be connected to a computer, power bank, laptop or power supply. Any unit will do; the more powerful it is, the faster the gadget will charge.
Note! The first time the battery is charged to 100%. This is necessary to warm up the battery and ensure its better functioning in the future.
During subsequent charges, you do not have to keep the gadget connected to the network until it reaches 100% (this will wear out the battery faster). You can disconnect the charging cord when the gadget reaches 85–90%.
If you actively use GPS and other functions of the bracelet, then it is better, of course, that it replenishes the power to 100%.
Charging Tips
When purchasing a watch, please note that the maximum recommended duration for connecting it to a power source is 3 hours. If you keep your device connected to the network for longer, there is a risk that the battery capacity will decrease. This will lead to its gradual failure.
You also need to consider the battery characteristics before connecting the fitness bracelet to a power source. The device can work for 5-30 days without recharging, which depends on the intensity of use: use of a heart rate monitor, stopwatch and other functions. However, it is not recommended to charge the bracelet when the battery level is more than 20%.
From the outlet
This method is less preferable. In order for the fitness bracelet to work for a long time, it is recommended to use a cable with a USB plug to connect it to a power source. In exceptional circumstances, the bracelet can be charged from mains voltage, but for this you need to use a special charger, for example, from Xiaomi Redmi 4x. It is distinguished by the presence of a plug for connecting to an outlet. A USB plug is connected to it.
When necessary, the cable is used without a plug. Conversely, you can replace the plug at any time. As a result, they get a full-fledged charger for working from the network. On one side of the cable there is a plug for connecting to the watch capsule, which is first removed from the bracelet.
From powerbank
This option is more suitable for using a bracelet. If you study consumer reviews, you can note that thanks to a portable battery, the battery life of the fitness bracelet increases. This is due to the fact that the watch charges when a minimum current is supplied. As a result, the bracelet charges correctly, thereby improving the battery parameters of this device. It holds a charge longer under the same load.
The battery capacity in most cases does not exceed 100 mAh. When connected to small devices, the Powerbank switches to the mode of supplying minimum current to the port. You should purchase an autonomous power supply with a capacity of up to 1000 mAh. This will be enough to recharge the bracelet multiple times - up to 8-9 times. Moreover, the cost of such a battery will be minimal. A laptop, tablet, smartphone and other relatively large devices cannot be charged with its help.
From USB
In this case, the device connects to any mobile gadget that has a USB connector on its body. This will allow you to connect the tracker as soon as the need arises. However, it is important to remember that the charge level of a mobile gadget also gradually decreases. It is recommended to avoid situations where the battery of a laptop or tablet is almost empty. If you connect other equipment to the device at this time, the battery capacity will decrease.
First charge after purchase
The battery charge of new devices is in most cases below 50%. This allows you to preserve the properties of the autonomous power source and increase its service life. After purchase, you must immediately recharge the bracelet. To do this, use the cable included in the kit. The capsule is removed from the case and connected to USB (gadget or power bank). It is not recommended to keep the device on charge for too long, as this will reduce the battery capacity. This can happen even if the battery pack is new.
How to charge Mi Band 3 if you have lost the original cable
The charging cord can easily get lost because it is short in length. You can do without it for a certain period of time; to do this, you need to use any cable with a USB plug, which will allow you to connect the device to a mobile gadget or an external battery. However, you must first remove the braid on the other side. The black and red wires are exposed. They need to be connected to the contacts on the watch capsule body. After this, connect the cable to your computer or tablet.
How to increase the autonomy of Mi Band 3?
The bulk of the energy is consumed by functions such as the heart rate sensor and Bluetooth synchronization. If you don’t need any of the options, you can safely disable it, which will significantly increase the autonomy of the device.
Please note that the charging for Mi Band 3 must be “native”, so it will not be possible, for example, to use the cable from the second modification for the third version of the fitness tracker.
