I’m a newbie with laptop, er, notebook PC’s. I know that battery life tends to be relatively short-lived (maybe 1 - 2 years) so I’m looking for ways to make the battery last as long as possible. Would leaving the battery out of the computer while I’m using AC power make it last longer since it won’t be constantly topped off? As long as the battery was charged before I took it out would there be any detrimental effects? Thanks.
A notebook battery is a complex chemical soup of materials and in my experience, letting the battery lie dormant outside the machine for extended periods does little to extend it’s life for li-on or nickle hydride batteries vs using it once the battery has been put into use. I would suggest just using it normally and leaving it in the machine.
For NiCd or Nimh do not leave the battery in if you are using a/c most of the time. What hapens is the battery will cycle near 99% - 100% capacity and you will kill battery cycle life.
NiCd you must cycle the battery fully about every other time to aviod voltage depression (memory), Nimh should be cycled about 1/month with moderate battery usage and once every other month for very light usage.
Li-ion is a different animal - there is a limited life time. From the moment it leaves the factory it’s life is set. One plate is being eaten away by the electrolite and that can’t be stopped. You could shorten it by poor charging habits but you can’t lenghten it. I would say that you may be able to leave such battieies in the laptop continously but to be safe any long time on a/c pull it out.
I have found the best thing to do is have 2 batts. Once your’s starts going buy another (or get it under warn.) Don’t return your old one if you can help it. Use your old one most of the time and the new one only when you want extended time on the battery. My old one I only get about 15 minutes on but the newer one (1 yr old) I can get about 1.5 hrs - both Nimh.
Which rememds me I should cycle it soon.