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Battery Charging, Perfomance &
Tips
Click
HERE for a great
Battery Information Center from HP - Can be used for any
laptop battery
Video:
How to Extend Battery
Life in Your Laptop
Battery Usage Tips
1. New batteries
must
be fully charged before use.
2. New batteries
MUST
be fully charged and discharged (cycled) at least 3 to 4
times before it can be conditioned to full capacity.
3. Rechargeable batteries undergo self-discharging when
left unused. Always store a battery pack in a fully
charged stage for storage.
4. Fully drain and fully recharge your battery pack
every few months.
5. Turn down the LCD brightness of your portable device
during battery only use.
6. Use built-in power management on your portable
device.
7. Turn off the LCD or other unnecessary accessories
when not in use.
8. Set your screen saver to blank after 1 or 2 minutes
during battery use only.
9. Add more RAM if you have an extra RAM expansion slot,
it will reduce the usage of hard drive as it is power
exhaustive.
10. Don't expose to moisture or water.
11. It's normal for the battery to get warm when
charging or during normal use. If it is getting too hot,
there may be a problem with the laptop's charging
circuit or the battery. Consult qualified personnel to
have the system checked.
Laptop
Battery Maintenance
How do I
charge my new replacement laptop battery?
Your new laptop battery comes in a discharged condition
and must be charged before use (refer to your computer
manual for charging instructions). Upon initial use (or
after a prolonged storage period) the battery may
require three to four charge/discharge cycles before
achieving maximum capacity.
When charging the laptop battery for the
first time
your computer may indicate that charging is complete
after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal phenomenon
with rechargeable batteries. Simply repeat the charging
procedure.
It is important to condition (fully discharge and then
fully charge) the laptop battery every couple of months.
Failure to do so may significantly shorten the battery's
life To discharge, simply run your device under
the battery's power until it shuts down or until you get
a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as
instructed in your user's manual.
If the laptop battery will not be in use for a month or
longer, it is recommended that it be removed from the
device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.
It is normal for a laptop battery to become warm during
charging and discharging.
A charged laptop battery will eventually lose its charge
if unused. It may therefore be necessary to recharge the
battery after a storage period.
The milliamp-hour (mAH) rating of the laptop battery
will often be higher than the one on your original
battery. A higher mAH rating is indicative of a longer
lasting (higher capacity) battery and will not cause any
incompatibilities. A replacement laptop battery
will, in most cases, outperform the original by 30% to
50%.
Actual battery run-time depends upon the power demands
made by the equipment. In the case of notebook
computers, the use of the monitor, the hard drive and
other peripherals results in an additional drain upon
the battery, effectively reducing the battery's
run-time. The total run-time of the battery is also
heavily dependent upon the design of the equipment. To
ensure maximum performance of the battery, optimize your
computer's power management features. Refer to your
computer manual for further instructions.
How Can I
Maximize My Laptop Battery Performance?
There are several steps you can take to insure that you
get maximum performance from your laptop battery:
Breaking In
New Batteries
- new batteries come in a discharged condition and must
be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you
fully charge and discharge your new battery two to four
times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.
Preventing
the Memory Effect
- Keep your battery healthy by fully charging and then
fully discharging it at least every couple of months.
Exceptions to the rule are that some Li-ion batteries do
not suffer from the memory effect.
Keep Your
Batteries Clean
- It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with
a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good
connection between the battery and your portable device.
Exercise
Your Battery
- Do not leave your battery dormant for long periods of
time. We recommend using the laptop on battery-only at
least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has
not been used for a long period of time, perform the new
battery break in procedure described above.
Battery
Storage - If
you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more,
we recommend storing it in a clean, dry, cool place away
from heat and metal objects. Ni-Cd, NiMH and Li-ion
batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember
to break them in before use.
For Notebook
Users - To
get maximum performance from your battery, fully
optimize the notebook's power management features prior
to use. Power management is a trade off: better power
conservation in exchange for lesser computer
performance. The power management system conserves
battery power by setting the processor to run at a
slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning down the hard
drive when it's not in use and causing the machine to go
into sleep mode when inactive. Your notebook user's
guide will provide information relating to specific
power management features.
