Topic: Sleep Mode or Turned Off ?

I don´t know if someone has asked this question already but... is it better to have the 3DS turned on while charging for the spot pass feature or is it better just leaving it turned off ? What's better for the system ?

Having it on sleep mode while charging, while it puts somewhat of a strain on the battery, is still a viable option. I would probably sleep it every other day, and have it turned off completely on the days in between, just to be safe, though.

Leaving it in Sleep Mode while charging is pretty pointless while wasting electricity and battery strain, as you can't get Play Coins or get StreetPass hits, and you can get any SpotPass notifications when you turn it back on.

For now, there is no point on leaving it in sleep mode while charging.

Maybe in may with the update and shop and stuff, leaving it downloading information while charging will be a common practice.

I leave it on Sleep Mode most of the time.

I walk a lot and I live in a big city, so I'm bound to get hits on StreetPass (if I'm lucky).

Thnks for your comments = ),
I might start using sleep mode later then.

It won't do any harm to the system to leave it in sleep mode on the charger. Modern charging circuits have separate lines to charge the battery and power the system, so when it's docked it will draw energy straight from the wall and not the battery.

Sleep mode works for me... but I'm playing it most all the time, and new batteries are available if mine fritz out... I bought a spare just in case too.

I opened a topic somewhat related a couple days ago, I think you could find useful this topic too https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/3ds/3ds_steet_pass_and_bat...
@MasterGravehear: I read in some of the links on the topic I mentioned spare batteries can be better preserved in a fridge.

I keep my 3DS in sleep mode overnight mainly so that I can continue my race on Ridge Racer 3D in the morning exactly where I left it off the previous night.

And when your 3DS is in the cradle, if it's fully charged already then it won't continually charge the battery, the power will flow straight from the wall socket to your 3DS to keep it in sleep mode. You can see when the battery is actually charging by looking at the front of the console, if the yellow light is lit up, it means that the battery is being charged (which sounds overly obvious! xD).

Sleep mode all the time. It's not going to hurt the battery (unless you don't plan to use the 3DS for weeks) and it isn't really going to cost any more on the charging base. Never switch it off. Ever. I might miss a StreetPass opportunity with you.

This.

sleep mode all the way.
its fun. its the first time i care so much for a console, i dont want it to turn off ever

For the first week I don't think I switched it off once. I am switching it off at night now although during the day I leave it switched on.
I've noticed the 3DS get rather warm on occasion though. Something that I've not noticed with any other Nintendo handheld. This concerns me somewhat when leaving it switched on all the time.

it got warm, but never as warm as a laptop. maybe its your hands that got it warm?

Eh I tried charging it when sleep mode was on. It took way too long. I find it easier to just turn it off almost all the time to save battery. Unless of course i'm actually taking it somewhere and walking around with it, then it stays in sleep mode.

this

I'm pretty sure that has to do with the material the 3DS is made of. The older models are made of plastic, but since the 3DS is made of a metal-type material, it will conduct and hold the heat from your hands more.

I keep it in sleep mode all of the time. It is designed to do this.

I do the same, its difficult for me to sleep with LEDs lit in my room, and the odds of a streetpass in home at night are pretty slim but it still lays in the charging craddle all night. I also noticed my 3DS getting warm just between the X button and the touch screen, but it only occurs when all of the following three conditions are met: Wi-Fi On. Charging and Playing.