Proper Maintenance of Laptop Batteries

Mooney · 02-13-2008, 02:38 PM

i just got a new laptop, and i am reading completely conflicting reports as far as proper ways to maintain battery life.

i was under the impression that if you leave the laptop plugged in most of the time it constantly cycles, hovering the battery around 99% shortening its life. i just read that nothing matters a significant amount to even worry about it as long as the battery is fully discharged/recharged every couple of months. i'd also read that discharging your battery to 30% then charging back to 100% is best, never leaving it plugged in except to charge.

so yeah, i don't even know what to think anymore.

would leaving the computer plugged in and on for most of the day and unplugging and discharging the battery fully once a day be okay, because ideally that is how i would like to use my laptop.

Skradgee · 02-13-2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooney

would leaving the computer plugged in and on for most of the day and unplugging and discharging the battery fully once a day be okay, because ideally that is how i would like to use my laptop.

this should be fine if that's what you want to do, but it should only need to be discharged about once a month

mccririck · 02-13-2008, 03:30 PM

I've heard the 30% thing too.

wHATcOLOR · 02-13-2008, 03:30 PM

depends on what kind of battery, right? nickel cadium vs. something somethingium. i dunno

mccririck · 02-13-2008, 03:31 PM

They're all Lithium these days are they not?

yo soy el mejor · 02-13-2008, 03:32 PM

i still havent gone to buy a computer!

Mooney · 02-13-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skradgee

this should be fine if that's what you want to do, but it should only need to be discharged about once a month

cool. i was just mostly wondering if 'trickle' charging still exists and if running my computer on AC for like 21 hours a day would totally decimate my battery in a matter of a few months.

Mooney · 02-13-2008, 03:36 PM

yeah, as far as i know pretty much everything is lithium ion, or whatevs. even power tools.

wHATcOLOR · 02-13-2008, 03:40 PM

well i'm clearly living in the past, excuse me while i flip through the yellow pages to find a number to dial on my rotary phone

hnibos · 02-13-2008, 03:40 PM

dial? rotary phone?

Nimrod's Son · 02-13-2008, 05:03 PM

#1 - when you first get your battery, drain it and recharge it a few times, fully.
#2 - if you don't need it in to charge, unplug it.
#3 - almost every laptop maker, if your notebook is under warrantee, will send you a free battery. simply call them and tell them the battery won't hold a charge for more than 5 minutes. assure them it reads 100% and was charging over night and that you want a new battery. everyone i know who has done this has gotten a new free battery without having to send the old one back. they don't want to pay shipping on something they then have to pay to recycle.

Jonny5 · 02-13-2008, 07:12 PM

i should've taken better care of my battery. now it dies within a half-hour of being unplugged.

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02-13-2008, 02:38 PM	#1
Mooney Socialphobic Location: halifax Posts: 14,809	Proper Maintenance of Laptop Batteries i just got a new laptop, and i am reading completely conflicting reports as far as proper ways to maintain battery life. i was under the impression that if you leave the laptop plugged in most of the time it constantly cycles, hovering the battery around 99% shortening its life. i just read that nothing matters a significant amount to even worry about it as long as the battery is fully discharged/recharged every couple of months. i'd also read that discharging your battery to 30% then charging back to 100% is best, never leaving it plugged in except to charge. so yeah, i don't even know what to think anymore. would leaving the computer plugged in and on for most of the day and unplugging and discharging the battery fully once a day be okay, because ideally that is how i would like to use my laptop.

02-13-2008, 03:30 PM	#3
mccririck Apocalyptic Poster Location: Spa Posts: 3,884	I've heard the 30% thing too.

02-13-2008, 03:30 PM	#4
wHATcOLOR THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Location: \|\| MY NAME IS KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID ROCK!! Posts: 47,168	depends on what kind of battery, right? nickel cadium vs. something somethingium. i dunno

02-13-2008, 03:31 PM	#5
mccririck Apocalyptic Poster Location: Spa Posts: 3,884	They're all Lithium these days are they not?

02-13-2008, 03:32 PM	#6
yo soy el mejor Just Hook it to My Veins! Location: all over the Internet Posts: 44,378	i still havent gone to buy a computer!

02-13-2008, 03:36 PM	#8
Mooney Socialphobic Location: halifax Posts: 14,809	yeah, as far as i know pretty much everything is lithium ion, or whatevs. even power tools.

02-13-2008, 03:40 PM	#9
wHATcOLOR THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Location: \|\| MY NAME IS KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID ROCK!! Posts: 47,168	well i'm clearly living in the past, excuse me while i flip through the yellow pages to find a number to dial on my rotary phone

02-13-2008, 03:40 PM	#10
hnibos Braindead Location: I was just reading, right? Posts: 15,023	dial? rotary phone?

02-13-2008, 05:03 PM	#11
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,972	#1 - when you first get your battery, drain it and recharge it a few times, fully. #2 - if you don't need it in to charge, unplug it. #3 - almost every laptop maker, if your notebook is under warrantee, will send you a free battery. simply call them and tell them the battery won't hold a charge for more than 5 minutes. assure them it reads 100% and was charging over night and that you want a new battery. everyone i know who has done this has gotten a new free battery without having to send the old one back. they don't want to pay shipping on something they then have to pay to recycle.

02-13-2008, 07:12 PM	#12
Jonny5 Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 2,445	i should've taken better care of my battery. now it dies within a half-hour of being unplugged.