To charge - or not ?

[Dolby]

I bought a netbook about 6 months ago and pretty much only use it at home. The thing is I *always* use power if it's near, so the battery has hardly been used.

Guys at work tell me you *should* use the battery often - even if power is around - as it maintains the life of the battery.

Is that right ?

 

[bwana]

I usually run mine down once a month or so but I've been led to believe continuous, heavy use will have a negative impact on its life span.

 

[kayvee]

The best policy is actually to remove the battery from the laptop when operating from the mains. You lose, of course, the UPS function when the mains decides to trip.

Discharge the battery to 40%, then shut the lappie down and remove the battery and store it separately, operating from the mains only thereafter.

After a month put the battery back and recharge fully, disconnect from the mains and discharge back to 40%, remove battery and store again.

 

[bwana]

The best policy is actually to remove the battery from the laptop when operating from the mains. You lose, of course, the UPS function when the mains decides to trip.

Kind of a major flaw there wouldnt you say?

 

[kayvee]

Kind of a major flaw there wouldnt you say?

Depends what you value more, your battery or your data. But yes, in this country, sadly it is.

 

[Nameite]

Maybe like a discharge one a month or two...else keep it in the fridge for long term storage...wrapped in a plastic bag of course.

 

[bwana]

Depends what you value more, your battery or your data. But yes, in this country, sadly it is.

Data. Batteries are cheap compared to that.

Then there is another problem - my laptop gets top heavy without a battery and it's easier to knock it over.