Laptop batteries

[cazzz1975]

Is it true that in order to lengthen the life of your laptop battery, you have to unplug it if you are using the laptop off the mains ? and never have the power cable plugged in at the same time as the battery unless you are charging it?

I have never heard of this and I dont know anyone who disconnects their battery when they are using the laptop on mains power..

[ChuckFickens]

"They're crap. Why are they so crap?"

Because the power socket on a laptop tends to be very weak and very easily broken, I get about 1 every couple of months from friends and friends of friends to dismantle and replace the power socket where they have been broken. they are not an expensive part but it normally involves a total strip down of the laptop to get access to the part which can be very time consuming.

Modern laptop batteries do not need to be regularly discharged for purposes of maintaining the battery, they do need to be discharged regularly so the charging electronics has an idea of what is full and what is empty otherwise the laptop can get into the state where it will shut it's self off while there is charge left in a battery because it's lost track of what an empty battery looks like.

[gingejbee]

Philips rechargeable razors (mine with Li ion battery) instruct users to occasionally fully discharge and recharge to "optimise battery life".

[AlBags]

'Use it or lose it' is what they say, isn't it? : )

[ChuckFickens]

They do indeed, gingejbee, but it's not for the reasons most people think (to keep the battery conditioned) it is just to keep the charging electronics aware of what a full and empty charge level is.

[gingejbee]

.....and, yes, I know it's a razor not a laptop, but the chemistry of the battery is the same.

[gingejbee]

OK , thanks Chuck, over and out.... off to cook!