- Extend Your Laptop Battery's Life
Power down all nonessential functions. Switch it
off if you're not using it. Many business travelers already know
that you don't want to take the DVD player for a spin on the plane,
and that every time you hit "save" it can set the hard-drive
whirring, which devours even more power. "But users often also
forget to turn off their wireless card when they are no longer using
it but are still using their computer," notes Mike Fuller,
executive vice president of PC Laptops, a Sandy, Utah, laptop manufacturer.
"When the wireless card is on, it still continually searches
for networks." In Windows XP, click on "Power Options"
in your control panel. It allows you to reduce the power consumption
of any number of your computer devices or of your entire system.
Stay out of extreme temperatures. The technology
that powers you battery isn't terribly complicated. But it's important
to understand a little bit about the chemistry behind batteries,
and how that can affect your work. Specifically, temperatures
can affect the performance of your battery. It's best to use (and
especially charge) your batteries at room temperatures. Extreme
conditions can drain your battery quickly. Also, avoid partial
charges and use the battery until it is dead. Battery experts
liken partial charges — and discharges — to eating
a cup of lard every day. It significantly shortens your battery's
life. Considering that a lithium-ion battery can explode if it's
improperly used, it could also shorten your life.
Let your laptop do the saving. Not every computing
device handles a power source in the same way. Some of the more
sophisticated laptops, which are designed with business travelers
in mind, are misers when it comes to using power. And that's a
good thing — if you can remember to take advantage of it.
"Most users make the mistake of simply not choosing to use
a product's built-in ability to conserve battery life," says
Dan Coffman, a senior product manager for PC manufacturer ViewSonic.
How do you harness your PC's built-in ability to save? Consult
your user manual. Often, calibrating your laptop is as easy as
double-clicking on the battery icon in the toolbar.
Always, always carry a spare device that uses batteries. How obvious is that? Well, if you're trying to keep under the
onerous new airline weight-limits, it isn't. But as Rick Thompson,
director of engineering at Valence Technology in Austin, Texas,
observes, "the availability of 'free' power outside of your
hotel room is not predictable." That's a nice way of saying
it. Thompson recommends a system that can simultaneously charge
a second portable device such as a cell phone or PDA, allowing
you to multitask your battery operations.
Reality (battery) check. If you rely on a battery
to get work done while you're away, you should, however, give
yourself a reality check. Because while batteries can extend your
productivity while you're on the road — in a plane, at a
remote site or sitting in hotel lobby — they won't last
you long enough. And if Buchmann is correct, they never will last
you long enough.
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- How Long Will the New Battery Power My Laptop?
That is difficult to determine. Actual Laptop
battery running time depends upon the power demands made by
the equipment. The use of the monitor, the hard drive and other
accessories results in an additional drain upon the battery, effectively
reducing its running time. The total running time of the battery
is also dependent upon the design of the equipment. Generally, a
new battery will run at least as long (and usually- longer) as your
old battery did when it was new.
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- How can I maximize battery performance?
- There are several steps you can take to insure that you get maximum performance from your battery:
- Breaking In New Batteries - new batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge your new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.
- Preventing the Memory Effect - Keep your 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.
- Keep Your Batteries Clean - 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
your portable device.
- Exercise Your Battery - Do not leave your
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.
- Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using
the battery for a month or more, we recommend storing it in a
clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. Ni-Cd,
Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage;
remember to break them in before use.
- For Notebook Users - To get maximum performance
from your battery, fully optimize the notebook's power management
features prior to use. Power management is a trade off: better
power conservation in exchange for lesser computer performance.
The power management system conserves battery power by setting
the processor to run at a slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning
down the hard drive when it's not in use and causing the machine
to go into sleep mode when inactive. Your notebook user's guide
will provide information relating to specific power management
features.
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- Helping your battery help you
Conditioning your battery- First and foremost,
make sure you fully charge the battery before using it - sometimes
up to 16 hours. (In a number of cases, your laptop may have a battery
conditioner utility built into the laptop's BIOS)
Maintaining your battery- There are a variety
of things that you can do to keep your laptop battery running
in tip-top shape.
Condition it every two to three weeks. Completely discharge it
and then recharge it completely. This will help the battery maintain
maximum life. When running off the AC power unit, only leave the
battery in the battery bay when it needs to be charged.
Use the power sparingly. Set up your power settings to turn off
the hard drive when the system is in an idle mode. Same with the
screen.
For the most part, these ideas will greatly help you maintain
your laptop battery and help it serve you for the full length
of its lifespan. After all, these suckers are sort of pricey!
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