Top Tips For Better Maintaining Laptop Batteries

Most laptop owners neglect to look after the batteries resulting in impaired functionality and utility of the laptop when they are relying upon them. Looking after the laptop's batteries makes good sense and only requires a minor alteration in user behavior and maintenance practice to prolong not only battery life but also to make sure the laptop functions when needed.

Users usually make two mistakes with laptop battery care. The first is that they use the laptop continuously while connected to the AC supply with the batteries inserted in the laptop, only to be surprised to find the laptop will not power up at some point. The second common mistake is partially discharging the batteries.

If you find that your laptop will not power on when you come to use it, remove the battery completely and try to power on with the AC supply. If the laptop boots up then you have a problem with the battery. This may mean a simple "purge" of the battery or replacement. We'll deal with purging later.

Failing to discharge your laptop battery completely will affect your battery life when you come to use the laptop on battery power only, typically when you are mobile. The issue is that the less you discharge the stored power in the battery when you are using it, the less it will take a recharge. This phenomenon is known as "memory" and results in battery "fade", that is where the battery has learned by partial displacement of it's charge that it needs only a lower charge and hence it's use becomes restricted.

Many laptop owners have experienced battery fade when they eventually come to use their computers on battery power alone. You can deal with this phenomenon quite simply but first you need to establish what type of laptop battery you have in your machine and take the time to review the care instructions issued with the laptop.

There are two very simple procedures for resolving battery life issues. How often you perform these maintenance exercises will depend upon whether you have NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) batteries or NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) in the laptop. Check the battery itself and the manufacturers paperwork that came with your laptop.

Under normal usage, you should discharge both types of battery completely. To do this power up the computer using the battery alone, disconnect the AC power supply and allow the computer to run the power down in the battery completely. When you receive the battery low warning then you can reconnect the AC power supply but leave it plugged in for a complete recharge which may be as long as 12 hours depending on the battery.

The second tip is to purge your batteries. Purging is where you disconnect the AC power completely and also stop the laptops sleep or hibernation feature from being initiated. Allow the laptop to discharge the battery until it has itself powered off due to lack of power. Reconnect the AC power supply but do not power the laptop up and allow the battery to regain a charge for the next 24 hours. If you have NiCad batteries, perform this once a month and for NiMH every three months.

These two tips will help you prolong battery life and utility, however you should carefully read the manufacturers instructions to ensure you treat your laptop in accordance with their recommendations. Laptop batteries are expensive to replace and there is also the frustration when sitting on a long flight of suddenly seeing your laptop die and work vanish due to the battery. Caring for your laptop batteries will enhance your laptop utility and your productivity when you are away from home or office.