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Solving Laptop Battery Problems:
To optimise the life of your laptop battery there are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure it lasts longer when in use
and has a longer life span. The capacity of a modern Lithium-Ion battery diminishes over time as a result of various factors
such as temperature, how intensively they are used as well as storage. In this article we look at these three factors and how
you can minimise their impact.
Temperature:
Temperature is one of the most challenging factors to manage since the primary cause of temperature damage is from the heat
generated by the laptop when it is in use. The heat generated by a laptop will also increase over time through intensive usage
and a result of inhibited or inefficient cooling. To minimise the impact of temperature damage we suggest:
- Ensuring the laptop is placed on a flat surface and in a well ventilated space
- Knowing where the laptop's cooling vents are and ensuring they are unobstructed
- Using a laptop cooler if the laptop fan is consistently running at full speed
- Not exposing batteries to high temperatures such as near a radiator or inside a hot car
- Removing the battery when plugged into the mains for a prolonged period of time*
* Not all laptop models operate when plugged into the mains without the battery. The resulting risk for data loss or system
damage from a power cut can also be mitigated by the use of a protected uninterruptible power supply.
Usage:
How you use your laptop will also effect how long each charge lasts and increase the rate of capacity loss for each cell within
the battery. To minimise the demands put on a battery we suggest:
- Reducing the screen brightness when running on battery power
- Not allowing the battery to fully discharge
- Turning off the power sapping Wireless and Bluetooth functions when not in use
- Removing peripherals such as external hard disks and CD / DVD drives when not in use
- Avoid intensive activities such as defragmentation when running on battery power
- Optimising Windows power settings for the screen and hard disk when the laptop is idle
Storage:
When the laptop is not in use, it is important to consider how to store the battery to maximise its longevity. When storing a
battery we suggest:
- Removing the laptop battery when the laptop is not in use and ideally store it below 15°C
- If removing the laptop battery for a prolonged period of time store it with 40% to 50% charge
- Ensure the battery is charged fully at least once per year to avoid complete discharge
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