Battery FAQ

Tips & Warnings for a laptop battery

Tips:

1.It is recommended that you do one full drain and charge every three months to maintain calibration of your battery.

2.Turn the screen light down as far as you can and still see, this will make your battery last longer.

3.Turn off any hardware and programs that you are not using. If you do not need them on, then turn them off.

4.Turn your power setting down to portable/ laptop or power saver to keep your battery running longer.

5.Add more RAM so that there is a minimum of hard drive access.

6.After storing a laptop battery and re-charging, it may only re-charge for 10-15 minutes and then claim the notebook battery is fully charged, this is a common phenomenon in rechargeable laptop batteries, to overcome this simply remove the laptop battery and then re-insert it to initiate the charging process again.

Warnings:

1.Having your computer automatically run updates means that there are things continuously running when you don't need them to be.

2.Running CDs and DVDs while your battery is not on the charger will drain faster.

3.Don't play games on your computer when the battery is off the charger, it has to work harder to run all the graphics and other necessary programs.

4.Never connect a laptop to an automotive power supply adapter as a substitute for running on the laptop battery. You likely will damage or destroy your laptop.

5.Lithium Ions can be ruined if the voltage drops below a certain level, avoid letting your notebook battery drain completely and repeatedly.

6.If you plan on not-using the notebook battery for a month or longer then fully charge the laptop battery, then store it in a cool place. The laptop battery will lose its charge while stored and will need to be re-charged before you begin using it again.

What is the right way to charge a new laptop battery?

When you get a new laptop or new laptop battery, proper charging, discharging, usage and storage will allow you to maximize your battery’s life and capabilities. Before even powering up your laptop for the first time, it is important to know just how to charge and care for your battery in order to get the most out it for as long as you can.

Charge & Discharge

According to CNET authors Asher Moses and Brian Nadel, the first thing you should do with your new laptop is “let the battery completely drain(5%) before you recharge it.” Letting the battery completely drain(5%) by using it without AC power, and then recharging it to 100 percent before using it again, helps to establish memory within the battery regarding how much of a charge can be held. Do this for at least the first two times when using your laptop on battery power, and repeat as often as you can to get the most out of your battery.

Storage

If you plan to use your laptop as a desktop most of the time, Rick Broida of "PC World" suggests you take the battery out of your laptop and use only AC power. Only put the battery in and charge it whenever you plan on moving the laptop and using it without AC power, because “if you leave your laptop plugged in 24/7… the battery rarely (if ever) gets a chance to discharge, [so] it loses its capacity to hold a charge.” Charge the battery before moving your laptop, and discharge it completely before recharging again, if you can.

Temperature & Climate

One of the main causes of battery failure is overheating. "PC Magazine’s" Erik Rhey suggests that you can avoid overheating by using cooling pads and not placing your laptop on soft surfaces like pillows and blankets. Some batteries are actually designed to sense if they are getting too warm and simply will not charge if they are, so it is in your interest to keep your battery cool. Dust getting into the laptop and clogging the cooling fan can also cause overheating problems, so try to keep the area around your laptop clean. Of course, leaving your laptop in your car where it can become excessively hot can also cause problems, so avoid that as well.

Power Settings

Once you have gotten the hang of charging your batteries, visit your computer’s Power Settings in the Control Panel and dim your computer’s display, adjust the timeout settings for your display to turn off and for your laptop to sleep, and see if any advanced settings can be changed to really extend your battery life as far as you can.

My new battery isn't charging. Is it defective?

Usually NO. New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge the new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.

It is generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve hours). It is normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging.

When charging the battery for the first time, the device may indicate that charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal with rechargeable batteries. New batteries are hard for the device to charge; they have never been fully charged and not “broken in”. Sometimes the device's charger will stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens, remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery charge. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.

The Do's and Don'ts of Battery Use

Battery Do's:

1.Fully charge/discharge battery up to 3 cycles before achieving full capacity of a new battery

2.Fully discharge and then fully charge the battery every two to three weeks for battery conditions.

3.Run the device under the battery's power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as instructed in the user's manual.

4.Remove from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place if the battery will not be in use for a month or longer,Recharge the battery after a storage period

5.Ensure maximum performance of the battery by optimizing the device's power management features. Refer to the manual for further instructions.

Battery Don'ts:

1.Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit may cause severe damage to the battery.

2.Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.

3.Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.

4.Keep battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.

How can I maximize the performance of my battery?

There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your battery:

1.Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.

2.Keep the 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 the portable device.

3.Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the 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.

4.Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries before use.

Your battery has a different voltage to my battery, can I use it?

Different voltages stated on batteries may be compatible. For example voltages from the same pairs below, are compatible:

3.6V / 3.7V

7.2V / 7.4V

10.8V / 11.1V

14.4V / 14.8V

The capacity of your battery is different to mine, can I still use yours?

Yes. The capacity of a battery does not affect its compatibility in anyway. A higher capacity battery will simply power your device for longer before you need to charge it.

It is important to check the dimensions and weight in addition to the capacity because sometimes higher capacity batteries can be larger in size, making them impractical for some uses even though they are compatible.

How do I know this battery will actually fit my device?

Every device that is listed on our website is linked only with goods/products that are 100% compatible with that device.