Battery
Types, Performance, and Charging Tips
Lithium-ion
(Li-ion) Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are the newest technology
batteries and offer several advantages over NiMH and
NiCd batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are preferred for
their lighter weight and higher performance. Lithium-ion
batteries are typically 20-35% lighter and will provide
10-20% better performance than a NiMH battery of
equivalent mAh rating. Lithium-ion batteries are also
unique in that some are not susceptible to the "memory
effect".
A new Lithium-ion battery will benefit greatly from an
initial "conditioning" of the battery. For the first 4
charge cycles, fully charge the battery overnight and
allow it to fully discharge before recharging. Once
conditioned, Lithium-ion batteries will perform best
when charged at a rate somewhere between a conventional
slow charge and a rapid charge. When rapid charging,
Lithium-ion batteries require a charger designed to
charge Lithium batteries. To achieve a true full charge
when rapid charging, the battery needs to be slow
charged the last 10-15% of its charge cycle. Most
"intelligent" Lithium-battery rapid chargers provide
this capability. A Lithium-ion battery may be damaged by
extensive overcharging (continuously on a charger for
more than 24 hours). Back to Top
Nickel-Metal
Hydride (NiMH) Batteries
NiMH batteries typically provide at least 30% more talk
time than NiCd batteries. While still susceptible to the
"memory effect," NiMH batteries are much less prone to
this condition than the older technology NiCd batteries.
Proper conditioning of a NiMH battery over it's lifetime
will greatly reduce the potential negative impacts of
"memory effect." This can be done by ensuring the
battery is fully discharged before recharging at least
once in every 3-5 charge cycles.
It is very important to properly "condition" a new NiMH
battery. For the first 4 charge cycles, fully charge the
battery overnight (preferably on a conventional slow
charger) and allow it to fully discharge before
recharging. Over its lifetime, a NiMH battery will
perform best if it is regularly charged on a
charger/conditioner type charger. A NiMH battery may be
damaged by extensive overcharging (continuously on a
charger for more than 24 hours). Back to Top
Nickel
Cadmium (NiCd) Batteries
NiCd batteries are the oldest technology batteries.
While they offer good performance, NiCd batteries are
highly susceptible to the "memory effect." Due to the
overall superior performance of Lithium-ion and NiMH
batteries and the additional negative environmental
impact of NiCd battery disposal, CELLPOWER chooses to
specialize in Lithium-ion and NiMN batteries and not
carry NiCd batteries in our product line. Back to Top
The "Memory
Effect"
"Memory Effect" is a condition of reduced battery
performance (and eventual failure) due to a battery only
using those cells that are fully discharged and charged
on a regular basis. In other words, if on a regular
basis a NiCd or NiMH battery is only partially
discharged before being recharged, it " forgets" that it
has usable capacity to further discharge all the way
down. The result is degraded battery performance and
shorter battery life because the battery is using less
than it's true full capacity. Li-ion batteries do not
develop the "memory effect". NiMH batteries, while
considerably better than their NiCd counterparts, are
prone to developing "memory effect." However, proper
care and conditioning over the life of a NiMH battery
will significantly reduce the potential negative
impacts. Back to Top
Battery Do's &
Don'ts (to maximize performance)
Do's:
Properly "condition" (fully charge/discharge for first 3
cycles) the battery when it is new.
Keep the battery and the contact terminals clean.
Avoid exposing the battery to extreme heat and cold.
Use the battery. If possible, avoid letting your battery
sit dormant for long periods of time.
Use only the phone options and accessories that you
really need.
Charge and re-condition a battery after an extended idle
period.
Don'ts:
Toss, drop, or otherwise abuse the battery.
Short-circuit the battery.
Open and expose the cell contents.
Modify the battery casing and/or housing.
Allow the battery to be exposed to rain or excessive
moisture.
Incinerate a battery. Properly dispose of a used
battery. |
