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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
 Posted - 02/13/2005 : 12:48:15
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Enough people out there are technologically saavy so that I can get a good answer to a question I've yet been able to resolve.
I've heard that for rechargable batteries (e.g. cell phones, laptops, etc.), it is better for the life of the battery to let the charge run down before recharging it.
This was not what I did for my over-two-year-old cell phone, which, at present, sucks in terms of power and battery life. It also wasn't the policy I used for my old laptop (purchased in early 2001). However, it didn't have a great battery to begin with and I hardly ever used it without plugging it in.
I recently purchased a new laptop, however, that has a pretty good
(12 cell) battery. I do use it without being plugged in and have generally followed the policy of letting the power run low (ca. 15% or so) before plugging it in.
So, all of this is to ask if I'm doing the best thing for my new machine. What to you all think?
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Wendy
SFN Regular
USA
614 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2005 : 12:59:41 [Permalink]
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It is my understanding that frequent recharges are better for the life of the battery, but may confuse your gauge.
Then again, I could be full of shit.  |
Millions long for immortality who don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon.
-- Susan Ertz
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9696 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2005 : 13:14:14 [Permalink]
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The old Ni-Cd batteries had a high current capacity, but one of the drawbacks with them is that once you start charging them, some chemical process in them prevents them from discharing past this point the next time. If you only discharge them half-way enough times, they will gain "memory" that will prevent them from charging/discharging more than 50%
Nickle/metal-hydride batteries are not supposed to have this sort of memory, neither should Li-ion cells. But how this works, I'm not sure.
Led batteries should never be completely discharged, and certainly not left so for longer periods of time. I forgot to remove the battery of my bike, and the alarm sucked it dry. The battery is less than a year old, but all but ruined. Even when I applied 40v to it's 12v terminals I didn't get more current than 40-50mA. |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
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"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
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Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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dv82matt
SFN Regular
760 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2005 : 13:53:24 [Permalink]
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As Dr. M. points out it depends on the type of battery.
Some guidelines are here and here. |
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2005 : 14:20:41 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by dv82matt
As Dr. M. points out it depends on the type of battery.
Some guidelines are here and here.
I see. It looks like my Li-ion battery doesn't suffer from the NiMH battery, so my charging habits don't matter all that much... |
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Topic Locked
