Kenwood DNX7120 killed my Ipod

I've had a DNX 7120 for almost three years now with the optional Ipod cable. I also bought a 3rd Gen Ipod Nano to keep plugged in to my truck almost exclusively.

Well, The battery in the Ipod is now dead and will no longer function unless it is plugged into my truck or my computer.

I was under the impression that one of two things was happening; either the Ipod was continuously receiving power, thus never using the internal battery, or the Kenwood HU would power down the Ipod when the truck was shut off.

Am I wrong? Do I have to turn off my next Ipod every time I shut down the truck to keep the Ipod's battery from being cycled through it's life
expectancy? I did end up using it occasionally outside my truck and it had great battery life until all of a sudden this year, nothing. As soon as it's unplugged the thing dies.

Anyone else with similar experience or incite?

 

The lithium ion batteries in an iPod die every 2-3 years on a regular basis and you have to send back in to Apple for a new battery. Its part of Apple's planned obsolecence and planned revenue stream for older units.

 

If you have not had issues with your ipods and iphone its becasue you have not had them long or used them very much. Every li-ion battery I have ever had including my ipods has gone to 50% life in 2-3 years. Thats other phones, computers, etc. Apple does not have special technology li-ion batteries. They expect 75% life at 1 year and 50% in 2. By 3 years they are dead or essentially so.

 

I figured it out. And I want to issue this warning to anyone who went with a similar setup to mine.

My 7120 only has a single USB port on the back unlike the newer and higher end models that have two. I used a USB splitter to allow multiple USB connections so I could plug both the Kenwood Ipod control cable into the head unit and a USB thumb drive. I only use one at a time, but typically have both in my truck. I usually didn't use my thumb drive, but left it plugged in. Well I started using my thumb drive a bunch a few months ago and that's when the Ipod died. Went on a trip this week and had a friend's Ipod plugged in but also used my thumb drive for music. Turns out, there's not enough power to run the USB and charge the Ipod. If I'm not using the thumb drive, but it's plugged in, then the Ipod is receiving enough power to charge. So my learning experience is, using a splitter is okay, but unplug whatever device is not in use otherwise the Ipod's battery is going to suffer. Yeah, the Ipod was probably nearing the end of it's battery life, but the sudden death was caused by deep power drains with short recharges because of my setup.