Laptop batteries?

[freakiness]

Good morning.

Do any of the wise people on here know what is best for laptop batteries lasting power?

Is it best to plug into power supply all the time except when mobile?

Is it best to use the battery more often?

Or does it make no difference?

Thank you.

[jimmy*part4]

All the people I know that leave their laptops plugged in 24/7 can only use their batteries for 5 mins or none at all. I was told when I got this one almost 2 years ago to run it off the battery occasionally till the battery dies...then recharge, and don't leave it plugged in when not in use.

 After having it for almost 2 years and never using the battery, but always unplugging it when not in use I was able to watch movies on it for about 3 hours during a power failure. I'd guess I could use it longer surfing the web, but I didn't have internet either. 8 Days with no power and watching movies on it and it still lasted 3 hours (charged it each day in my truck).

[donnashuggy]

I was on the phone to toshiba yesterday in regards to this and it is best to leave it unplugged when not in use, I was told with my lenovo to take out the battery when not in use.

My view is that laptops probably only last a few years anyway so unless you are using it on the road unplugged most of the time then I doubt leaving it plugged in for great lengths of time will make much difference in the long term.

My daughter was given her school laptop yesterday which is also a lenovo and she is to fully charge it each night for use at school each day.

[mainecoon1]

I think it depends on the battery, I leave mine plugged in all day, when I get home from work I take my laptop into the lounge and use the battery, my battery lasts about 2 hours if I still need to use it after the charge is gone I plug it back in.  When I go to bed I unplug it from the mains and then plug it back in before I leave for work in the morning.

I have had my laptop for 3 years now and the battery life has not changed it has always been 2 hours.

[bright.ton42]

I usually run my laptop off the mains but sometimes I forget to plug it in, and then 

find it lasts about 5-6 hours.  I've never run the battery right out and when I get a warning

it's got about 12% left.  

[krazy.kiwi]

Generally with all rechargeable batteryies, I find that they last longest and hold their charge better if you fully discharge them, then fully charge them. (for Laptops, I take them down to about 8% before I charge them)

I have been using my laptop for a few years doing this and the battery still seems as good as the day I bought it.

[freakiness]

Generally with all rechargeable batteryies, I find that they last longest and hold their charge better if you fully discharge them, then fully charge them. (for Laptops, I take them down to about 8% before I charge them)

I have been using my laptop for a few years doing this and the battery still seems as good as the day I bought it.

Yes, that's the way I was thinking they work best.

The ones I've been the only user of seem to last longer than other people's rejects. They have dodgy batteries every time  😄

With this new laptop I've been draining the charge fairly often. The battery lasted from just before 10am until about 3.30 today.

[krazy.kiwi]

Yes, that's the way I was thinking they work best.

The ones I've been the only user of seem to last longer than other people's rejects. They have dodgy batteries every time  😄

With this new laptop I've been draining the charge fairly often. The battery lasted from just before 10am until about 3.30 today.

We had one laptop that my son used at primary school. the teacher made him have it plugged in all day so he didn't get a flat battery half way through the day - that laptop lasts for about 5 minutes on battery. It was a couple of hours when we first got it.

I have one that is 2 years old and another that is 1 year old  - both of them have very good battery life and I get almost 12 hours out of them (unless I play games ;-))

[monman12]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/191574/long_live_your_laptop_battery.html

[freakiness]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/191574/long_live_your_laptop_battery.html

Thanks John, that was interesting, especially the bit about the ground outs on the floor   :^O

Big foot ground outs of the screen is the floor hazard   :^O