How long does your laptop last when charged?
- Thread starter packer43064
- Start date
rmorse;3630142; said:
Not sure that that is entirely true. Computers are designed for the charging system to turn off once the battery is charged. That is why you can use docking stations and power cords. Things have changed since the day of nickel-cadmium and Nickel metal hydride. A lot of newer laptops will not even turn on regardless of being plugged in when you take the battery out. I have my laptop plugged in for 10 hours a day, and my battery still performs well after a year and a half.
Here's an article on battery life.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278197/how_to_take_care_of_your_laptops_battery.html?cat=15
Pharaoh;3630397; said:
"A friend replaced her laptop's battery after only two years because it wouldn't hold a charge. I suggested she shouldn't keep her laptop always plugged in, but I wondered—was this outdated geek lore, rendered obsolete by modern batteries? Photo by candescent.
Yes and no. It depends, of course, on what kind of battery you have. Battery technology has come a long way over the years, and surely in 2009 you don't have to worry about how long your laptop's been plugged in. However, one major notebook manufacturer (which ships Lithium-ion batteries) thinks you should, and suggests adding a reminder to your calendar to deplete and recharge your battery once a month. To quote: "Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time."
My friend, however, has a two-year-old Dell. Cursory Googling for her model didn't turn up the equivalent of Apple's definitive statement, only lots of opinions which ranged from "it's a non-issue" to "yes, it kills batteries!" Dell.com's battery recommendations page doesn't say anything about not keeping your notebook plugged in. HP's battery tips page doesn't answer the question, either. I pored through my wife's ASUS Eee PC user guide and didn't find any warning about continuous charging. A non-mention might make you think it's a non-problem, but if this is an issue for Apple notebook batteries, it is for PC notebooks with lithium-based batteries too. When I asked, my Twitter followers returned mixed replies, but many notebook users (both Mac and PC) DID report anecdotal battery problems when the machine was plugged in constantly.
Other folks more educated about the differences in battery types than I am dropped knowledge about which ones are problematic and which aren't. Learn from all the respondents' suggestions, research, and hard-learned lessons at the full post."
Bummer. Looks like I'm considered old-school now.
EDIT: This is from your link, goes with what I was saying....
"However, it is not good to leave your laptop constantly plugged in. Many people use their laptops largely as desktop replacements, using them on the desk and leaving them plugged in most of the time. These people would do well not what their laptop batteries charge constantly. Although there's no danger of "overcharging" lithium-ion batteries, leaving a laptop plugged in for months at a time will have a detrimental effect on its battery. If you use your laptop as a desktop replacement, try unplugging it when it's not in use. Take care to unplug the charger from the wall, too, as otherwise it consumes electricity. Better yet, leave the laptop plugged in all the time, but remove its battery. For long-term storage, lithium-ion batteries should be allowed to run down to little below half charge. Store them safely in a warm, dry location."
rmorse;3630425; said:Bummer. Looks like I'm considered old-school now.
EDIT: This is from your link, goes with what I was saying....
"However, it is not good to leave your laptop constantly plugged in. Many people use their laptops largely as desktop replacements, using them on the desk and leaving them plugged in most of the time. These people would do well not what their laptop batteries charge constantly. Although there's no danger of "overcharging" lithium-ion batteries, leaving a laptop plugged in for months at a time will have a detrimental effect on its battery. If you use your laptop as a desktop replacement, try unplugging it when it's not in use. Take care to unplug the charger from the wall, too, as otherwise it consumes electricity. Better yet, leave the laptop plugged in all the time, but remove its battery. For long-term storage, lithium-ion batteries should be allowed to run down to little below half charge. Store them safely in a warm, dry location."
To summarize: it is important to exercise your battery regardless of what your charging methods are. If you don't use it, you lose it. Just like a car battery sitting for years never being charged or used....they just quit.
i have just bought my wife a laptop for her birthday and it only lasts a couple of hours when she surfs the net with full signal from the hub. the battery is a bog standard Dell 4-cell one, dont know if its lithium ion or nicad.
if you want better battery life look at 9-cell lithium ion batteries, you also have no worry of battery memory then. problem is they are expensive.
if you want better battery life look at 9-cell lithium ion batteries, you also have no worry of battery memory then. problem is they are expensive.
