Month: July 2017

Below are suggestions and tips that can be followed to help improve and maximize the overall life of your laptop computers battery.

Full initial charge

After purchasing a new laptop computer or battery for your laptop, we recommend that the battery be charged for no less than 24-hours. A 24-hour charge makes sure the battery is fully charged and helps with the batteries life expectancy. Once it is fully charged, you should not discharge it fully, if possible.

Remove battery if not in use for a long period

If you are mostly using the laptop computer while it is plugged into a wall outlet keep the battery out of the computer.

If you do not plan on using your laptop for more than a month the battery should be removed from the computer, even if it is kept off.

After putting the battery back in after it has not been used we suggest fully charging it before letting it run off the battery again.

Fully discharge and recharge

If your battery is not a Li-ion battery it is always recommended to fully discharge and recharge your battery at least once every month.

Avoid extreme temperatures

Not only is it good for your battery but it is also for your laptop to keep it out of extreme hot or cold temperatures. For example, do not leave your laptop in your car during a hot summer day.

Clean the contacts

Clean your laptop battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol every few months.

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What is “External Laptop Battery” or “Universal Laptop Battery” or

“Universal External Laptop Battery”? How does it work?

As you know a laptop battery consists of a number of battery cells

inside. A pack of cells, produces the correct amount of voltage and

current to power the laptop.  This is the reason laptop batteries are

often called laptop battery packs.

External laptop batteries, as the name suggests, do not fit inside the

battery bay of the laptop.  They simply sit outside, plugged into the

laptop by the necessary cables.  These batteries consists of a greater

number of cells.  Allowing for a greater capacity to power the laptop

for a longer time.

Standard laptop batteries have an internal circuitry with chips to

control the flow of current etc, Universal laptop batteries contain

these circuitry, but the tips that plug into the laptop detect the

voltage and current.  The various tips that are supplied with the

external laptop battery allows it to be used with almost any brand of

laptop.

Universal external laptop batteries, give extended capacity/running

time and if you change your laptop it still can be used.

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Smart batteries have internal circuit boards with smart chips which

allow them to communicate with the notebook and monitor battery

performance, output voltage and temperature.

Smart batteries will generally run 15% longer due to their increased

efficiency and also give the computer much more accurate “fuel gauge”

capabilities to determine how much battery running time is left before

the next recharge is required.

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Always check your computer manual for the correct ratings and the type

of Adaptor that your machine requires.  Adaptors are usually rated by

Watts/Wattage(W).  You can calculate the Wattage by multiplying

Volts(V) with Amps(A).  This information is found on the label on the

underside of the notebook computer.

It is always best to match the wattage of the notebook and the AC

adaptor.  An AC adaptor with a higher wattage can be used with a

notebook with a lower wattage rating. However, an AC adaptor with a

lower wattage rating cannot be used with a notebook with a higer

rating.  The notebook will be underpowered and may not boot up

properly.

The AC adapter will get hot whilst it is plugged in and being used.

This is normal. Any device that gets hot will require ventilation. Good

ventilation prolongs the life of the device and avoids any accidental

damage.

Some points to consider:

The led light, on most AC adaptors should stay constant when plugged in

to the wall socket or AC power supply and switched on and plugged into

the notebook computer.  If the light flickers or blinks then check all

connections and check the power lead.  It may also turn out that the

adaptor is simply faulty.

The AC adapter will get hot whilst it is plugged in and being used.

This is normal. Any device that gets hot will require ventilation. Good

ventilation prolongs the life of the device and avoids any accidental

damage.

If you have several different notebooks, all of which are different

types and made by different manufacturers, you can still use one

charger.  Universal AC adaptors are supplied with different tips which

enables you to plug it into different notebook computers.  However, you

cant charge more than one notebook at a time.

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There are two ratings on a laptop battery, Voltage (V) and
Milliamp-hours (mAh).  Voltage is the rate at which energy is drawn
from a battery and Milliam-hours represents the capacity of the
battery.

The Voltage rating has to MATCH that of the original battery or as
recommended by the laptop computer manual.  Using a battery with a
different voltage setting can damage the laptop.

Since the mAh rating represents the capacity and correalates to the run
time of the battery. If the rating is higher than the original battery,
then the replacement battery will run for a longer time and if the
rating is lower then the replacement battery will run for a shorter
time.

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A question recently asked was, “Can I upgrade my Laptop Battery to a

newer chemistry?”

If the laptop has been pre-configured by the manufacturer to accept

more than one type of rechargeable battery, then the answer is yes.

The different types of batteries requires a different charging patterns

to be properly recharged and used in the laptop.  Always refer to your

laptop computer manual or contact your manufacturer to find out which

battery types can be used in your laptop.

Nickel Cadmium (NiCad,NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium

Ion (LiIon, Li-Ion) are the three major types. Due to health and safety

and inefficencies, Nickel Cadmium and  Nickel Metal Hydride batteries

are either discontinued or in the process of being discontinued.

Lithium Ion is relatively new and popular type.  There is an even newer

type, Litium Polymer Ion or Lithium Polymer.  This is much more

efficient and offers better power to weight ratio.

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Do Not short circuit a battery – Carrying or storing the battery withother metal objects like coins, paper clips and hair pins can cause the battery to short circuit and may generate a lot of heat.

Do Not expose the battery to moisture or rain – Electricity and water doesnt go together. Again can short circuit the battery, or when inserted into the Laptop can damage the laptop.

Do Not expose the battery to heat – Keep the battery away from sources of heat, fire and even direct sunlight. Aids the chemical reactions within the battery and can result in an explosion!!

