Is it really a bad idea to keep your Laptops Plugged in to AC? Does it mess up the Battery Life? I rarely use my Laptops without AC, therefore the Battery does not ever get depleted. What say you? Should I allow it to run down on occasion?
Battery Life
- Thread starter ahoustondj
- Start date
Well - I think the answer to this question is 'it depends'. Lithium batteries have to be 'trained' in order to get full capacity and use out of them - this means they have to be fully depleted and recharged several times before you will ever get them to run at peak performance - and failure to do this can cause their useful 'life' to be less - not because they won't carry a charge, but because they never reach peak. If you never deplete and fully charge them, they'll never reach peak. Similarly, if you only ever let it run half down, or never fully charge it, there will be performance issues as well.
Nicad's start with a full useful life (full deplete and charge) and slowly deteriorate until they just can't hold a charge any longer. Lithium's hold that charge much longer and use it at a consistent rate, until the battery is dead. Think of it like this - Nicad is a slope from high to low. Lithium is a straight line from high to low (at the peak) and then it just drops off.
As for me, I personally don't care about the peak performing battery - I'll pay to replace it when it's time - and I also have an external UPS just in case. If you want the peak performing battery, then fully deplete and charge it often. If you don't care, then leave it plugged in.
Nicad's start with a full useful life (full deplete and charge) and slowly deteriorate until they just can't hold a charge any longer. Lithium's hold that charge much longer and use it at a consistent rate, until the battery is dead. Think of it like this - Nicad is a slope from high to low. Lithium is a straight line from high to low (at the peak) and then it just drops off.
As for me, I personally don't care about the peak performing battery - I'll pay to replace it when it's time - and I also have an external UPS just in case. If you want the peak performing battery, then fully deplete and charge it often. If you don't care, then leave it plugged in.
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I run on AC most of the time, but will pull the plug about once a month (or the ever so often power outage, when some moron runs into a telephone pole).
If you leave them on AC all the time, you might just as well remove the battery. They are called batteries for a reason.
Just for S&G, and since I haven't done it in a month or so, I just pulled the plug on the lappy. It said 100% -- in less than two minutes, it was down to 85%. Batteries need to cycle on a regular basis -- even so-called non memory batteries, otherwise you cut their lifetimes. Also don't go below about 50%, as that will also shorten their lifetime. Doesn't matter what kind of battery it is -- most of that is hype to get you to pay more.
If you leave them on AC all the time, you might just as well remove the battery. They are called batteries for a reason.
Just for S&G, and since I haven't done it in a month or so, I just pulled the plug on the lappy. It said 100% -- in less than two minutes, it was down to 85%. Batteries need to cycle on a regular basis -- even so-called non memory batteries, otherwise you cut their lifetimes. Also don't go below about 50%, as that will also shorten their lifetime. Doesn't matter what kind of battery it is -- most of that is hype to get you to pay more.
I agree that it does affect the battery life if you never use it.
But, I really don't use my laptops in a battery needed situation, so it's not something I worry about.
I use my tablet for situations like that.
In a ceremony situation without power, I'd use the same power that I'd be using for my sound system....a duracell powerpack.
But, I really don't use my laptops in a battery needed situation, so it's not something I worry about.
I use my tablet for situations like that.
In a ceremony situation without power, I'd use the same power that I'd be using for my sound system....a duracell powerpack.