Battery Losses when not in use?

[buildingit]

Hello, my laptop is normally plugged in.

The guy at the computer store told me to remove my laptop battery when not using it (the battery). He said if I keep the battery in my laptop while it is plugged in, the battery will only last for about 6 months!! (I don't know-is Toshiba known for bad batteries?) If I remove the battery when it's plugged it, it will last for 2 years.

So my question is, if I place a fully charged battery in a drawer- how long will it remain decently charged for- just really approx. Because I do want to be able to grab my battery when I need it without having to plan in advance that I have to charge it etc. Say, a week? Or a month? 2 months?

thanx!

[EzyStvy]

I think you'll have to test it....No real way to calculate how old it is and how worn out it already is etc...

On the other hand - everyone I know, leaves the battery in.

[Force Flow]

Left alone, it will retain a charge for at least several months. I'd guess 6-10 before it gradually discharges itself from 100% down to 40% or less. But, as EzyStvy said, that also depends on the age of the battery and the amount of use it got before sitting on the shelf.

As for keeping it in the laptop, I've heard arguments both ways. I suppose it depends on your personal usage. Do you treat it more as a desktop computer that's plugged in all the time, or a portable device?

[buildingit]

Thanx!

It is plugged in all the time. I bought it in February. I never used it but I left it plugged in the whole time!!! (I feel guilty about that). I am just starting to use it now but I can't see ever using it with the battery more than about once a month. (The one time I used it with the battery back in February- it died in a couple of hours- I rather just use a long power cord)

[David M]

The hassle factor of having to pull it in an out frequently must be worth something against making it last somewhat longer.

[jdeb]

I never leave mine plugged into the wall. When I use my laptop (Lenovo X60), I wait until it gets drained down (usually 10 to 20 minutes left). I then plug it in for 4 or 5 hours or maybe overnight to get fully charged. I have my laptop set at the highest power settings (I hate dim screens) and get around 4 hours out of it (6 hour battery). If I were to adjust the settings to power saving scheme, I would get and extra hour and a half. I have been doing this for over two years. I read this somewhere on Lenovo's site or maybe the new battery box as the proper way and from the results, hard to argue. I would also like to mention that the battery is from Lenovo and not a cloned battery. Hope this helps.

[buildingit]

Thank you jeb, that is very interesting! I am going to look into that. I didn't time how long it took for mine to drain but I remember being very surprized and dissappointed.

Originally Posted by David M The hassle factor of having to pull it in an out frequently must be worth something against making it last somewhat longer.

well David, on my laptop, it is as easy as unplugging it- the battery is attached to the compartment cover- so I just lift it off. It is actually easier than unplugging.

[quartet-man]

So, Jdeb, do you unplug your computer itself when not in use, or just take the battery out?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by quartet-man So, Jdeb, do you unplug your computer itself when not in use, or just take the battery out?

I knew I was forgetting something. I leave the battery in, I just unplug it from the wall.

[Hufigyed]

I had a Toshiba laptop that I used as my main computer for 3 years and it was plugged in and powered on 24/7 with the battery in. It ran on battery power maybe 4 hours a month if that. And 3 years later I still get about 30-40 minutes out of the battery (was around 3 hours new) so obviously it can't be that bad for it. I do remember reading in the manual that you're supposed to remove it if you're not going to use it.

Personally, from my experience, I say leave it in because it's a great UPS when the power goes out, it's hassle to go put it in when you need it (plus it'll probably be almost dead), and 40mins out of a 3 hour battery is about as good as you're gonna get after 3 years(meaning it didn't really harm it much).

I just got an Asus UL50VT (which I love BTW, 10 hour battery!) and in the manual it states that if you do remove the battery, it should get charged at least every 3 months to avoid complete drainage as that will kill it. This is however an 8-cell battery whereas most are 6-cell so you should probably charge it every 2 months.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Hufigyed I had a Toshiba laptop that I used as my main computer for 3 years and it was plugged in and powered on 24/7 with the battery in. It ran on battery power maybe 4 hours a month if that. And 3 years later I still get about 30-40 minutes out of the battery (was around 3 hours new) so obviously it can't be that bad for it. I do remember reading in the manual that you're supposed to remove it if you're not going to use it. Personally, from my experience, I say leave it in because it's a great UPS when the power goes out, it's hassle to go put it in when you need it (plus it'll probably be almost dead), and 40mins out of a 3 hour battery is about as good as you're gonna get after 3 years(meaning it didn't really harm it much). I just got an Asus UL50VT (which I love BTW, 10 hour battery!) and in the manual it states that if you do remove the battery, it should get charged at least every 3 months to avoid complete drainage as that will kill it. This is however an 8-cell battery whereas most are 6-cell so you should probably charge it every 2 months.

My wife does that and she has the same time left on her battery (30 Min). She has a dell Latitude and its less than a year old.