Do Not throw away your battery – Dispose of your battery responsibly. Please recycle all batteries as they contain chemicals which are harmful to the environment.

Do Not mix old and new batteries – Mixing different types of batteries and using different types of batteries is extremely dangerous. Can cause rupture, leakage resulting in personal injury and damage to laptop.

 

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A question everyones mind, How do you get the most out of the battery???  What can I do to make it last longer???

* Use the AC adapter whenever possible, but not all the time. Use the battery on its own as well.

* Set the Windows Power Management settings to maximum savings.

* Lower the brightness setting on the screen backlight.

* Disconnect any unused devices (e.g., modems, wireless LAN cards) when not needed.

* Disable Auto Insert Notification on the CD-ROM.

* Turn off Autosave features.

* Disable automatic formatters, spell checkers, and autorecalculate features.

* Add more RAM to lower disk access time.

* If you have a backup battery, use it in rotation with the current battery.

* Use the Suspend or Hibernate feature when taking a break or a long break.

* Fully drain and recharge the battery every couple of months, this helps to recalibrate the smart electronics even if the cells are fine.

* Minimize the number of programs running at the same time.

* Check the power save settings under the BIOS. If this is not enabled

then the Windows Power Management settings may not work properly.

* If you are taking the battery out to store it, make sure it has atleast 40 – 50% charge. DO NOT fully charge it or discharge it before storage.

* Use smaller programs when possible (e.g., WordPad versus Word).

* Minimize game play and DVD viewing.

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• Will the main battery fit as a second battery?

No, the main battery will not fit as a second battery in the bays. A specially designed bay battery is required to fit in the bays as a second battery.

• I cannot find a replacement battery for my laptop, What can I do?

As newer models are released into the market older laptop models are discontinued and accessories for these models become scarce or even non-existent. Several manufacturers have come up with innovative ideas to overcome these problems, such as universal batteries. Several tips are provided to connect different brands of laptops.

• I have broken the latch on my battery, Can the latch be replaced?

No, as the latch is part of the battery the whole battery needs to be replaced.

• I have lost/broken the fascia panels that came with the battery, Is it easy to replace them?

No, these fascia panels can be very hard to source and can be expensive for the purpose they serve. It might be easier and cheaper to purchase a new battery.

• My battery has a crack in its casing, Can I use it?
• I dropped my battery, Is it safe to use?

By dropping the battery, you may have damaged the cells inside. If this is the case then the battery would cease to function normally. Also inspect the battery carefully after dropping it. Check for any cracks on the plastic casing, any damage on the metallic contacts or any signs of leakage. If you find any of these it will be dangerous to continue using the damaged battery.

• My new battery seems to be a little tight fitting into the compartment, Can I use force?

Usually, you can use a little force. As long as the shape, size and all other physical attributes are exactly the same as the old one. Make sure the battery is the correct part for your notebook computer. If in doubt, do not use any force at all to avoid the risk of damaging both the battery and your notebook computer.

• How do I dispose of my battery? Should I recycle it?

Yes, all batteries should be recycled and not disposed of like most perishable items. Due to the chemicals and other substances used, batteries should be recycled as it would be harmful for the environment. Ask your supplier in the first instance whether they have a recycling procedure.

 

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• Tips to ensure optimal battery life
  • Use the AC adapter whenever possible, but not all the time. Use the battery on its own as well.
  • Set the Windows Power Management settings to maximum savings.
  • Lower the brightness setting on the screen backlight.
  • Disconnect any unused devices (e.g., modems, wireless LAN cards) when not needed.
  • Disable Auto Insert Notification on the CD-ROM.
  • Turn off Autosave features.
  • Disable automatic formatters, spell checkers, and autorecalculate features.
  • Add RAM to lower disk access time.
  • If you have a backup battery, use it in rotation with the current battery.
  • Use the Suspend or Hibernate feature when taking a break.
  • Fully drain and recharge the battery every couple of months, this helps to recalibrate the smart electronics even if the cells are fine.
  • Minimize the number of programs running at the same time.
  • Check the power save settings under the BIOS. If this is not enabled then the Windows Power Management settings may not work properly.
  • If you are taking the battery out to store it, make sure it has atleast 40 – 50% charge. DO NOT fully charge it or discharge it before storage.
  • Use smaller programs when possible (e.g., WordPad versus Word).
  • Minimize game play and DVD viewing.
  • See Duracell’s page on general battery care.
• Tips for battery care and use
  • A new battery comes in a discharged condition and must be charged before use. Upon initial use (or after prolonged storage period) the battery may require two to three charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.
  • If the battery is not going to be used for more than a month, it is recommended that it be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.
  • A battery will eventually lose its charge if unused. It may therefore be necessary to recharge the battery after a storage period.
  • Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.
  • It’s a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.
  • Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break-in procedure described above. See Apple’s Battery Care page.
• Battery Dont’s
  • Do not short-circuit a battery. A short-circuit may cause damage to the battery.
  • Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.
  • Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.
  • Keep the battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of batteries to extreme heat may result in an explosion.
  • Do not throw away or dispose of your battery with household waste. Please recycle all batteries, as they contain chemicals which are harmful to the environment. See our recycling links.
  • Do not carry loose batteries in a pocket or purse with metal objects like coins, paper clips and hair pins, etc. This may short circuit the battery, generating high heat.
  • Do not mix old and new batteries, or mix different types of batteries. This can cause rupture or leakage, resulting in personal injury or property damage.

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