I have a new apple laptop (macbook) and I would like to know how I can maximize the life of the battery. Most of the time the laptop stays on my desk in one location, plugged in. Should I keep it plugged in 24/7? Should I unplug it at night? Should I remove the battery and just keep the laptop plugged in?
2006-11-16 14:06:09 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Laptop batteries have finite life spans. Whether you use the power cord and remove the battery it will lengthen the life of the battery.
Li-Ion laptop battery lifespan is approximately 1000 charge cycles, or 2-4 years under normal operating conditions.
Keeping the battery in a cool place can prolong its life but not in a period of extended storage. The Li-ion battery should be stored at 40 percent rather than full-charge state.
The battery ages even if not used. For best results, keep the battery cool. In addition, store the battery at a 40 percent charge level. Never fully charge or discharge the battery before storage. The 40 percent charge assures a stable condition even if self-discharge robs some of the battery's energy. Most battery manufacturers store Li-ion batteries at 15°C (59°F) and at 40 percent charge.
Keeping a laptop battery on constant charge is and never using it is not good for the laptop battery. Run the battery down and recharging it at least once every month.
2006-11-16 14:08:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both of the advice given to you is wrong. Using the battery every chance you get will shorten the batteries life. Like with all technology, the more you use it, the shorter its life would be. You should NEVER drain your battery to 0%. If you do it weekly, it will insure a very short life of the battery(both in charge and life). What you should do, if your using it as a desktop: Plug in the computer and take out the battery. It will still work fine. Then only use the battery when you need it. You should charge your battery when it hits a 10-15% charge remaining. This will insure your not over charging the battery by leaving it plugged in. (most common laptop mistake). Good Luck!
2016-05-21 21:51:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume your laptop uses a sealed lead-acid battery, much as is common in Uninterruptable Power Supplies, which are a perfect match for these types of batteries (most laptops use only this type of battery).
To maximize the lifetime in that case, charge the bulk of the battery's capacity as infrequently as possible.
i.e. Keep the battery as close to a full charge as possible always, and use as little of the capacity as possible when draining the battery.
In a lead acid battery, it is the process of recharging that degrades the capacity.
If you fully discharge the battery, greater resistance will occur during the next recharging -- that means a lot more heat will be released, causing much more waste of electricity, and more damage and eventual loss of capacity and voltage to the battery, than if it had not been fully discharged.
If you fully discharge the battery, there may be a dramatic and permanent loss of capacity.
If you leave it plugged in, you may be recharging it whenever the
charge drops below XX level, this would be ideal, for a battery you might want to use in the near future.
Or the laptop may stop charging the battery when it reaches full, and never charge it again unless you unplug and plug the laptop back in (that would not be ideal); this depends on the design of the laptop's battery charging circuits -- the instruction manuals for your laptop and/or its battery may offer some hints into this matter.
2006-11-16 14:40:45 · answer #3 · answered by Jimmy H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would at least unplug it ever now and then and drain the battery to about 25%. Its not good to leave some laptops pluged in all the time :/
2006-11-16 14:09:52 · answer #4 · answered by goldwelp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Best way to preserve your battery -- any battery, be it cell phone or laptop, is to charge it fully, then deplete the charge as much as you can, then recharge it once more.
And if you intend to let it sit, for extended periods of time, Deplete the battery. Dont let it sit fully charged for long periods of times weeks/months on a full charge or youll weaken the battery cells.
2006-11-16 14:12:19 · answer #5 · answered by writersbIock2006 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your gonna use a power cord to power your laptop just remove the battery at 40% like what YesSirBob said and place it in the fridge (no joke my dad throws batteries in the fridge and they last longer) this is a cool trick use it well my friend
2006-11-16 14:35:11 · answer #6 · answered by Caboose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just follow this simple rule "not to drain out and not to over charge the battery".
2006-11-16 15:49:51 · answer #7 · answered by wacky_racer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depend greatly on what type of battery you have...
2006-11-16 14:13:49 · answer #8 · answered by Andrew S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