When to recharge/discharge my laptop battery?

[LuckyTaxi]

Ok ... Just purchased a new laptop and before I make the same mistake as before, I would like to know what
the appropriate way of handling the battery is. Before, I would leave my laptop plugged in everytime I used it (assuming if there was an outlet nearby). When there isn't I would use the battery. I don't think I ever discharged the battery all the way, which ended up in the battery having a short life-span. After a while, it stopped holding the charge.

Same with my cellphone

 

[corkyg]

Check your user guide. Each maker has slightly different requirements, but in general, most laptops have abattery calibration or "gas guage" routine that is fun from BIOS. You first fully charge the battery, then run that routine and it discharges by usage to zero. That will also give you a good idea of the life of a fully charged battery. Then you charge it back up and go from there. Some makers recommend this routine periodically. I find once a quarter keeps things nice and up to speed.

 

[apoppin]

Simply REMOVE the batterY from the notebook when it is on AC . . . that is the single most important factor in its longevity . . . also do not store the battery for long periods of time completely discharged . . .

 

[Tikerz]

If you're going to store the battery for a long period of time make sure it's not completely discharged. Leave about 30% to 40% power in it.

 

[straubs]

I thought Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries have no memory? This is what they always say when you read about Lithium technology in batteries... So basically, it really shouldn't matter when you charge/discharge as long as you aren't using something like NIMH.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: straubs
I thought Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries have no memory? This is what they always say when you read about Lithium technology in batteries... So basically, it really shouldn't matter when you charge/discharge as long as you aren't using something like NIMH.

Correct . . . in theory.

However, my Dell batteries only lasted a year left "in" all the time . . . taking them OUT when it is on AC should (ar least) triple their useful life. 😉

it's your money.

😛

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: straubs
I thought Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries have no memory? This is what they always say when you read about Lithium technology in batteries... So basically, it really shouldn't matter when you charge/discharge as long as you aren't using something like NIMH.

It's not a question of memory - but a question of exercising all of the cells in the battery periodically, and to calibrate the correct amount of power remaining so that Windows tells you the right thing.