How to extend the battery life of your notebook

Posted on Friday, September 15 2006 @ 13:40 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Warning: I received this article from a guest writer and unfortunately I didn't check it for accuracy. According to some of the comments the first two steps won't do much and the third will likely damage Li-ion batteries as they should never be depleted to 0%. Some better tips can be found at Wikipedia.

Here's a quote from the Wikipedia howto:
  • Unlike NiCad batteries, lithium-ion batteries should be charged early and often. However, if they are not used for a longer time, they should be brought to a charge level of around 40%. Lithium-ion batteries should never be "deep-cycled" like NiCd batteries.
  • Li-ion batteries should be kept cool. Ideally they are stored in a refrigerator. Aging will take its toll much faster at high temperatures. The high temperatures found in cars cause lithium-ion batteries to degrade rapidly.
  • Lithium-ion batteries should never be depleted to empty (0%).
  • According to one book, lithium ion batteries should not be frozen. Note that most lithium-ion battery electrolytes freeze at approximately −40 °C, which is much colder than the lowest temperature reached by most household freezers.
  • Li-ion batteries should be bought only when needed, because the aging process begins as soon as the battery is manufactured.
  • When using a notebook computer running from fixed line power over extended periods, the battery can be removed and stored in a cool place so that it is not affected by the heat produced by the computer. (However, a notebook computer's battery prevents sudden loss of the data in memory during power failures and brownouts. Reasonable alternatives are the use of an older lithium ion battery or an external uninterruptible power supply.)
    • ------------

    Notebook computers. At this point in the 21st century, they have become an indispensable part of many people's everyday lives. From the commuting business executive and the busy college student, we all want to be mobile with our computers. The big drawback of that is the fact that there is not always a plug around when you need one. A notebook computer's battery is its life-blood. Without proper care, your notebook battery could fail much earlier than anticipated. By following a few simple steps, you can expect to get the greatest amount of usage possible out of your notebook battery before a replacement is needed.

    1. Upon purchase, charge the battery to full capacity. Whether you have purchased a new computer have purchased a new battery for your laptop, charging it fully as soon as you open the box is the best recommendation. This allows the battery to reach a full capacity before you begin to use it "unplugged". Most batteries come with a partial charge, enough to get you going if you absolutely had to. Giving that battery a full charge when it is brand new will help set the charge capacity for the battery at its highest possible level.

    2. Once you reach a full charge, leave the computer plugged in for at least 2 hours. This action lets the battery "rest" at a full charge for a fairly lengthy period of time. At this point, the battery is not drawing power from your wall socket to charge, and it is also not supplying any power to your system. Letting your battery rest for a time after a full charge helps to "lock-in" that full charge capacity.

    3. Unplug the computer and drain the battery. It might sound silly, but now that you have gotten that battery to a full charge, you need to drain the power almost completely. Again, this will help determine the charge capacity of the battery. Leave your computer unplugged and use it until you get a warning telling you that the battery is almost completely discharge. Then save whatever you are working on and power the computer down. Plug back into the wall socket for a fresh charge. Then use the computer at your leisure.

    If you follow these steps about once a month, your notebook battery should last a nice long while. Not to say that you will never have to replace it, but at least it will be a long time before you need to.

    Info about our guestwriter of the day: Michael Paul is the host/producer of the TechCast Weekly Podcast, a popular weekly show dedicated to providing computer help, tips, and tutorials to help make you computing life easier and easier to understand. Visit http://www.techcastweekly.com for the latest shows and tips for the average computer user.

    About the Author

    Thomas De Maesschalck

    Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.


    Loading Comments


    Use Disqus to post new comments, the old comments are listed below.

    Re: How to extend the battery life of your notebook
    by Anonymous on Sunday, September 17 2006 @ 11:31 CEST
    This information is complete nonsense.

    Items 1 and 2 achieve nothing, item 3 will reduce your overall battery lifespan.



    • Reply by Anonymous on Sunday, September 17 2006 @ 11:38 CEST

      I don't believe that LiOn batteries require full charges/discharges to maintain proper battery performance, unlike NiCd batteries which have that annoying "memory" problem. I've had several notebooks and the batteries have always shown degraded performance after about a year to 18 months of normal use. Generally 3 years is about the usable life of a notebook battery before it has to be replaced, in my experience.

    • Reply by Anonymous on Sunday, September 17 2006 @ 16:04 CEST

      The above comment is 100% correct, and the author should do more research before writing next time.

      An article which describes all that is needed about the physical aspects of the battery is on wikipedia

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_batteries

    Re: How to extend the battery life of your notebook
    by Anonymous on Sunday, September 17 2006 @ 22:29 CEST
    Thirs step is complete rubbish, and I recommend you read this page: http://www.dansdata.com/gz011.htm

    Quoting from it "
    "Memory effect" is now used as a general term for anything that makes a battery not deliver its full capacity. What the term originally referred to, though, is a phenomenon that's probably never actually been observed in consumer hardware.

    True memory only happens in sintered plate NiCd cells (which aren't necessarily the sort of NiCd you're using, and are of course completely different from any kind of NiMH cell), and it only happens when you precisely discharge a cell to exactly the same level over and over again, and recharge it without any overcharge. True memory effect happens in satellite power systems, electronics test labs, and practically nowhere else.
    "



    Re: How to extend the battery life of your notebook
    by Anonymous on Monday, September 18 2006 @ 20:19 CEST
    Discharging the battery to the lower limit of a Li-ion (about 3.0-3.2V per cell), CAN help for older batteries. Although not very much (but hey what do you have to lose).

    If its a new battery the calibration procedure will do what he is describing, but not down to anywhere near 3V (which is good).

    There are some other tricks for older batteries, freezing, etc. that may or may not help. I would not recommend any of these for a new battery.



    Share this story!

    Latest news

    Latest reviews