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Saving Laptop Battery and Increasing Lifespan
Note: This material is provided for educational purposes only. Consult with a computer expert at MyCuredComputer for professional assistance and the best intended outcome.
In buying portable computers, the most common question users frequently ask is “How long will the battery last?” The answer is not as simple as everyone thinks. As time passes users may notice that they are not getting the same battery performance as they expected.
Most users do not understand why the battery does not last as long as predicted. This document will describe and explain the most common issues and workarounds to keep your battery’s life longer.
Battery life differs depending on product specification, applications, and power management settings the customer used. Overtime, its battery capacity decreases depending on how it was properly maintained.
What is a Lithium-Ion battery?
It is made of multiple cells connected in series and in parallel based on the voltage and current requirements of the device. Computers nowadays use Li-Ion batteries because it is cost effective, lighter, and retains the charge longer. Unlike the NiMH batteries, Li-Ion can be charged before it is fully discharged because they are not vulnerable to the memory effect.
Battery Cycle Life
The battery cycle is the amount of discharging and charging cycles on a battery until it can no longer holds anymore charge. The life cycle depends on how we use proper precautions in taking care of the battery.
Maximizing the Capacity and Life Span of the Battery
Temperature is the main cause of battery life span loss. Keep in mind that higher temperatures and higher energy discharge depends on the heat generated by the notebook itself, including but not limited to the environment’s temperature, and additional input devices such as docking station. Running high-end applications uses more power and drains the battery fast that can also lead the battery life cycle decreases.
Here are some recommended battery care practices
- Store the battery between 68°F and 77°F with not less than 30% charge.
- Do not physically disassemble the battery or puncture, or short the external contacts on a battery.
- Remove the battery if the notebook will be stored. (Do not remove the battery without shutting down your notebook first)
- If using just the AC adapter, remove the battery before turning the computer on to avoid too much exposure to hot temperature.
- In running high quality graphics such as high-end games or application, choose a battery with the highest capacity rating (Ah).
- Keep the battery away from children.
- Calibrate the battery at least once a month.
Conserving battery power
- Reduce brightness of the screen.
- Change power settings to power saver.
- Remove external devices when not in use. If you have an external optical drive, hard drive, or printer, and not currently in use, remove them to conserve battery consumption.
- Turn off Wireless if not in use.
Check startup items and disable unnecessary applications. Whenever software has been installed, it creates a startup application running on the background. Having too many applications running decreases its battery charge.
Note: This material is provided for educational purposes only. Consult with a computer expert at MyCuredComputer for professional assistance and the best intended outcome.
In buying portable computers, the most common question users frequently ask is “How long will the battery last?” The answer is not as simple as everyone thinks. As time passes users may notice that they are not getting the same battery performance as they expected.
Most users do not understand why the battery does not last as long as predicted. This document will describe and explain the most common issues and workarounds to keep your battery’s life longer.
Battery life differs depending on product specification, applications, and power management settings the customer used. Overtime, its battery capacity decreases depending on how it was properly maintained.
What is a Lithium-Ion battery?
It is made of multiple cells connected in series and in parallel based on the voltage and current requirements of the device. Computers nowadays use Li-Ion batteries because it is cost effective, lighter, and retains the charge longer. Unlike the NiMH batteries, Li-Ion can be charged before it is fully discharged because they are not vulnerable to the memory effect.
Battery Cycle Life
The battery cycle is the amount of discharging and charging cycles on a battery until it can no longer holds anymore charge. The life cycle depends on how we use proper precautions in taking care of the battery.
Maximizing the Capacity and Life Span of the Battery
Temperature is the main cause of battery life span loss. Keep in mind that higher temperatures and higher energy discharge depends on the heat generated by the notebook itself, including but not limited to the environment’s temperature, and additional input devices such as docking station. Running high-end applications uses more power and drains the battery fast that can also lead the battery life cycle decreases.
Here are some recommended battery care practices
n Store the battery between 68°F and 77°F with not less than 30% charge.
n Do not physically disassemble the battery or puncture, or short the external contacts on a battery.
n Remove the battery if the notebook will be stored. (Do not remove the battery without shutting down your notebook first)
n If using just the AC adapter, remove the battery before turning the computer on to avoid too much exposure to hot temperature.
n In running high quality graphics such as high-end games or application, choose a battery with the highest capacity rating (Ah).
n Keep the battery away from children.
n Calibrate the battery at least once a month.
Conserving battery power
n Reduce brightness of the screen.
n Change power settings to power saver.
n Remove external devices when not in use. If you have an external optical drive, hard drive, or printer, and not currently in use, remove them to conserve battery consumption.
n Turn off Wireless if not in use.
n Check startup items and disable unnecessary applications. Whenever software has been installed, it creates a startup application running on the background. Having too many applications running decreases its battery charge.
