Laptop battery questions

[TygGer]

I need to buy a new laptop battery and was looking on Ebay as they seem to be the cheapest around. How could I tell if it was holding a 100% charge?

Also, when my laptop is plugged into a powersource, is it bad for the battery to stay connected?

Lastly, can anyone recommend a place to buy batteriers other than ebay?

Thanks

 

[usernamemax20charact]

It's usually best not to have the battery charging when the laptop's plugged into a power source especially if the battery doesn't need charging. I usually remove the battery before plugging it in if I don't need to charge it. Just remember that laptop batteries have a certain number of charge-discharge cycles. (~ 500-800?). If you don't need to use the battery for a long period or time (say 1 month) remove the battery from laptop and keep it in a cool dry place.

Can't really recommend a cheaper place than eBay for them.

 

[cy7878]

Remember that a battery not only has finite cycles, it also will expire over time. A battery typically will not last more than 10 years, even if it was never used and kept tip top shape. Most don't make past 5 years, no matter what you do.

Problem I found buying battery off eBay, is that even if the battery is sealed, in new condition, there is no way to find out if it will charge once you get it. True especially if it is an older model. manufacture will not warrant ebay purchases (I know, I tried).

The advice of taking out the battery is probably a bad one because the battery is also designed to buffer out electrical current aborrations.

 

[imported_NoGodForMe]

Like the person above said, there is no way to tell how old the battery is you are buying, and the clock starts ticking when the battery is made, not when it is used.
Read this for some info.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

Think of the battery in a laptop as a UPS.

 

[boran]

also, the reason why you remove the battery out of yer laptop when you're using the power cable is not because of the limited amount of recharges, but because of the heat, you're esssentially storing it at whatever temperature the bottom of your laptop is (and most of the time that's not the 20-25°C a lithium battery is best stored at.

when I'm not using my battery for a loong while I give it a 40% charge and keep it outside of my laptop, those are about the most ideal storage conditions you can get for a lithium ion battery.

 

[TygGer]

Ok. Are there any potential problems with leaving the battery slot open? Mine does not have a battery cover....

Also, if the battery is left in the laptop while plugged into a power source, is the battery actually charging? I thought the battery would be bypassed. ???

So right now, I have 1 for leaving the battery in and 2 for taking the battery out.

Any more suggestions?

 

[usernamemax20charact]

Originally posted by: TygGer
Ok. Are there any potential problems with leaving the battery slot open? Mine does not have a battery cover....

Also, if the battery is left in the laptop while plugged into a power source, is the battery actually charging? I thought the battery would be bypassed. ???

So right now, I have 1 for leaving the battery in and 2 for taking the battery out.

Any more suggestions?

No problem leaving battery slot open.

Yes, the battery will be charging if laptop is plugged in. How else would the battery charge?

 

[boran]

Originally posted by: TygGer
Ok. Are there any potential problems with leaving the battery slot open? Mine does not have a battery cover....

Also, if the battery is left in the laptop while plugged into a power source, is the battery actually charging? I thought the battery would be bypassed. ???

So right now, I have 1 for leaving the battery in and 2 for taking the battery out.

Any more suggestions?

Originally posted by: usernamemax20charact
No problem leaving battery slot open.

Yes, the battery will be charging if laptop is plugged in. How else would the battery charge?

mostly when the battery is at a certain percentage (95 to 98%) the battery doesnt get charged, and is bypassed.

as I said previously, the main reason to remove the battery from your laptop when running on external power is the heat, which shortens the lifespan of the battery, leave it in once, and feel how hot it is.