Re: Battery suggestions


"MZB" <moo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:XF1oj.30$EF7.13@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Now for my question: what's the best way to deal with the new battery?
Obviously, I place it in my laptop. Should I charge it extra long? Should
I run it until it is completely discharged a few times? In other words, is
there anything special I should do?

If it's a NiMH battery then you should give it one long charge period to
achieve the full "forming" charge (15-20 hours), and then make a habit of
running it down to as near empty as you can at least 2-3 times a week - NiMH
batteries don't like being "float charged" and the deep discharges reallyu
extend their life.

But NiMH packs in laptops are rather rare these days, the majority being
Lithium (Lithium-Ion, Lithium-Polymer or Lithium-Phosphate) these days. The
lithium cells just need to be fully charged (usually around 90 minutes from
empty, but the charging systems vary so check your laptop instructions) and
then used. The laptop's battery management circuits will ensure the cells
aren't over-discharged, and lithium cells don't really care about
partial-vs-deep discharging, so the use pattern doesn't really affect them.

The thing that DOES affect the life of these cells is temperature. Try to
avoid exposing them to temperatures below 10degC and above 40degC. The
"catch" is that it's not unusual to find that the cells get quite warm when
a laptop is sitting in a docking station or on a desk usuing mains power,
largely because the battery bay cooling is inadequate when the laptop is sat
on a smooth surface like a desk. If you make a habit of using the thing on
mains power for extended periods you can significantly extend the battery
life by removing the battery once the mains power is connected. Other than
that, you just take the life it gives you!

PDR


.

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