[buildingit]

jdeb-- do you have an opinion on what the difference is between you and your wife's battery performance? The brand of battery or the treatment?


ok, So I looked up in my manual (Toshiba Sattelite L550D)

To maximize the life of your battery packs: ■ At least once a month, disconnect the computer from a power source and operate it on battery power until the battery pack fully discharges. Before doing so, follow the steps as detailed below....... ■ If you will not be using the system for an extended period, for example for more than one month, remove the battery pack from the computer. ■ Disconnect the AC adaptor when the battery is fully charged - overcharging will make the battery hot and can shorten its operating life. ■ If you are not going to use the computer for more than eight hours, disconnect the AC adaptor.

It seems they assume the laptop will always be used on battery when not charging- they don't mention what I am doing.

Also, I am worried now about what will happen if my battery fully discharges while sitting in a drawer. Don't batteries fully discharge all the time without any problems? Or does it make a difference whether they fully discharge while in use or not in use (I don't see the difference)? Or is that just applicable to 8-cell batteries and not 6-cell ones? Mine is a lithium ion battery pack- it doesn't say anywhere if that is 6 or 8 cell?

thanx!

[jdeb]

Disconnect the AC adaptor when the battery is fully charged -
overcharging will make the battery hot and can shorten its operating life.

This the key attribute as my experience and the wife's has shown. If not using for an extended period of time, the battery will drain. Follow the recommended procedure from the manufacturer and you will extend the natural life of the battery. The fully discharged battery is not a problem, simply plug it back in and use the laptop. If it is not fully charged during your laptop session, leave it plugged in until it is. Unplug when you think it is and resume using until it is around 10% or less, plug it back in until fully charged. You can do this while using your laptop or not.

Another benefit from this procedure is preventing premature wear on the power jack which is an expensive repair if not done buy yourself. Outside of Dell (Latitude Series) and IBM (Lenovo, Thinkpad series), most power jacks are poorly designed, poorly installed and poorly positioned on the system board. HP's (Compaq) being the worst, followed by Acer, and Toshiba. I have yet to see an Asus with this problem but time will tell as they are gaining popularity these days.

[buildingit]

Thanx! You mentioning the power cord is interesting because mine has been sparking when I unplug sometimes and I have been wondering about that. I have been unplugging it at my power bar socket, not at the computer. I have also tried unplugging it at the transformer (the heavy black blocked-shaped thing between the computer and the power source).


The thing with plugging and unplugging for me is I use the laptop in my bedroom at night and my office during the day. So that is 2 physical moves a day- or 2 unpluggs a day.

But using the battery I would still have to do more than one plugging a day. I would need to charge at least once a day, plus the complication of having to move the laptop while it is charging- so that would be at least 2 unplugs a day anyway.


See what I meanÉ

Do you know where the best spot to unplug isÉ

(geez- I just turned on the french keyboard by accident) É=a question mark

thanx!

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by buildingit Thanx! You mentioning the power cord is interesting because mine has been sparking when I unplug sometimes and I have been wondering about that. I have been unplugging it at my power bar socket, not at the computer. I have also tried unplugging it at the transformer (the heavy black blocked-shaped thing between the computer and the power source). The thing with plugging and unplugging for me is I use the laptop in my bedroom at night and my office during the day. So that is 2 physical moves a day- or 2 unpluggs a day. But using the battery I would still have to do more than one plugging a day. I would need to charge at least once a day, plus the complication of having to move the laptop while it is charging- so that would be at least 2 unplugs a day anyway. See what I meanÉ Do you know where the best spot to unplug isÉ (geez- I just turned on the french keyboard by accident) É=a question mark thanx!

The problem with the jack and leaving it plugged is when you move it around when plugged in...getting caught on the edge of a couch, chair, desk, or recliner. It will pull at bad angles loosening the the jack from the motherboard, especially on many HP's (Compaq's), Acers, and Toshiba's where the design is very poor. HP's being the worst. I unplug it from the laptop first, then pull the brick from the wall or source. You may also consider getting a couple of docking stations if your laptop has them available and you are using at a desk in both instances. I do not use a docking station because it is always in my lap. I use a desktop for the majority of my computer use, I just use the laptop when I am watching T.V. or Fantasy sports or when I travel.

[buildingit]

Originally Posted by jdeb The problem with the jack and leaving it plugged is when you move it around when plugged in...getting caught on the edge of a couch, chair, desk, or recliner. It will pull at bad angles loosening the the jack from the motherboard, especially on many HP's (Compaq's), Acers, and Toshiba's where the design is very poor. HP's being the worst............l.

oic, thanx! I thought you meant just unplugging That is good to know as well- I also move it around while still plugged in but mostly I just move it unplugged- I don`t know which is more of a bother- using the battery or pluggingéunplugging!

thank you again, you have been very informative!

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by buildingit oic, thanx! I thought you meant just unplugging That is good to know as well- I also move it around while still plugged in but mostly I just move it unplugged- I don`t know which is more of a bother- using the battery or pluggingéunplugging! thank you again, you have been very informative!

I like using the battery. I enjoy the freedom of movement it provides. I love using it with fantasy sports, especially American Football. I can see the stats in real time, smack talk with the boys, and get schooled by glc and the PCMech regulars at the same time. They really have expanded my knowledge and cleared a path towards my technical short comings.