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The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:26 pm
by flip-mode
Here is the ocforums battery guide. Great info in there, pictures of battery internals.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

the basics:
remove battery when lappy is connected to the mains
store battery at 40% charge and in the refridgerator if possible (do not store in freezer)
fully discharge the battery after every 30 charges to calibrate the charge meter
lithium-ion does not have a charge memory
if possible, don't buy two batteries, but wait till the first one dies and then buy another
don't buy old stock, even if discounted
expected life of a lithium-ion battery is 2-3 years

According to CheesyKing, you can remove the battery from a laptop without worrying about losing BIOS information. If you do this, do what you can to protect the battery port on the lappy from collecting dust.

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:38 pm
by Usacomp2k3
couple questions...how are you supposed to charge it if you don't have the battery in when it is plugged in :wink:
alos, why would someone buy 2 batteries if they didn't need the more than the capacity that 1 could provide

anyway, a couple of those are good points

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:44 pm
by flip-mode
well, if I understand correctly, you only want the battery at 40% when its removed anyway, and then charge it fully before you're going to go mobile.

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:54 pm
by Usacomp2k3
just to tell you my story, i've had my laptop since jun 2003...it's a dell 8500 w/ a 15.4" p4-mobile 512mb...blah blah...i've had the same Li-Ion battery since day one....I use it for 3 of my 6 classes, so it's constantly being unplugged and used then brought back...i run it down to 5-10% of remaining life almost every day...I have it plugged in whenever I am in my dorm...never take the battery out....and the result:

i still get around 2 hours at max battery life...which is about 15 minutes less than new....i'd say it's not worth the hassle in my case

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 6:09 am
by flip-mode
That's terrific that you're battery is maintaining so well :P I hope mine does as well. The info provided by the article is still a terrific resource. Lot of guys and gals have questions about battery handling. Common questions:

does my battery have a carge memory?
how to I make my battery last longer?
should I buy a sparer battery?

And so on and so on. This guys method of study and overall comprehensive sharing of information is also a little more scientific than many responses posted in forums - so its handy info, good to know, don't you think. :roll:

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:59 am
by StarkMjolk
Nice info mate. :) Unfortiunally, my laptop battery has bad contact or something atm, can't get it to run. So I'm always connected right now, gonna clean the pins and try some more at a later time. Can normally handle having a cord from the lappy anyways. :)

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:08 pm
by flip-mode
So, one question... If I were to yank the battery and pull the power would any settings be lost from the bios or would the clock get messed?

Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:14 pm
by Convert
They still have cmos batteries AFAIK. I was messing around with a older hp notebook (1ghz duron) and removed all sources of power without consequences.

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:55 pm
by cheesyking
Most laptops have 1 and often 2 cmos batteries.

Recently took a non working Tosh apart to find both its cmos batteries had leaked across the motherboard :evil: it's now just a pile of spares, no point trying to fix a mess like that.

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:41 am
by flip-mode
BUMP...

This is the kind of resource I was hoping this thread would be.

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:01 am
by LicketySplit
Some good info there...you'll just have to keep this thread updated :wink: On another note...did you ever find a 10 cell or larger battery for "our" make of lappies?

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:06 am
by flip-mode
Negative, will have to do some searching on that. I still need to order the wireless module too, and a carrying case :-? Not having wi-fi at home makes it less of a priority...

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:07 am
by LicketySplit
You have PM...sent you a link with a very good case.

Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 10:43 am
by LicketySplit
Now...this is a battery i could really get into...prolly wouldnt get the life as long as stated here...but a couple years on a laptop battery with no recharging?? Can you say yes :lol:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/personaln ... sts12years

Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 12:42 pm
by Usacomp2k3
would you really want to put your laptop on your lap if it had that kind of battery? :wink:

Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 3:18 pm
by LicketySplit
Trust me ..i would...i sure as hell dont need any more kids :lol:

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:44 am
by SpotTheCat
I saw this giant spare battery that plugs into your power adapter port
http://www.electrovaya.com/product/powerpad160.html
amazing. I've known of people building chargers for their PDAs before, it's about time someone did it for laptops. I wonder if it would be possible to make your own. I suspect it would take quite a few rechargable AA batteries though :D

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:47 am
by annabel
hah I didn't even know you could just take a battery out of a laptop without calling the IT guy >.<

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:44 am
by flip-mode
Nice necro annabel :P

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:57 am
by annabel
it was already floating about at the top. it's just asking to be posted in

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:54 pm
by SpotTheCat
I was || close to posting here myself last month, but I decided to let it be because I had made the previous post 2 years before.

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:07 am
by annabel
I was reading it cause I'm buying a laptop and I don't know kinda battery you're meant to get.. :D

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:41 am
by Flying Fox
annabel wrote:
I was reading it cause I'm buying a laptop and I don't know kinda battery you're meant to get.. :D

Unless you are buying a spare battery you don't need to care, because new laptops do come with one battery.

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:47 am
by annabel
I know but I have to pick which one I want:

4-cell 28WHr Li-Ion primary battery

6-cell 56WHr Li-Ion primary battery

9-cell 85WHr Li-Ion primary battery

and i don't understand. Do I just go for the biggest number cause that'll be best?

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:30 am
by Flying Fox
annabel wrote:
I know but I have to pick which one I want:

4-cell 28WHr Li-Ion primary battery

6-cell 56WHr Li-Ion primary battery

9-cell 85WHr Li-Ion primary battery

and i don't understand. Do I just go for the biggest number cause that'll be best?

The more cells the more energy the battery pack can store, hence longer battery life. However, you have to pay attention whether the 6 or 9 cell models will be large so you have something sticking out of the laptop. Which laptop model are you talking about? We can help you look it up if they are the ones that stick out.

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:32 am
by LicketySplit
The more cells in your battery the longer it will last. If youre going to be plugged into the wall socket then the 6 cell will be more than enough..if youre going to use the lappy a lot away from a power source then get the biggest one you can as it will last much longer. If youre using the supplied adapter in conjunction with a power source you should take your battery out once its charged anyway :wink:

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:55 am
by annabel
I'm getting a dell..uh.. 1525 only cause i don't know what other kind. but LOOK

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstor ... 2513&s=dhs

it just goes on forever :(

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:22 pm
by lordT
I have the Dell 9 cell. It adds considerable heft to the laptop. The 6 cell is better.

On another note, I've have had my laptop for over a year now. I get the same battery life now as compared to a year ago.

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:46 pm
by Flying Fox
Just checked a 1525 review and only the 9-cell battery is of the "sticking out" type.

@mods: this stuff probably needs a split?

Re: The laptop battery guide

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:54 pm
by LicketySplit
Flying Fox wrote:

@mods: this stuff probably needs a split?



Meh...dont see why.