Rumor has it that keeping an 8-year-old phone permanently plugged in with its equally ancient Li-ion battery might not be the greatest idea ever conceived.

Some even claimed that a phone needs a battery to work.

Very negative people.

Anyway, I removed it.

Pettyl did not care.

nginx: UP PHP-FPM: UP MariaDB: UP WordPress: UP cloudflared: UP sshd: UP

The battery is currently sitting next to the phone, contributing absolutely nothing to the project.

Pettyl is now running entirely from USB power, at around 37°C, while continuing to serve the website like this is completely normal.

There is, however, one tiny detail the haters may enjoy:

It can’t boot without the battery.

So the official Pettyl disaster recovery procedure is now:

  1. Insert battery
  2. Boot Pettyl
  3. Connect USB power
  4. Remove battery
  5. Pretend this is enterprise infrastructure

The battery is no longer a battery.

It is the starter motor.

I see no problems with this architecture.

Anyway, Part 3 is going great.

    • tradicije@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      0·
      17 hours ago

      It sounds like a good idea until you remember that USB provides 5V and the battery contacts are designed for a Li-ion battery and its management circuitry.

      Wiring USB directly to the battery contacts would basically be like noticing your car runs on petrol and pouring it directly into the engine instead of the fuel tank. The general concept of “engine needs fuel” is technically correct. The implementation leaves something to be desired.

      The USB port and the phone’s power-management circuitry exist for a reason, and bypassing them could damage the phone or make it behave in exciting new ways.

      A properly regulated dummy battery, however, might actually work. Unfortunately, that means I now have another terrible idea to investigate.

  • SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zoneEnglish
    0·
    23 hours ago

    Yeah yeah, the project is cool… but can we talk about those absolutely banging tunes?

    Is the moto serving them? Please say yes.

    • tradicije@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      0·
      19 hours ago

      Lol, indeed. The music is stored on the Motorola, and it’s being served by the Motorola.
      And thanks for the compliment about my music! The mix is shit, but on the other hand, it was made by my own two hands — no AI involved.

      • SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zoneEnglish
        0·
        18 hours ago

        Well…if you’re looking for an idea for the second moto phone… can I suggest “Google in a box”

        How many “Google-like” services could your phone server serve at the same time?

        • Google Photos <-> PiGallery2
        • Google Keep <-> Memos
        • Google Drive <-> Syncthing
        • Google Calendar <-> Radicale
        • Google Contacts <-> Radicale
        • Google Tasks <-> Radicale
        • YouTube Music <-> Navidrome
        • Google Password Manager <-> Vaultwarden
        • Google Reader <-> FreshRSS
        • Chrome bookmarks <-> linkding
        • Google Analytics <-> GoatCounter

        And, if it still has RAM left:

        • Google Docs <-> Etherpad
        • Google Search <-> 4get

        How far can 1 GB actually go?

        • tradicije@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
          0·
          17 hours ago

          Great idea! Just can’t promise I get everything setup any time soon lol. But I will try for sure.

    • diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      Regular-ish Linux won’t care, given that the BMS is also removed and isn’t dangling from the battery connector.

      Android will fuck you over and bootloop. Android recovery, too.

      Source: I tried.

  • fox2263@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 days ago

    Perhaps replace its aging battery with a new one. Then you have a built in UPS for ideal disaster recovery

  • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
    0·
    2 days ago

    Well… I was obviously wrong. Sorry.

    Don’t know if my knowledge was just outdated or plain wrong from the start, but good on you for still trying and respect for pulling that off.

    • MouldyCat@feddit.ukEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      AFAIK it depends on the device. I believe it’s simpler to have a battery management system which keeps the battery charged when power is attached, and then a second separate system which powers the phone from the battery. That does lead to more wear on the battery though, so the better solution is to have a power management system which monitors the battery and keeps it within a set charge range, and additionally can supply the voltage needed to run the phone. Only when power is not connected does the battery power the phone.

      From a quick google though, it seems that’s only part of the picture. High-end modern phones will often require a battery present, as they use it to smooth out the power coming from the adapter, even though most of the power for the phone when the charger is attached comes from a direct power path.

    • tradicije@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      You are absolutely fine!

      People here, including you, have been very respectful and thoughtful, and I am all for feedback.

      I don’t have the knowledge of the whole universe, do I? So please, by all means, I want to hear your critiques, it makes the project better and I learn along the way!

      • SuspiciousCarrot78@aussie.zoneEnglish
        0·
        2 days ago

        We are glad to inform you that your application to the USS Enterprise Engineering Department has been accepted!

        Please do not turn Admiral Archer’s beagle inside-out on day one and refrain from creating perpetual energy machines, sapient missiles or sexbots until you have undegone the requisite HR training and completed your schedule of immunisations.