• How can I use Witty if I have a USB type C?

You can use Witty if you have a USB type C thanks to small adapters that convert USB type C to the classic USB type A, or by charging the device with a 5V charger. USB type C adapters are available on our online store.

• Does Witty work with wireless charging pads?

Yes, Witty can read the energy input required by the battery even when using wireless charging, as long as only one device is charged at a time. However, some wireless chargers are equipped with a LED indicating they are actively working, which consumes a lot of power. In these cases, Witty may not be able to disconnect the device from the power supply and you will need to charge your device using the supplied cable. 

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

All lithium-ion batteries have an integrated protection circuit (located between the battery poles and the cable connecting to the smartphone motherboard). This circuit acts in two ways: it prevents the voltage from both exceeding 4.4V, a conservative value compared to 4.5V, and from dropping below 3V, thus avoiding that the battery deteriorates rapidly (the safety limit beyond which the battery should no longer be discharged is 2.7V). In fact, when the display shows a charge of 0%, the actual battery charge is of approx. 5%. This is to prevent the battery from reaching the discharge voltage limit and being damaged.

This protection circuit does not manage the battery charging but physically disconnects the battery if the voltage or current exceeds the safety parameters. Since the voltage set by the charge control circuit typically reaches 4.35V when the battery charge is at 100%, the protection circuit is not involved in any way. This means that the battery stays connected to its end-of-charge voltage.

• Does my smartphone stop charging when it reaches 100%?

All devices with lithium-ion batteries cut off the current flow once they reach 100% charge but maintain the battery at its end-of-charge voltage (at 100%) until the cable is disconnected. Keeping the battery at high voltages causes rapid wear of its electrodes, which results in a shorter daily duration of the battery charge.

As if, after inflating a balloon, you want to keep it under tension to avoid it deflates.

• Witty does not disconnect the phone.

Witty does not disconnect the device from the power grid as soon as 100% appears on the screen, but when its embedded circuit detects that the device has reached its power demand. Shut Off usually occurs within 10 to 30 minutes after reaching 100%. Witty is designed to ensure that charging is not interrupted if you use the device while it is charging.

• In the morning, I find Witty turned on. Why isn't it working? How can I solve that?

If Witty fails to disconnect the smartphone from the power supply, you can try the following procedure to check that it is not a Witty malfunction:

1. Close all applications;
2. Optimize the app consumption using the relevant function in the battery settings (Android only);
3. Use the "low power" mode;
4. Turn off the Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth while charging;
5. Set your phone to airplane mode while charging
6. Deactivate the "optimized charging" mode in the battery settings.

These procedures may be necessary when the smartphone requires extra power from the charger due to apps and/or services running in the background or continuously searching for a signal (if the phone is in an area where the signal is low, it will emit more electromagnetic waves to try to connect to the cell tower, thus consuming more power than it should).

• In the morning, I find Witty turned off and the charge at 80%. How can I solve that?

To find your phone 100% charged in the morning, you can simply disable "optimized/adaptive/smart charge" in the battery settings.

• The battery should only be charged up to 80%.

This strategy indeed prevents the battery from being charged to its maximum voltage, thus ensuring a longer battery lifetime. The voltage increases as the charge percentage increases; in fact, at a charge of 80%, a voltage of about 4.15/4.20V is applied, until it reaches 4.35V when the charge is at 100%. However, partially charging the smartphone results in a shorter daily autonomy of the battery, which is not ideal for the consumer.

The optimal solution to get a 100% performing device is to disconnect the battery from its maximum allowable voltage when the charge is fully completed, limiting its exposure for an extended period of time. The end-of-charge controller “should” disconnect the cell from voltage thus letting its discharge cycle begin. This is when Witty comes into play.

It's like relaxing your muscles after an intense workout.

• Why does battery efficiency decrease a few months after purchase?

We are moving towards a future where lithium-ion batteries will be key players. But if not managed properly, this technology can be as high-performing as obsolete. In fact, if the charging phase is not handled properly, a generic lithium-ion cell of any devices may lose about 12% of its service life every year. To better understand this concept, let’s just think about cars.  A car’s average fuel consumption (reported by the manufacturer when selling it) may vary widely depending on the driving mode, e.g. sport driving results in a higher average consumption compared to standard driving. The same applies to smartphones. When the charging phase is overlooked, the battery capacity wears out in the short term, causing runtime to continuously decrease. In fact, if the battery is kept at its end-of-charge voltage (4.35V) even after reaching 100%, its discharge cycles significantly decrease from 500 to about 150.

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

"With iOS 13 and later versions, the iPhone uses machine learning to recognize your daily charging habits so that the Optimized Charging option will only activate when the iPhone prediction is to be connected to a charger for an extended period of time". This is how Apple explains the new feature, which, however, still presents some critical issues.

Some latest generation phones use their software to try to prevent the battery from remaining at 100% charge for too long. However, this solution is often ineffective because the user’s charging habits are not known/standardized.
Witty will instead allow you to always have your phone charged at 100% while limiting its exposure to high end-of-charge voltage

• If I unplug my smartphone from its cable, Witty remains on.

This prevents Witty from disconnecting the device from charging in the event of a power outage and allows it to automatically resume charging when the power returns (within 5 minutes). Also, this way you won’t have to disconnect and reconnect your device (within 5 minutes) by pressing Witty's start button again. 

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

Witty can determine if the device is being used during the charging phase, preventing it from being disconnected from the power grid before it reaches 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 turn back on?

Witty remains off after disconnecting the device from the power and does not turn back on until the power button is pressed again. It is very important that  the battery begins its natural discharge cycle once charged, as its energy storage capacity can only be preserved this way.

• Does it ever happen that the smartphone is at less than 100% in the morning?

Only if the battery is worn and the phone is on while charging, the Wi-Fi, notifications, and constant searching for a data connection could cause a slight drop of the percentage (Battery Drain). Worn-out lithium batteries tend indeed to have a slight voltage drop after they are charged, and this is read as a charge percentage lower than 100%.

• Does Witty work with quick charge?

Using quick charge or applying a load above 2,4A causes overheating and excessive stress on the lithium-ion cells. Consequently, the ideal charge to avoid a premature wear of your smartphone battery is a slow, controlled one.

We therefore only recommend to opt for quick charge during the day if you need a power boost, and use Witty at night to enjoy a slow, controlled charging.

Witty is compatible with chargers up to 65W but charging will be limited to standard USB chargers of max. 4A. Our goal is to preserve the battery lifetime.

• When should I press the power button?

You should press the button when Witty is inserted into the USB charger and plugged in. We recommend pressing the button only after the device has been connected to the cable. Once pressed, Witty will start the charging.

• Can Witty be used for different devices?

Yes, but not with more devices at the same time. It can be used with all devices using USB Type A chargers up to 65W, but charging will be limited to standard USB chargers of max. 4A.

• Does Witty work with the new C-type chargers?

This is possible by using an adapter that converts USB Type C to Type A.

• Can I use Witty on other devices than smartphones?

Yes, Witty works with all devices using USB Type A chargers such as IQOS, Bluetooth speakers, AirPods, powerbanks, tablets, etc.