Laptop Computer Battery Buying Guide
Not every laptop computer battery is the same and it is important to be aware of the make and model you require them for. It is also important to be aware that the voltage on your battery pack is not the same as the voltage on the power supply.
Knowing the voltage and capacity of your battery pack and the chemical construction of the battery can help to verify that your provider is selling you the right type for your computer. This information is usually on the outside of the battery pack you are replacing.
Lithium Ion or Li-ion is one of the newest types of laptop computer battery. It is also the lightest battery commercially available and is more powerful than the other two main battery types.
However, due to the high cost to produce it, the Li-ion battery is much more expensive than Nickel Metal Hydride or Ni-MH batteries or Nickel Cadmium, Ni-Cd, cells.
The most common type of laptop battery is Nickel Metal Hydride which is relatively inexpensive to produce and is consequently cheaper than Li-ion.
However, it is very important to take good care of this type of battery because it is vulnerable to what is known as "memory effect."
This means that you consistently partially discharge your battery before recharging it, instead of fully discharging it, your Ni-MH battery can forget it has the ability to completely discharge. This risk, however, is even higher with Nickel Cadmium or Ni-Cd batteries.
When you first buy a new laptop computer battery, it is important to fully charge and discharge it a few times so that it can reach its maximum capacity. This is known as conditioning the battery.
Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries should be conditioned at least once a month to limit the "memory effect." In other words, do not always use your power supply if you want to keep your batteries healthy.
You can expect a new notebook or laptop battery to last between a year and a half and three years with normal usage. As the battery begins to die you will notice that it lasts for much shorter periods of time.
Keeping your laptop batteries in the refrigerator (in a dry environment) when not in use can slow the rate of discharge into the environment and increase the life span of the batteries.
However, if you do this it is important to allow the batteries to re-acclimatize to room temperature before replacing them in your laptop.
If you regularly use your laptop computer battery power it may be a good idea to purchase an extra battery and an external charger to reduce downtime. It is important, however, that your charger is a correct match for your battery.
For example, Ni-Cd and Ni-MH are chemically similar and the Ni-Cd charger can work however there is a serious risk of over-charging. Unlike the Ni-Cd charger, the Ni-MH charger has a temperature sensor and shutoff to eliminate the risk of overheating.
The chances are high that if you recharge your NI-MH battery with a Ni-Cd charger, your battery will overheat. This can cause internal battery damage and shorten its life.
If you ensure you purchase the right battery for your computer and look after it carefully, you will maximize your battery's life and minimize your costs and inconvenience.
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