When it comes to caring for your laptop’s battery there are certain dos and don’ts you should follow to maximize it’s lifespan. Here are some tips that can help you to achieve this.
Temperature
First on the list is temperature. Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in laptops are sensitive to temperature extremes. Avoid exposing your laptop to extreme heat or cold, as it can degrade the battery’s performance. Ideally, keep your laptop at room temperature when in use. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or outside in the cold. You would also want to avoid using your laptop on places where it will block the air vents at the bottom such as the bed.
Avoid deep discharges
Avoid letting your laptop’s battery drain completely before recharging it. Lithium-ion batteries perform best when they are kept in a state of partial charge. Constantly discharging the battery to 0% will shorten its lifespan.
Partial discharge
The optimum range your battery charge is between 40 – 80%. Therefore, its best to prevent discharging the battery below 40% and charging to a maximum of 80%. Some laptops have software (such as Lenovo’s Vantage app) that is able to set the maximum threshold for charging. This helps in avoiding deep discharges and extends battery life.
Use the OEM charger
As much as possible, use the original charger that came with your laptop. Using third-party chargers may not provide the same level of power regulation and can potentially harm your battery.
Store partially charged
Studies have shown that a battery’s capacity remained higher after a year when it was charged to 40% compared to one that was charged at 100%. Note too, that a lower temperature also positively affected the battery’s capacity, with the range of testing from 0 degrees C to 60 degrees Celsius. One might ask if storing the battery in a refrigerator is a good idea for keeping it cool. The problem with this is that condensation can cause moisture in the battery and damage it, so avoid this. Based on that information, it would be advisable to store your laptop’s battery in a cool, dry place with about a 40% charge level. Disconnecting the battery from the laptop will also prevent draining the charge.
With that being said, laptop manufacturers have different recommendations for battery storage. The following recommendation is from Lenovo and would also be good advice to follow.
When storing the battery for a long time, charge the battery to 50%, and then if possible, detach the battery from the laptop to store it. For an undetachable battery, disable the battery from the BIOS settings (see laptop’s manufacturer’s website or owners manual on how to do this). Keep a check on the charge level once every six months.
Replace the battery when necessary
Laptop batteries have a limited lifespan, typically 300-500 charge cycles. If you notice a significant reduction in battery life and performance, consider replacing the battery. Also, a bulging in your laptop’s keyboard and or touchpad are can indicate swelling of the battery, which is another indication that your battery needs replacing.
Last words
Remember that over time, all batteries degrade, and their capacity diminishes. Following these tips can help slow down the degradation process and extend the useful life of your laptop battery.
