How to maintain a laptop battery? Recently, the editor’s friend encountered a very frustrating situation. The battery of the laptop that had not been used for a long time couldn’t be charged. Various methods were tried, and it was confirmed that the battery was indeed damaged. It’s truly a heart-wrenching experience. Today, YUNZE’S editor will discuss with everyone about the maintenance of laptop batteries.
The Reasons that affect battery life are as follows #
Undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, storage passivation, high and low temperatures, and charge-discharge aging are all important factors affecting battery life. Among them, charge-discharge aging mainly involves issues of deep charge-discharge and high current charge-discharge. In reality, it is also about undervoltage, overvoltage, and overcurrent that are not so extreme. It’s basically a matter of whether it’s within or outside the threshold set by the manufacturer. Currently, lithium battery manufacturers generally balance these parameters to ensure that after 300 cycles of deep charge-discharge, the remaining capacity is 60-80% as the bottom line. Under these conditions, they generally do not lean towards pursuing a longer lifespan, but instead turn to pursue capacity and current. This is also consistent with the charging frequency of mainstream electronic products and the lifespan of the products themselves.
Charged laptops are constantly plugged in, is it bad? #
Many people believe that being 100% fully charged is considered ‘overcharging,’ and using it like this can damage the battery life. This statement does have some basis. The real issue with using a fully charged battery while plugged in is ‘storage passivation,’ which is particularly severe when the battery is fully charged. If the battery is consistently kept at full charge through constant charging, passivation can indeed occur. Furthermore, high temperatures can significantly accelerate the passivation and aging process.
For users who frequently use their devices at full charge, there is no need to worry too much, as lithium batteries are not affected even if they continue to charge beyond full capacity. And if the battery is discharged and recharged at least once a week, there is even less cause for concern. Compared to the issue of using the battery at full charge, what we really need to pay attention to is temperature, as high temperatures are the real battery killers.
Preserving Longevity: Should You Remove the Battery When Not Using a Laptop for an Extended Period? #
If we frequently refrain from using our laptops, it’s advisable to remove the battery. Of course, it’s best to maintain a charge of at least 40%, as batteries tend to self-discharge. Store the battery in a cool and dry place. It’s ideal to take the battery out and use it once a month. Avoid waiting until the laptop battery is completely depleted before recharging, as this can significantly shorten its lifespan or even lead to permanent damage.
Preserving Battery Health: Is Complete Discharge Necessary Before Recharging? #
The professional explanation for fully using up the battery before recharging is referred to as deep discharge. However, practical experience has shown that deep discharging the battery unnecessarily shortens its lifespan. Therefore, there’s no need to intentionally ensure complete discharge before recharging, as modern laptop batteries are lithium-ion batteries and are not subject to memory effects.
By now, I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of laptop battery maintenance. So, in conclusion, when using a laptop in daily life, it’s best to pay attention to the following points:
First, it’s advisable to avoid letting the battery completely drain before recharging, as this puts significant stress on the battery and can lead to damage.
Second, if you occasionally use the battery, consider discharging it periodically.
Third, if the battery won’t be used for an extended period, it’s recommended to remove it and store it at around 40% charge.
Fourth, to extend battery lifespan, adjust the screen brightness while using the laptop and deactivate wireless, Bluetooth, and infrared ports when on battery power. Also, disconnect unnecessary peripherals and avoid running demanding 3D applications or games, as these actions can reduce battery consumption during laptop battery maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) #
1. Do not keep the notebook fully charged and plugged in all the time.
Many people believe that being at 100% charge is considered ‘overcharging.’ In my personal opinion, although shallow charging (not fully charging) may have slight benefits for lifespan, these benefits are not worth the inconvenience and capacity loss it brings. The real issue with using the device at 100% charge while plugged in is ‘storage passivation,’ which is particularly severe when the battery is fully charged. However, for users who discharge and recharge the battery at least once a week, this issue is generally not a concern. But if the battery remains fully charged and plugged in for extended periods, passivation can indeed occur. Additionally, high temperatures can greatly accelerate passivation and aging processes.
Therefore, for users who frequently use the battery, my recommendation is to continue using it as is; passivation won’t be too noticeable. However, it’s advised not to use the device on materials like blankets or pillows that can block the ventilation holes, and also avoid using it in hot environments over extended periods.
2. Did the first few charges take about 12 hours?
Many times when buying a computer, salespeople tell customers that they must fully charge it for the first few times, around 12-24 hours. This is because of the presence of a battery charging chip, so there won’t be any charging current after it’s fully charged. Living beings shouldn’t be tied down by wires – unplug when it’s time to move. Once it’s fully charged, you can unplug it, and even if it’s not fully charged, you can unplug it.
3. Should I use it until it’s out of battery and then shut it down before recharging?
One of the most widely circulated claims regarding laptop battery usage is that you must use it until it’s completely discharged and then shut it down before recharging, which could be termed as deep discharging. This approach had some merit in the era of nickel-metal hydride batteries due to the memory effect. However, in the era of lithium-ion batteries, it’s better not to deliberately follow this practice. As explained earlier, there isn’t a strict and clear boundary between deep discharging and over-discharging to undervoltage. Prolonged deep and shallow discharging can lead to significant differences in lifespan, possibly spanning several times. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should avoid using your battery when you need to, as manufacturers’ over-discharge protection prevents severe damage to your battery. In summary, the advice regarding when to start recharging is to do so whenever it’s convenient.
4. Is it harmful to keep the laptop plugged in without using the battery for extended periods?
For users who rarely use the battery, passivation indeed becomes an issue. There are some solutions, such as not fully charging and removing the battery for storage, but they both have practicality issues. Regarding the method of not fully charging, since laptops generally don’t offer the functionality to stay plugged in without reaching full charge, it means users would need to unplug the power when it’s not fully charged, then plug it back in after a period of use, repeating this cycle. Using this approach, it’s likely to frequently forget the unplugging and re-plugging, resulting in deep discharges and charges. Most importantly, we’re users, not slaves – it becomes quite tiresome!
Notice (Bonus) #
- Lithium batteries do not need to be completely discharged before recharging.
- In the initial charging cycles, it’s not necessary to charge for a full 12 hours. Once fully charged, there won’t be any charging current even if the charging cable is not unplugged.
- Users who frequently use the battery need not worry about using the device while it’s plugged in and fully charged. However, temperature considerations are important.
- For users who rarely use the battery, it’s advisable to occasionally unplug the device and use the battery.
- Newly purchased batteries should undergo three initial charge-discharge cycles. This involves charging the battery fully without unplugging for 3-4 hours after the first charge. Then, discharge the battery to below 20% and repeat this process three times.
- Laptops should be equipped with battery maintenance software, and users should set it to optimal battery maintenance mode, which typically keeps the battery level around 50%.
- Whenever possible, use an external power source. If not necessary, avoid using the battery separately.
- Repeat the overcharging and discharging process once every 1-2 months to maintain the battery.
- When not using the laptop for an extended period, remove the battery and store it in a dry place.
