Battery Power: How to keep it from depleting?

[spoon805]

Like everyone else on this forum, I've got a ton of gear running on rechargable batteries...

• Laptop

• Cell Phone

• Digital Camera

• etc.

However, the charge on these Lithium-ion or Nickel-ion based batteries always deplete after time. I've read somewhere before that this is the result of the battery cells retaining "memory". This "memory" supposedly siphons the total amount of energy that can be stored in a battery.

Case and point: My laptop use to give me nearly 3 hours at full charge. Now, I'm lucky if I can even get 1 hour. The battery is less than a year old. Just sad.

Sure, there are options out there to replace these batteries (file for a warranty claim, buy generics, etc.), but that's a lot of hassle in the end. I'm curious what are some ways to increase the life of these batteries. When I say "increase the life", it could also mean "stop doing things that may decrease the life".

I've heard of rules like:

• Only charge after fully depleting the battery

• Never allow the battery to fully die

Obviously, these two are contradictory. However, my understanding is that one rule is for one type of battery, and the other is for a different type (types: Li vs. Ni vs. ??)

SO... does anyone know the rules? (Obviously, overcharging is a no-no)

 

[Baldy18]

Your laptop more than likely uses a Lithium-Ion battery. Lithium-Ion batteries do not have a memory. However there performance decreases as they are charged more. They only have a life span of about 400 charges and short charges can count (say from 90% to 100% counts as a charge).

I've never heard of Nickle-Ion, I believe you mean Nickel-Metal Hydride.

 

[TechnoPro]

A good tip is to remove the battery from a laptop when it will be run off AC so it is not needlessly trickle charging.

As for the cell phone battery, Motorola recomends 3 full charges / deep discharges when the battery is new. Then, once per week, 1 full discharge / full charge cycle for conditioning.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

Lithium-ions are recommend to NOT fully discharge the battery often, they don't suffer from memory effect unlike nickle metal hydrate. it is recommended to fully discharge a lith ion every 30 or so cycles. don't over stress the battery and completely discharge it every time.

nickle metal hydrate however is recommended to run down the battery every 5 or 10 cyles.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

"A good tip is to remove the battery from a laptop when it will be run off AC so it is not needlessly trickle charging."

this doesn't apply anymore to modern lithium ion laptop batteries.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
"A good tip is to remove the battery from a laptop when it will be run off AC so it is not needlessly trickle charging."

this doesn't apply anymore to modern lithium ion laptop batteries.

Thanks for the heads up. I was wrong about the trickle charging part, but some research discussed the effects of temperature on battery storage. As in, keeping a charged lithium-ion battery in a hot laptop. Some quotes:

High charge levels and elevated temperatures hasten permanent capacity loss.

Removing the battery from the laptop when running on fixed power protects the battery from heat but some battery and laptop manufacturers caution against it. They say that dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing could damage the laptop. The dealers will be happy to provide you with a new pack when a replacement is needed a little sooner.

The question is often asked if one should disconnect the laptop from the main when not in use. With lithium-ion it does not matter. Once the battery is fully charged, no further charge is applied. It is recommenced, however, to turn the laptop off overnight because of heat harms the battery.