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Everything with a battery should have an off switch

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Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#141

Post by swader999 »

throwaway049 wrote: post #72
pveierland wrote: post #67

Related to the topic, besides the energy argument and the ability to cycle system state, I'd argue the huge importance of being able to power things off for personal freedom, especially for things with connectivity. We still have the power to shut off devices and largely the ability to block their connectivity (e.g. routing TV ads through a network filter). With 5G and future connectivity, it feels as there will be p…

Great. Now I need to buy a faraday cage to fit my refrigerator.

Think bigger. Do the whole house. There's paint you can get for this.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#143

Post by grosswait »

progbits wrote: post #119
narag wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have this ultracheap made-in-China big kitchen clock, with a single AA that I've replaced twice in eight years. I don't buy expensive batteries, more like in line with the clock. It has second hand (the kind that doesn't tick but appears to move uniformly) so there is some extra mechanical work.

I think the quality is hit and miss, even with premium batteries. I had enough devices damaged or entirely ruined by a leaked battery so now I remove them from anything not actively used. If anyone knows a reliable model for AA/AAA cells that will absolutely not leak when left unused in a device for year+ I would love to hear it.

I’ve had much better experience with energizer not leaking while Duracell is terrible. Searching the net for other experiences, I found some prepper forums discussing this and apparently Duracell tries to extract so much capacity from the cell they sacrifice wall and end thickness causing them to leak.

I don’t think anyone can say they absolutely won’t leak, but search these types of forums/subreddits and you find other recommendations as well.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#144

Post by quickthrower2 »

hitpointdrew wrote: post #105

I would say there are a few reasonable exceptions to the rule. For example I wouldn’t want smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors to have off switches.

That is why smoke alarms take the chunky square lithium battery that costs more than the smoke alarm.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#145

Post by andreareina »

YeGoblynQueenne wrote: post #134

>> (Our design team will never listen. This is because they, one, don't listen to anyone ever; and two, never use the products they design. Oh, sure, there might be a user study or two. But they never actually have to live with or work with the damn things.) This is so obvious from everyday life that someone really ought to write a paper about it and have it published in Nature. Because it will certainly be published…

It's a book actually: The Design of Everyday Things

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#146

Post by lavela »

baq wrote: post #121
Zak wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Make the battery removable, then you have an off-switch and a repairable device. For bonus points, use a battery in a standardized form factor so I can buy spares. I know, I know, the industry doesn't want me to keep my device working longer than the lifespan of a Li-ion cell.

the real problem is the design team doesn't give two shits about neither users nor developers of the product... developers aren't treated as customers by design teams and then everybody is confused why the thing doesn't work. (hint: maybe it's stupid hard to make it work if you are actively prevented to be able to work on it?)

the real problem is that you can't keep all those little features you'd wish for in your head, so while you are making a buying decision they don't factor in as much as the lower price achievable without those features.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#147

Post by Retric »

unwind wrote: post #69
abofh wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ermm, most phones and computers cannot be completely powered down. Either by nit-picking (CMOS clocks) or soft-switches (ACPI, soft button power-on), there's always some voltage in the system unless your PSU comes with an actual hard power switch (and even then, again, CMOS). They consume a lot less power, but leave an 'off' phone in a drawer for a month starting at 100%, it will not be 100% when you 'turn it on'.

I understand and agree, but the use-case is a bit skewed since that's not even true for a bare "naked" battery or cell. They all self-discharge [1], some chemistries more than others of course but phone batteries certainly do. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-discharge

Self discharge is easily an order of magnitude slower than the power draw of these devices while seemingly off.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#148

Post by donatj »

Evening with batteries should have user replaceable batteries. Ideally double A's. I am a huge fan of rechargable double A's.

It's the main reason my Xbox sees so much more use than my PlayStation. My PlayStation controller is seemingly always dead when I go to use it, but I can just pop some new rechargeable batteries in the Xbox.

Re: Everything with a battery should have an off switch

#150

Post by numlock86 »

I like the topic but the tweet ... oh boy, the tweet was really a waste of time.

> buys the cheapest controller one could find

> "Oh my god it's all cheap components/design!"

> buys a transparent one

> "Oh my god I can see the charger indication on literally the entire surface area which triggers my ADHD!"

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