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How to optimize the life of cordless vacuum battery

In the absence of local power supply, cordless vacuum is very helpful for cleaning up leakage. Optimizing the battery life of these detergents is a good idea, but it is not as simple as it sounds.

Standard Battery Packs

If your vacuum runs on standard batteries the only way to make them last longer is to ensure that there is no ‘stand by’ function on your battery powered vacuum. All you need to have is an on/off switch.

It is false economy to buy cheap batteries because they will discharge quicker and need replacing more often. Only use batteries designed for heavy-duty use.

Standard batteries often last longer when not in use if you store them outside of the equipment in which they are used. Store them close by in a cardboard box if you do not use the battery vacuum very often.

Unless the hand book for your battery vacuum advises against using rechargeable batteries, it is a good idea to try a set of high power rechargeable batteries.

Rechargeable Batteries

Many battery vacuums that run on rechargeable batteries are designed to be stored in the battery charger. This will ensure that the batteries are fully charged at all times.

Some rechargeable batteries, especially high demand batteries, have a liquid core and should be fully discharged before being recharged. Although not so common nowadays, these batteries seem to remember the amount of charge that they last received. If you recharge such a iRobot Roomba 500 Vacuum Battery after it is only one quarter discharged, you will find that, in future, it will only accept one quarter of the possible charge even if it has been fully discharged.

Switching on and off

With some circuitry, it can be beneficial to leave a vacuum running once it has been switched on. To make best use of these, you need to have all the cleaning work close by so that it can be done in one go. The demand on the battery in starting the vacuum can be many times the demand for letting it run on. This is something that will be covered in the owners hand book.

Freezing Conditions

Most batteries do not function well in freezing conditions. Keep your battery vacuum stored in a cool rather than a cold location. Ideally, the battery vacuum should be stored in the room in which it is most likely to be used.

A battery that has been frozen is often damaged as a result and should be carefully checked and tested before being used. Double-check before you try to recharge a once frozen battery. Check especially for any leaks caused by the battery case splitting.

Sensible Use

When using the portable vacuum, try to remember that it is only battery powered. Rather than trying to collect as much as possible as fast as possible, work gradually so that the motor is not put under too much strain. Slower and steady could mean the difference between having enough battery life and running out just before you finish.

How to troubleshoot non recharging DELL Inspiron 1545 battery failure

One of the common problems of Dell laptop is probably that the main battery has not been charged. There are many reasons for this situation. This article will help you identify and exclude such problems.

What to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner

The old vacuum cleaner has “killed the dust” and you need to replace it. As long as you browse the Internet quickly, you will find that choosing a new machine may be more challenging than you think. When you browse a vacuum vacuum cleaner or magazine on the Internet, it’s easy to get into the “latest and best” state, and the end result is that a machine is either too much, or not enough, or just not in line with your needs.

We’ve put together a few questions for consideration to help focus your search efforts before purchasing that new vacuum cleaner with iRobot Roomba 500 Vacuum Battery. Maybe you’ve already thought about some of these, so please use the following list to quickly navigate to the concerns most important to you.

What Flooring Types Do I Have?

Probably the most obvious consideration is whether you have mainly carpeting, hard floors, or a fairly even combination of both. Generally speaking, for homes with a lot of carpeting, especially in large areas, an upright vacuum cleaner is a good choice. However, if your personal preference tends toward canister style vacuums, there are quite a few excellent choices available. You will want to be sure that it has a floor nozzle with a motorized brushroll and height adjustment options for various pile carpets.

If you love hardwood or tile flooring with a few rugs here and there, or enjoy low-pile carpeting, a canister style vacuum is a great option. Using a specialized floor brush, these are usually very maneuverable for working quickly around and underneath furniture. Some are equipped with combination floor tools that easily switch to effectively clean scatter rugs. For true canister vacuum lovers, there are machines that feature high quality motorized floor nozzles that can effectively handle deep-pile carpets.

Most people have a combination of both carpeting and hard floors. At this point, style preference will be your guide. However, be sure to check for convenience features such as on/off brushroll control, height adjustment, and suction control. Be sure to note whether the brushroll is air-powered or electrically powered as this affects the effectiveness of deep-pile carpet cleaning.

Do I Need to Control Allergens?

This is a key question to consider since we spend, on average, about 90% of our time indoors where pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. This is especially important to ponder if you or someone in your family has asthma or allergies. A vacuum cleaner that provides HEPA filtration can be an important contributor to improving your indoor air quality. HEPA filters capture particulate matter down to 0.3 microns so that the exhausted air is actually cleaner than what was sucked into the vacuum. There are also machines that include some level of charcoal filtration to help control odors—great for pet owners.

An additional consideration is a vacuum that not only uses HEPA filters but does so in a completely sealed system. This means that there is virtually no leakage of air through the housing or fittings of the machine and all air (along with pollutants) is forced through the filtration system, leaving your indoor air allergen free. See this article for more information about allergies and vacuums.

How Often Do I Vacuum?

Something you may not have thought about, the frequency of your cleaning schedule can be impacted by the ease or difficulty of storing and accessing your vacuum. For those folks who shed their shoes the minute they hit the door, walking on floors that quickly accumulate pet fur, crumbs, and tracked-in dirt or sand, daily vacuuming is standard operating procedure. In that case, a vacuum that is difficult to access and use quickly can make this routine a real chore. Consider a robotic vacuum that can be scheduled to clean while you’re at work or running errands so you return to grit-free floors, really nice if you frequently bring home company.

