Everything you need to know

    Does Witty work with the new type C chargers?

    You can continue to use Witty by using an adapter that converts USB Type C to Type A.

     

    Does Witty work with wireless charging pads?

    Yes, Witty is able to read the energy required by the battery even when using wireless charging as long as one device is charged at a time.

    However, there are some wireless charging cradles on the market that have an LED to indicate their operation, which results in higher power consumption. In such cases Witty may not be able to disconnect the device from the power supply. In this case, the device must be charged with the supplied cable.

     

    Is the phone already equipped with an end-of-charge control chip?

    All lithium-ion batteries have an integrated protection circuit (it is located between the battery poles and the connection cable to the smartphone's motherboard). This circuit acts in two ways: it prevents the voltage from exceeding 4.4V, a conservative value compared to the 4.5V limit, and it prevents it from dropping to a voltage below 3V beyond which the battery can rapidly deteriorate (the safety limit beyond which the battery must no longer be discharged is 2.7V). In fact, when 0% charge is shown on the display, the remaining battery charge is approximately 5%, to prevent the battery from reaching the discharge limit voltage.

    This protection circuit does not manage battery recharging but physically disconnects the battery if the voltages or currents exceed the safety parameters. As the voltage set by the charge control circuit typically reaches 4.35V when the battery has reached 100%, the protection circuit will not intervene in any way, leaving the battery connected to its end-of-charge voltage.

     

    Does my smartphone stop charging when it reaches 100%?

    All devices with lithium-ion batteries interrupt the current flow once they reach 100% charge but keep the battery at its end-of-charge voltage (at 100%) until the cable is disconnected. Keeping the battery at high voltages leads to rapid wear of the electrodes inside it, which results in reduced daily autonomy

    It is as if, after inflating a balloon, you continue to keep it under tension so that it does not deflate.

     

    Witty does not disconnect the phone.

    Witty does not disconnect the device from the mains as soon as 100% appears on the screen, but when the circuitry inside it detects that the energy requirements of the device being charged have been reached. Normally Shut Off occurs 10-30 minutes after reaching 100%. Witty is designed to ensure that charging is not interrupted when the device is being used while charging.

    In the morning I find Witty on. Why doesn't it work? How can I solve it?

    Should Witty fail to disconnect the smartphone from the mains, you can try the following procedure to check that it is not a malfunction:

    Try closing all applications;

    Try optimising app consumption using the function included in the battery settings (Only for Android smartphones);

    Try using the 'energy saving' mode;

    Try charging the device by deactivating Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth;

    Try charging the device in airplane mode;

    Deactivate the 'optimised charging' mode in the battery settings.

    These procedures may become necessary when the smartphone requires more energy from the charger than it should due to apps and/or services working in the background or searching for a signal (if the phone is in an area of the house with a poor signal, the device will emit even more electromagnetic waves in order to lock on to the phone cell, consuming more energy than it should). 

     

    In the morning I find Witty switched off and the charge at 80%. How can I solve it?

    To find your phone 100% charged in the morning, simply disable 'optimised/active/smart charge' in the battery settings.

     

    The battery must be charged up to 80%.

    The strategy of charging up to 80% charge is correct because, by preventing the battery from being charged to its maximum voltage, its life is significantly extended. The voltage increases as the percentage of charge increases, in fact, at 80% the battery is applied a voltage of about 4.15/4.20V, until it reaches a value of 4.35V when it is at 100%. However, partially charging the smartphone results in a lower runtime, and consumers with busy lives may suffer.

    The optimal solution for those who want to have a 100% performing device is to disconnect the battery from its maximum permitted voltage when the battery is charged, limiting its exposure for an extended period of time. That is where Witty comes into play. 

    It's like relaxing your muscles after strenuous exercise.

    Why do batteries become less efficient a few months after purchase?

    We are heading into a future where lithium-ion batteries will be even more of a player than they already are; a technology that is as high-performing as it is obsolete if not managed properly. In fact, it is estimated that a generic lithium-ion cell in any device loses around 12% of its useful life annually if the charging phase is not managed correctly. To better understand this concept, we can make an analogy with cars. Cars are sold with an average consumption declared by the manufacturer, which varies considerably depending on driving mode. Sporty driving will certainly result in higher average consumption than slow driving. The same applies to smartphones. When the charging phase is not properly managed, the battery capacity wears out in the short term, resulting in a decreasing runtime. In fact, if the battery is kept at its end-of-charge voltage of 4.35V even after it has reached 100%, it causes a significant decrease in discharge cycles, from 500 to about 150.

     

    How does smart charging, introduced in the latest generation of smartphones work?

    "With iOS 13 and later, iPhone uses machine learning to try to understand your daily charging habits so that Optimised Charging only turns on when iPhone expects to be connected to a charger for an extended period of time." This is how Apple explains the new feature, but it has its challenges.

    Some new generation phones have software that tries to prevent the battery remaining at 100% charge for too long. Unfortunately, this solution is often ineffective as it requires standardisation of charging habits by the user. With Witty, you can always have your phone 100% charged while limiting its exposure to high end-of-charge voltage.

       

      If I unplug the cable from the smartphone, Witty stays on.

      This prevents Witty from disconnecting the device from the charger in the event of an interruption in the domestic mains supply, and resumes charging autonomously when the mains voltage returns (within 5 minutes). This also allows the device to be disconnected and reconnected (within 5 minutes) without having to press the Witty start button again.

       

      If I use the smartphone while it is charging, Witty does not disconnect the battery when it is at 100%.

      Witty can tell if the device is being used during the charging phase, preventing it from being disconnected from the mains before reaching 100%.

       

      Once the battery is charged Witty automatically disconnects the power supply. Does it stay off until I disconnect and reconnect my devices or does it come back on?

      Witty remains switched off after disconnecting the device from the power supply and does not switch on again until the power button is pressed again. It is important that, once charged, the battery begins its natural discharge cycle. This is the only way to preserve its energy storage capacity.

       

        Can it happen that in the morning I find my smartphone at less than 100%?

        Only if you have a worn out battery and charge your phone while it is switched on, Wi-Fi, notifications and the constant search for a data connection may cause the capacity to drop a few percent (Battery Drain). Worn lithium batteries tend to have a slight voltage drop after they have been charged and this is read as a percentage of charge below 100%.

         

          Does Witty work with fast charging?

          Using fast charging or applying a load greater than 2.4A causes overheating and excessive stress on the lithium-ion cells. Consequently, the ideal way to ensure that your smartphone battery does not wear out prematurely is to charge it slowly and carefully.

          At Witty, we therefore only recommend fast charging during the day if you need a boost of energy, and using Witty at night to enjoy a slow and controlled charge.

          Witty is compatible with power supplies up to 65W but charging will be limited to the USB standard of maximum 4A. Witty's aim is to preserve the life of the battery.

           

            When should the power button be pressed?

            The button must be pressed when Witty is inserted into the USB charger and plugged in. Reember to press the button after the device has been connected to the cable. Once pressed, Witty will start charging the phone.

             

              Can Witty be used for different devices?

              Yes, but not at the same time. Witty can be used with all devices that charge via USB type A up to 65W but charging will be limited to the USB standard of maximum 4A.

               

                Does Witty work with the new type C chargers?

                You can continue to use Witty by using an adapter that converts USB Type C to Type A.

                 

                  Can I use Witty on devices other than my smartphone?

                  Yes, Witty works with all devices that charge via USB type A such as IQOS, Bluetooth speakers, AirPods, powerbanks, tablets, etc.