Ask the Answer Guy - About Notebook Batteries...
Category Ask The Answer Guy
Brent - I have noticed a decrease in battery life on my laptop after a year of use; when will I need to buy a new one? Do you recommend that I pay more for the manufacturer's battery or can I go third party and save some money?
Laptop batteries are among the most arcane computer components. As laptop battery technology has started to allow for nearly 8-hour charges in some cases, the mobile machines are becoming more popular as desktop replacements. Here is what I have gathered lately about the part that makes our laptops run:
The average (there are many extreme cases in each direction) laptop battery degrades at a rate of roughly 30% per year. The six hours of charge you have now will eventually become four and drop down into the twos well before you are ready to purchase a replacement. A third-party battery replacement will usually void whatever warranty you have with your manufacturer, so it is always best to just shell out the extra cash and buy the "right" even if to only ensure that no third-party hardware can be blamed for some kind of hardware failure should one occur.
For an extra tip with the battery you currently have, try to watch the way you charge it. Plugging your laptop in when it is still at 90% capacity still initiates a full charge cycle and puts your battery under unnecessary stress by doing so. Keeping your machine plugged in all day or making sure the battery is full for an upcoming trip are just fine, but there is no need to fully charge your laptop over night when you had it plugged in all day at work and intend to plug it in again the next morning.
Brent - I have noticed a decrease in battery life on my laptop after a year of use; when will I need to buy a new one? Do you recommend that I pay more for the manufacturer's battery or can I go third party and save some money?
Laptop batteries are among the most arcane computer components. As laptop battery technology has started to allow for nearly 8-hour charges in some cases, the mobile machines are becoming more popular as desktop replacements. Here is what I have gathered lately about the part that makes our laptops run:
The average (there are many extreme cases in each direction) laptop battery degrades at a rate of roughly 30% per year. The six hours of charge you have now will eventually become four and drop down into the twos well before you are ready to purchase a replacement. A third-party battery replacement will usually void whatever warranty you have with your manufacturer, so it is always best to just shell out the extra cash and buy the "right" even if to only ensure that no third-party hardware can be blamed for some kind of hardware failure should one occur.
For an extra tip with the battery you currently have, try to watch the way you charge it. Plugging your laptop in when it is still at 90% capacity still initiates a full charge cycle and puts your battery under unnecessary stress by doing so. Keeping your machine plugged in all day or making sure the battery is full for an upcoming trip are just fine, but there is no need to fully charge your laptop over night when you had it plugged in all day at work and intend to plug it in again the next morning.
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Posted by Marr Small At 02:59:50 AM On 12/07/2009 | - Website - |