How do I take care of my laptop battery?

[J.A.X]

Hi,

My last laptop battery used to last 3.5 hours when it was new and after 1.5 years it used to last just 30 minutes. but I have seen laptops over two years old and lasting over 2.5 hours.

I have ordered a new dell xps 1530 and will be getting it in a few days. How should I take care of the battery to have a good battery life? Is there anything I should do the first time I use it? What are the best practices I should follow when using laptop for good battery life over long time?

Thanks

JAX

[ninjamunky]

You should fully charge it when you get it, before using the computer at all. Also, as with any rechargeable battery, you should let the charge run all the way down and then fill it up every so often. Otherwise, like yours, they get lazy (essentially) and don't last as long. It's always good to cycle the charge.

[gnuman]

The other thing is if you use it plugged in all the time you should remove the battery as when you use the battery the cells are activated and decrease battery length

[shakey_snake]

You should fully charge it when you get it, before using the computer at all. Also, as with any rechargeable battery, you should let the charge run all the way down and then fill it up every so often. Otherwise, like yours, they get lazy (essentially) and don't last as long. It's always good to cycle the charge.

Wrong!

For best health, you should charge your Li-ion and Li-polymer batteries as early and as often as possible.

That is a myth was true for Nickle-Cadmium batteries, but not for modern laptop batteries.

More useful tips (apply to all Li batteries):

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/guidebooks:chargin..._dead_batteries

----------

Other tips:

-Take it out when you are not charging it and running from power.

-Keep your battery away from heat.

-freeze it in the freezer(but don't let it get wet!) if your not going to need it for a while (like say vacation)

Edited December 2, 2008 by shakey_snake

[J.A.X]

Thanks for all the responses.

So, I should first charge it fully and then start using it. I should recharge it whenever possible and ever let it discharge below, say 30% charge.

I used to charge my battery full and then discharge all the way down before recharge with my last laptop. May be that is why the life was so short.

[mattmatik]

Not sure about your particular laptop but on my MacBook Pro, taking the battery out while on AC power essentially downclocks the computer. Don't worry about taking the battery out while it's plugged in.

[TigerFX]

I've also heard you shouldn't interrupt a charge when possible. Let it go the whole way to 100%.

Btw, I've got a Dell XPS M1530 and I don't have great luck with my battery. Make sure you turn vista into "Power saver" mode because "high performance" sucks battery life out the window (that + wifi + external monitors = ~ 1.5hrs on the big 9-cell :s).

[FiB3R]

Great link shakey_snake, thanks :)

[Calum Veteran]

So when I leave my battery in and the plug in overnight and during the day, I'm actually damaging the battery and causing the overall battery life to go down? :/

[ikonizer]

So when I leave my battery in and the plug in overnight and during the day, I'm actually damaging the battery and causing the overall battery life to go down? :/

Yes, as the article says, you should charge the battery to around 50%, and then store it in a cool place like a refrigerator. I would encase it in a ziplock bag as well.

[+shift. MVC]

http://mobileoffice.about.com/cs/laptops/h...ndlaptopbat.htm

http://www.technobuzz.net/10-ways-to-exten...s-battery-life/

Do whichever ones make sense the most for you :)

Sometimes you need to charge a laptop while you are using it; such as when you're in class and your laptop is running out of battery and you happen to need to plug it in to finish the lecture.

[shakey_snake]

I've also heard you shouldn't interrupt a charge when possible. Let it go the whole way to 100%.

This is more NiCad nonsense.

Not applicable to modern laptop (or cell phone, ore most other) batteries.

Lithium batteries do not suffer from memory effect.