Lap top Technical Advice

elgazzar52 · 15-12-2008

Hi ,

If it is recommnded to plug in the AC\DC transformer to my Lap top in the time I am using it .OR. to use my Lap Top using the battary only and recharge when it needed to be recharged >

thanx

**satelliteman** · 15-12-2008

In order to maintain the general life of the battery, charge it up and let it run down by using the laptop on battery power, then recharge again.

**rolfw** · 15-12-2008

Yes, I've knackered both of my batteries by leaving the thing plugged in when using it, neither of them hold a charge now.

**Channel Hopper** · 15-12-2008

Whilst the general rule for recharegeable NiCad batteries is to let them discharge completely, I thought that Lithium ion batteries had no 'memory' that caused them trouble if kept fully charged.

You learn something every day.

**Topper** · 15-12-2008

Originally Posted by Channel Hopper

Whilst the general rule for recharegeable NiCad batteries is to let them discharge completely, I thought that Lithium ion batteries had no 'memory' that caused them trouble if kept fully charged.

You learn something every day.

Me too CH I was under the impression that the LI batteries were developed to overcome that very problem indeed mine has been OK for the last 18 months and is always connected unless out and about. Still has 1.5 hrs running time capacity.

elgazzar52 · 15-12-2008

Thank you all

But, find attached a copy of the message which i just received from DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT concerning the same question

((Other than to re-charge it, it's actually advisable to remove the battery if you primarily use the AC adapter ))

What do you think ??

**HB13DISH** · 15-12-2008

Originally Posted by elgazzar52

Thank you all

But, find attached a copy of the message which i just received from DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT concerning the same question

((Other than to re-charge it, it's actually advisable to remove the battery if you primarily use the AC adapter ))

What do you think ??

Sounds like a good advise if you hardly use the battery. Just get the battery fully charged first before removal.

**Topper** · 15-12-2008

Originally Posted by HB13DISH

Sounds like a good advise if you hardly use the battery.

Yes I would agree if it is hardly ever used outside the house, especially with a Dell, they have been known to burst into flames before now in 2006 and 2007

_http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1526424/Exploding-laptops-prompt-Dell-battery-recall.html

_http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/05/18/223974/dell-laptop-battery-recall-the-expert-view.htm

**Channel Hopper** · 16-12-2008

Originally Posted by elgazzar52

Thank you all

But, find attached a copy of the message which i just received from DELL TECHNICAL SUPPORT concerning the same question

((Other than to re-charge it, it's actually advisable to remove the battery if you primarily use the AC adapter ))

What do you think ??

To save losing data it is imperative that this advice is combined with the use of a UPS in the mains cable to the laptop.

**PaulR** · 16-12-2008

Originally Posted by elgazzar52

((Other than to re-charge it, it's actually advisable to remove the battery if you primarily use the AC adapter ))

I goosed the battery on my HP laptop completely by leaving it in all the time while running off the power supply - using it as a UPS effectively.

On my Toshiba laptop I take the battery out whenever I'm running off the PSU (such as right now!). This is the best method as a Lion battery has a limited number of charge/discharge cycles and should be used only when truly off the mains power to extend its life.

The disadvantage is that if I accidentally move the small DC power plug on the back of the laptop I can lose everything in a moment!

**Channel Hopper** · 16-12-2008

Originally Posted by PaulR

The disadvantage is that if I accidentally move the small DC power plug on the back of the laptop I can lose everything in a moment!

I have a soldering iron if you can strip her down.

**satelliteman** · 16-12-2008

Originally Posted by Channel Hopper

I have a soldering iron if you can strip her down.

Strip her down sounds good to me, lol

I managed to get an old laptop going by soldering the dc connector as it started to get loose.

***PoloMint*** · 17-12-2008

As Paul says Li-Ion batteries have quite a limited number of charge/discharge cycles - probably around 500, so if you do discharge and recharge to try and preserve battery life then once a week is probably better than once a day.

I've read many places saying discharging to 40% then rechargning is better than a full discharge - don't know if this is true. I'm not sure anyone actually knows

**Topper** · 17-12-2008

Some interesting articles if you look for them, Li-On batteries do not suffer from the memory effect but as mention have a limitation on the number of recharge cycles, it seems somebody has managed to design something that is worse than the originals and get away with it.
_http://ezinearticles.com/?Take-Care-Of-Your-Li-On-Battery&id=423379

**PaulR** · 21-12-2008

Originally Posted by PoloMint

As Paul says Li-Ion batteries have quite a limited number of charge/discharge cycles - probably around 500, so if you do discharge and recharge to try and preserve battery life then once a week is probably better than once a day.

I've read many places saying discharging to 40% then rechargning is better than a full discharge - don't know if this is true. I'm not sure anyone actually knows

From what I've read, with Lion batteries 2 half charges is equivalent to 1 full charge in terms of over life cycle chargings. Personally I believe that there's a slight loss so would always go for the full discharge/charge when on a bettery.

I have several soldering irons but that's not the problem on the Tosh (although it is on the HP - which is another story!) , it's just when rotating the DC plug it obviously skips slightly and causes the problem. Simple solution - I leave the DC lead looped over the top corner of the screen so it doesn't move around.

Incidentally, and completely off topic, I've just bought another laptop. I bought it for the software and hardware that came with it. It's an old Advent with Lexia software and EOBD plug and adaptor to plug into my Citroens and read the on-board ECUs. I can also change and write to them so I should be able to completely bugger the cars up. I've already managed to disassociate one of the ignition keys on the Xsara so that it's not recognised any more...

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