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    Battery Life Advice

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Potential, Sep 24, 2010.

  1. Potential

    Potential Newbie

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    I know that no matter what you do laptop batteries lose their charge over time.

    However, I am wondering how to lessen the blow.

    - Does it hurt if I leave my battery in my laptop while at home?
    - If I take it out, how should I store it?
     
    Potential, Sep 24, 2010
    #1
  2. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    If you plan on staying plugged in for long periods of time, and insist on removing the battery... charge it to 40% and remove it. That's the percentage that is recommended for Li-Ion battery storage at ambient temps. If you would like to leave it in the notebook, keep it conditioned... only let the battery management software charge it to 80%, and give it a complete charge/discharge cycle every few weeks.

    EDIT: Long periods of time, IMO, means weeks on end...
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Sep 24, 2010
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  3. timtravel42

    timtravel42 Notebook Virtuoso

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    if you are going to leave it in, also try to minimize the heat of the notebook - i.e. put it on a stand or something, since heat damages batteries
     
    timtravel42, Sep 24, 2010
    #3
  4. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    +1 to each of the posts above. They hit it right on the head. Keep it stored below 100% charge (40% is ideal), unless you specifically know that you are going to be in a situation when you need the battery. And keep it removed from heat as much as possible.

    Heat, and keeping the battery at 100% charge, are the two strongest factors that shorten a Li-Ion battery's life.
     
    kent1146, Sep 24, 2010
    #4
  5. thundernet

    thundernet Notebook Deity

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    thundernet, Sep 24, 2010
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  6. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    It might be a more effective use of the time spent worrying about battery lifecycles to go get a part time job or a one day contract, work 8 hours, and save the money earned to buy yourself a new battery when the time comes.
     
    newsposter, Sep 24, 2010
    #6
  7. timtravel42

    timtravel42 Notebook Virtuoso

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    easier said than done :rolleyes: :p
     
    timtravel42, Sep 24, 2010
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  8. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    Well, I think his point is that the amount of effort you need to invest to treat your battery with kid gloves could outweigh whatever money you'd save.

    I tend to agree.
     
    kent1146, Sep 24, 2010
    #8
  9. bennyg

    bennyg Notebook Virtuoso

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    LOL. give this man a cookie AND a medal :D

    All batteries will be rooted in 3 years no matter what. But a good deal of cheapies, thin-n-lights and netbooks will have already failed by then anyways...
     
    bennyg, Sep 25, 2010
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  10. Gracy123

    Gracy123 Agrees to disagree

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    Not true. Been taking good care of the battery of my previous laptop (taking it out of the laptop charged up to ~ 50% and keeping it away from heat) and yet, 4,5 years later it has 91% of it's initial capacity and works perfectly fine!
     
    Gracy123, Sep 26, 2010
    #8