Laptop battery life

[PeteRoy]

What's better for laptop battery life, to keep the laptop connected to power at home or to let it use the battery and only connect it to power when it runs out of power?

My friend told me if I keep the laptop connected to power it will shorten the batttery life, is that true?

Thank you.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'd keep it plugged in when you are using it on a desk. It is bad for LION batteries to fully discharge them numerous times and better to continually "top them off." Your friend must be thinking of the old way when laptops used Cadmium-Nickel batteries, which worked best when they were fully discharged and the recharged.

 

[corkyg]

I don't know of any current laptops with Nicads. They were replaced with NiMH about 5 years ago, then Li-ion became the standard about 3 years ago.

Average life of a laptop battery with normal usage is about 3-4 years. Even Li-ions - every bit of charge and discharge is a bit shortened off its lifespan.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I don't know of any current laptops with Nicads. They were replaced with NiMH about 5 years ago, then Li-ion became the standard about 3 years ago.

Average life of a laptop battery with normal usage is about 3-4 years. Even Li-ions - every bit of charge and discharge is a bit shortened off its lifespan.

I didn't remember if it was NiCad or NiMH, in either case, draining the battery was more beneficial than continually topping it off. Li-Ion batteries are better off if you continually top off the battery instead of always draining it down to 0; topping off reduces battery wear.

 

[PeteRoy]

So what's better for the batterly, to keep the laptop plugged in power at home or let it use battery even though I can keep it plugged.

 

[corkyg]

I only plug mine in when I use it.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

From what I've read, "they're" saying to take the battery out when not using it, and that keeping the laptop connected to power it WILL shorten the battery life. Wife's Dell laptop is only a couple years old, and it now only lasts about 15 minutes without being plugged in.