There are many myths and misconceptions about charging and caring for lithium-ion laptop batteries. We look to answer some frequently asked questions in relation to charging and using your laptop battery, in order to prolong its overall lifespan.
Do batteries have a “memory effect”?
This phenomenon was associated with older, nickel based batteries. Modern lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from this memory effect.
What is the best way to charge the battery?
It is generally accepted that performing what are sometimes known as “shallow discharges” are best for overall battery health. This is essentially discharging by a relatively small amount, then charging by a comparatively small amount, rather than fully discharging and charging the battery.
Is it bad to leave the battery fully charged?
Keeping the battery within the range of 40%-80% is a good rule of thumb with respect to the level of charge at which to most frequently keep a battery. Generally batteries will not perform optimally if charged to 100%.
Is it bad for the battery to leave the AC adapter plugged in?
Batteries contain charging circuitry which will prevent any damage being done to the battery when it reaches full charge. While no significant damage will be done by leaving the AC adapter plugged in, it’s still advised not to leave it plugged in all the time in order to prolong the overall life of the battery. This is for the following reasons:
- Constantly having the laptop plugged in will increase the amount of heat given off by the internal circuitry of the laptop. Heat is detrimental to the long term lifespan of the battery.
- The battery will slowly self discharge past a certain threshold, after which time the circuitry will dictate that the battery enter a charging state again. This means the battery will constantly be cycling through a charge/discharge state, and pushed to the sub-optimal 100% charge state.
- As above, it’s better for the battery to remain in the 40%-80% range, rather than fully charged or discharged.
How often do I have to fully discharge the battery?
Most manufacturers recommend discharging the battery fully once every month. In short, this is to maintain the calibration of the charge level information given by the battery.
How does temperature affect the battery?
Ideally, you do not want your battery operating at a high temperature. The higher the temperature at which a battery operates, the more rapidly the health of the battery will degrade.
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