Laptop battery

[Jim]

This is what I want to find out? I have had two different laptops in the
past xxx years. The first one was made by a computer store locally. I have
had four yrs. appoximately. The battery has been in laptop which has bee
running with the ac power supply for 90% of the time i have used it. Now the
battery only last 1/2 hour or so. Question: Would I be better of removing
battery on my newish Dell laptop while in use at home and plan to charge
battery for road trips? Sounds like a dumb question to me but hope you all
can give me you input as to what to do? Dell clams the charging system will
not overcharge battery! Does that mean it will be alright to leave in laptop
for extended periods of time hooked up with ac power? Will it (battery) last
as long as is does now 11/2 - 2 hrs? Will appreciate any comments about this
question! Thankyou in advance! I do not go on the road more than three times
a year if that really matters! Just like mobility of the laptop through out
my home were desktop is in one room only.

 

[Ian]

This is what I want to find out? I have had two different laptops in the
past xxx years. The first one was made by a computer store locally. I have
had four yrs. appoximately. The battery has been in laptop which has bee
running with the ac power supply for 90% of the time i have used it. Now
the battery only last 1/2 hour or so. Question: Would I be better of
removing battery on my newish Dell laptop while in use at home and plan to
charge battery for road trips? Sounds like a dumb question to me but hope
you all can give me you input as to what to do? Dell clams the charging
system will not overcharge battery! Does that mean it will be alright to
leave in laptop for extended periods of time hooked up with ac power? Will
it (battery) last as long as is does now 11/2 - 2 hrs? Will appreciate any
comments about this question! Thankyou in advance! I do not go on the road
more than three times a year if that really matters! Just like mobility of
the laptop through out my home were desktop is in one room only.

Although not a Vista question I will answer. Batteries in laptop are better
fully charged all the time. Now that means that when possible plug it in to
the mains. When it is used on battery alone for a period always top it right
up. Dell is right, over charging can not happen.

I use mine on the mains at home while I use it and when out plug it in on
return.

That all said batteries are not lifelong and can need renewal at any time.
If you find the charge period diminishes to much it call for renewal

 

[Jim]

Ian thankyou for info!

Although not a Vista question I will answer. Batteries in laptop are
better fully charged all the time. Now that means that when possible plug
it in to the mains. When it is used on battery alone for a period always
top it right up. Dell is right, over charging can not happen.

I use mine on the mains at home while I use it and when out plug it in on
return.

That all said batteries are not lifelong and can need renewal at any time.
If you find the charge period diminishes to much it call for renewal

 

[Richard Hay]

Jim,

I bring mine to a full charge and then unplug it until it runs down and then
start the cycle over.

In my personal experience this has allowed my laptop batteries to last much
long and maintain chargers longer than when I used to keep them plugged in
all the time at home.

Just my personal experience - your mileage may of course vary

 

[Alun Harford]

This is what I want to find out? I have had two different laptops in the
past xxx years. The first one was made by a computer store locally. I
have had four yrs. appoximately. The battery has been in laptop which
has bee running with the ac power supply for 90% of the time i have used
it. Now the battery only last 1/2 hour or so. Question: Would I be
better of removing battery on my newish Dell laptop while in use at home
and plan to charge battery for road trips? Sounds like a dumb question
to me but hope you all can give me you input as to what to do? Dell
clams the charging system will not overcharge battery! Does that mean it
will be alright to leave in laptop for extended periods of time hooked
up with ac power? Will it (battery) last as long as is does now 11/2 - 2
hrs? Will appreciate any comments about this question! Thankyou in
advance! I do not go on the road more than three times a year if that
really matters! Just like mobility of the laptop through out my home
were desktop is in one room only.

Keeping the battery hot is bad for it. Removing it from the laptop when
you're using it will extend its life (since the laptop makes it hot).

Alun Harford

 

[ray]

This is what I want to find out? I have had two different laptops in the
past xxx years. The first one was made by a computer store locally. I have
had four yrs. appoximately. The battery has been in laptop which has bee
running with the ac power supply for 90% of the time i have used it. Now the
battery only last 1/2 hour or so. Question: Would I be better of removing
battery on my newish Dell laptop while in use at home and plan to charge
battery for road trips? Sounds like a dumb question to me but hope you all
can give me you input as to what to do? Dell clams the charging system will
not overcharge battery! Does that mean it will be alright to leave in laptop
for extended periods of time hooked up with ac power? Will it (battery) last
as long as is does now 11/2 - 2 hrs? Will appreciate any comments about this
question! Thankyou in advance! I do not go on the road more than three times
a year if that really matters! Just like mobility of the laptop through out
my home were desktop is in one room only.

Depends a little on what type of battery.

Typically, Ni-Cd batteries
suffer from 'memory' - meaning that if they are often recharged before
being fully drained, they tend to loose capacity. If they're plugged in
'all the time' they loose the majority of their capacity. Best use is to
charge them up, and then drain them before recharging.

Ni-Mh batteries do not suffer much from memory. They have a larger
capacity and don't need to be drained before recharging.

Li-ion batteries perform best if they are only partially drained before
being recharged.

You may find some useful information at www.batterydata.com.

 

[Jim]

All good information! Thank you!