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How to Care for Laptop Batteries

July 9, 2014

Are you one of the million-billion* laptop owners in the world? Then you will likely find these tips for proper care of laptop batteries (or Lithium ion batteries in general) helpful.

• If your laptop is going to be plugged into AC power for an extended period of time and the battery is charged, remove the battery for longer battery life.
• Always use your laptop on a hard surface. This is essential for proper cooling. Batteries do not like to be hot!
• You would not leave your pet or child in a car on a hot day. This same rule applies for your laptop too.
• When you do run the laptop off of the battery, try to use the entire charge of the battery before recharging it. Lithium ion batteries are only meant to be recharged/discharged a limited number of times.
• When you are ready to charge the battery, try to do so with the laptop off. Less heat.
• If the laptop is not going to be used for an extended period of time, say 3 – 6 months, remember to recharge the battery. Lithium ion batteries will discharge while not being used. Its best to maintain a charge of 75% or so while in storage.
• Be aware that the life expectancy of most laptop batteries are between 2 and 4 years. This heavily depends on proper care.

* “Million-billion” is not an exact number.