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 FAQ |
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| 1.Question£ºHOW CAN I MAXIMIZE BATTERY PERFORMANCE | Answer£ºBreaking 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.
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 laptop.
Exercise Your Battery ¨C 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 ¨C If you do not plan on using the battery for a month or more, we recommend storing in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects.
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| | 2.Question£ºHOW ARE BATTERIES RATED? | | Answer£ºThere are two ratings on every battery: Volts and Milliamp-hour (mAh). The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of your original. Some of our batteries will have higher amp-hour ratings that the original battery found in your device. This is indicative of a longer run-time (high capacity) and will not cause any incompatibilities. Remember: in some cases, the voltage will differ from the original battery. This often happens when both a Li-Ion battery and a Ni-Mh battery are available for the laptop. |
| | 3.Question£ºHOW LONG SHOULD MY BATTERY LAST? | | Answer£ºThe life of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is generally between 500 to 800 charge-discharge cycles. This translates into one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As your rechargeable battery begins to die, you will notice a decline in the run time of the battery. When your two-hour battery is only supplying you with an hour¡¯s worth of use, it¡¯s time for a new battery. |
| | 4.Question£ºWhat''s the best battery for laptops? | Answer£ºBatteries for laptops have a unique challenge - they must be small and
lightweight. In fact, the laptop battery should be invisible to the user and
deliver enough power to endure a five-hour flight from Toronto to Vancouver. In
reality, a typical laptop battery provides only about 90 minutes of service.
Many users complain of much shorter runtimes.
Computer manufacturers are hesitant to add a larger battery because of
increased size and weight. A recent survey indicated that, given the option of
larger size and more weight for longer runtimes, most users would settle for
what is being offered today. For better or worse, we have learned to accept the
short runtime of a laptop.
The energy density of modern batteries improves by about 10% per year.
However, the benefit of better battery performance is eaten up by higher power
requirements of laptops. This results in the same runtime but more powerful
laptops.
During the last few years, batteries have improved in terms of energy
density. But any benefit in better battery performance is being eaten up by the
higher power requirements of the laptops. This trend is continuing and the net
effect will be the same runtimes but more powerful laptops.
Most laptops are powered by lithium-ion. This chemistry has a high energy
density and is lightweight. There is no immediate breakthrough on the horizon of
a miracle battery that would provide more power than the current electro-
chemical battery.
Fuel cells, when available, will offer a continued stream of power by
allowing the exchange of fuel cartridges when empty. Unfortunately, commercial
fuel cells for laptops and other portable devices are still several years away.
Power handling, size and cost remain the biggest hurdles. The early fuel cells
will function more like a portable charger than a battery replacement. The fuel
cells currently in use have the difficulty in providing spontaneous high power
on demand.
The runtime of a laptop battery is based on the activity of the computer.
The basic housekeeping, which the computer needs to stay alive, draws less power
than, for example, reading, writing, computations and searching for files.
Manufacturers prefer using idle time when specifying runtime.
A battery in a laptop ages more quickly than in other applications because
of heat.During use, the inside temperature of a laptop rises to 45¡דC (113¡דF).
The combination of high temperature and full state-of-charge promotes cell
oxidation, a condition that cannot be reversedonce present. The battery''s life
expectancy when operating at high temperature is half compared to running at a
more moderate 20¡דC (68¡דF) or lower. Leaving the laptop in a parked car under
the hot sun will also aggravate the situation. All batteries suffer permanent
capacity loss as part of elevated temperatures but lithium-ion is affected more
than other batteries.
Some Japanese computer manufacturers have introduced a number of sub-
housing. This design improves battery life because the battery is kept at room
temperature. Some models carry several size batteries to accommodate different
user demands.
Lithium-ion is well suited for laptop users who continually switch from
fixed power to battery use. This user pattern is typical for those in the sales,
service and medical field. Here is the reason why:
With nickel-based batteries, the charger applies a full charge each time the
portable device is connected to fixed power. The battery is put on charge until
a signal is received indicating that the battery is full. This signal is in form
of a voltage change or rising temperature. Because of the sluggish response,
permanent capacity loss occurs caused by overcharge and elevated temperature.
Lithium-ion only receives charge if the voltage is low
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| | 5.Question£ºHow to prolong&store batteries? | Answer£ºAvoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the
battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for
lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does
not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs
from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly caused by
heat rather than charge/discharge patterns.
Although memory-free, apply a deliberate full discharge once every 30
charges to calibrate batteries with fuel gauge. Running down the battery in the
equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less
accurate. The battery life will not be affected.
Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage,
keep the battery at a 40% charge level.
Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power.
(Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating
inside the battery casing.)
Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe
manufacturing date.Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.
How to store batteries ?
Keep batteries in a cool and dry storage area. Refrigeration is recommended
but freezers should be avoided. When refrigerated, the battery should be placed
in a plastic bag to protect against condensation
Do not fully charge lithium and nickel-based batteries before storage. Keep
them partially charged and apply a full charge before use. Store lithium-ion at
about 40% state-of-charge (3.75-3.80V/cell open terminal). Lead-acid batteries
must be stored fully charged.
Do not store lithium-ion fully depleted. If empty, charge for about 30
minutes before storage. Self-discharge on a depleted battery may cause the
protection circuit to trip, preventing a recharge.
Do not stockpile lithium-ion batteries; avoid buying dated stock, even if
offered at a reduced price. Observe the manufacturing date, if available.
Never leave a nickel-based battery sitting on a charger for more than a few
days. Prolonged trickle charge causes crystalline formation (memory).
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