Laptop battery...

[Bravestar]

I just want to ask something, when using your laptop is it better for the battery if the laptop is unplugged from powersupply or with powersupply...

I'm asking this cause my sisters laptop can't work without the laptop being plugged in(Screen goes all dark to save power), why could this be?

Does a laptops battery work the same way as a cellphones battery?

 

[bwana]

How old is the laptop/battery?

 

[Bravestar]

3 years??? I'm just asking cause i'm buying myself a notebook and don't won't the same happening...

 

[bwana]

3 years??? I'm just asking cause i'm buying myself a notebook and don't won't the same happening...

Three years is a pretty good run for any rechargeable battery. I think it is time to get a new one.

As for battery health - I give mine a deep discharge every so often (thanks Eskom) otherwise I tend to keep it on the charger.

 

[Bravestar]

LoL, ok i'll tell my sis, so it doesnt matter using laptop with powersupply connected or without?

 

[morkhans]

Newer batteries are supposed to be able to handle being on charge all day. IBM has some nice power management software with the Thinkpads that will try and prolong the life of your battery by managing how it charges.

As per bwana's advice I also run my battery down till the OS says its time to shutdown and then boot it into the BIOS to let it run completely flat. I will then charge it till its full while the notebook is off.

Unfortunately you have to see batteries as a consumable. If you read the fine print on most warranties you will see the battery is either not covered or is covered for much shorter that that of the notebook. When it is time for a replacement get ready for a R1000+ bill

 

[bekdik]

A laptop will, under normal circumstances, try and conserve power. One of things it does is to cut down screen brightness another is to slow the cpu down.

This can be overridden by setting the power mode to presentation mode or you ca manually increase brightness.

I use my laptop on battery most of the time and on sometimes run out 2 or three times in the course of a day. My battery is about 5 years old now and still performing perectly.

I always recommend that batteries be run down at least once a month.

Works for me

 

[Bravestar]

Thanks, only prob is next year i'm working 9 hours a day on the laptop so i don't have time during work to switch laptop completely off and charge battery, but i will run it down.

 

[Skeptik]

If you are using a laptop on your desk most of the time, always take the battery out. Constantly plugging it in and out will definitely reduce it's life.

The laptop you have is probably a Sahara. They won't turn on without the battery, so you will have to replace it sooner. Most batteries don't last beyond 2 years or so anyway, depending on the technology. They can be quite expensive to replace ..

Look on the battery and see what it says:
(In order of reliability)
1. LiIon (Lithium Ion)

2. NiHd (Nickel Metal hydride)

3. Nicad (Nickel-Cadmium)