If your debris tends to concentrate in specific areas, a stick vacuum is a champ at quickly taking care of daily messes whether on hard floors or carpets, as well as effectively handling more extensive weekly cleaning. There are also light-weight uprights and compact canisters with parking features that make them easy to store and use at a moment’s notice.

How Many Levels are in My Home?

In other words, how many stairs do you have to carry your vacuum up and down? There are many maneuverable, light-weight cordless vacuums that have great suction power and long run times that can handle multiple floor types. There are also lightweight vacuums in both upright and canister styles that make transporting them between floors easy.

An additional thought is the type of flooring on each level. While it sounds crazy, sometimes more than one vacuum is a very good idea. If you have a main floor that really benefits from a machine that can handle a variety of floor types, your upper floor may only require a vacuum best for carpets or hard floors.  Or, the reverse may be true. In either case, consider purchasing a smaller stick vacuum for the space best suited for it, and save yourself grueling trips up and down stairs with your larger machine.

What Additional Surfaces will I be Cleaning?

If you like vacuuming away all the accumulated dust from furniture, curtains, moldings, and baseboards instead of dusting, you’ll want a vacuum that includes a variety of accessory tools. Most include at least a combination brush and crevice tool, while others have additional floor nozzles, an upholstery tool, and specialized accessories for specific types of cleaning. If you own pets, or have a lot of stairs, consider a vacuum that includes a mini-motorized tool for easy cleaning. Some offer an even wider variety of specialized tools and extension wands which you can purchase separately as you need them.

How Much Noise Can I Stand?

Given the technology, if you will, of vacuums, there is a certain amount of expected sound generated during use. Typically, the larger and more heavy-duty the machine for the job, the louder it is. For homes, and for office spaces where a quieter sound level is desired, there are vacuums that have been designed with insulated motor housings as well as newer low-noise motors for quieter operation. Some can run as lows as 47 dB at maximum power while still delivering 120 CFM. Vacuum manufacturers such as NaceCare, Miele, and Sebo have recently redesigned some of their machines for quieter operation. Check specifications for your selection before buying.

How Much Maintenance is Required?

This is a question that really depends on your definition of “a lot” and how tedious different kinds of maintenance are for you. Bagless vacuums don’t have bags that need to be changed, but dust bins still need to be emptied and washed periodically, especially if your home includes allergy-sufferers. Any vacuum with a HEPA filter will need that filter to be replaced when necessary, depending on individual home environments. The same is true for any other type of filter unless it is specified as a washable filter.Brushrolls will collect pet fur, hair, threads and other debris and will need to be cleaned to maintain top operating capabilities. Ease of access to it should be a consideration. For quality vacuums that last for years, sometimes accessory tools like dusting brushes may need to be replaced. Check to see if these are available for purchase either at retail or from the manufacturer.

At the End of the Day

After taking some or all of these questions into consideration, you should have the profile of your “best” vacuum, or even, vacuums. This will help when you begin to delve into consumer agency publications or online forums that rate various vacuum cleaners, so you end up buying just what you need for your home and lifestyle.

What is the best way to store lithium ion batteries?

Some of us use our laptop as a substitute for a desktop computer, so it doesn’t make any sense to put the battery in your laptop. This eventually reduces its energy storage capacity. This is the best way to store it.

Storing a Lithium-Ion Battery

But will my laptop work without the battery while it’s plugged in?

The answer is yes, while plugged into AC, your laptop will work just fine even if the battery isn’t inside it, as detailed in this article. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what the best way to store a laptop battery is.

Today, Lithium-Ion batteries are the battery type found in pretty much 99% of all laptop PC and devices sold over that past five years. Now although most Lithium-Ion batteries will perform well for 2-3 years, if you want to extend the life of your battery, you can following a few tips.

First, before storing your battery, make sure it’s not empty. Over time, batteries will leak power so if it’s stored at no charge in it, there’s a chance it won’t accept a charge again. Since this defeats our goal of extending the life of a battery… don’t do that!

In order to lose the smallest amount of power while in storage, change your Dell latitude d620 laptop battery to 40% then unplug it and store it in a temperature controlled location. The below graph outlines the ideal charge point and temperature for battery storage.

As you can see, 0 degrees centigrade (which translates to 32 degrees Fahrenheit) and 40% battery charge loses the least amount of power. Just 2%. The reason is that constant temperature is your best friend. Now the good news is most refrigerators hover between 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit which is almost perfect. It also provides the battery a constant temperature that rarely changes.

Charge my battery to 40% then stick it in the fridge. Got it. Anything else?

The problem with a refrigerator is that it’s a damp environment, which could cause parts of the battery to rust. So, before you put the battery in the refrigerator, make sure you put it in a Ziploc bag. If you want to take extra precautions, I also suggest putting a desiccant in the Ziploc bag, along with the battery. Getting one shouldn’t be too difficult – almost anything you buy these days will be packed with one.

It’s also a good idea to remove the battery from your fridge every month and perform a full recharge-discharge cycle before putting it back in. Before you put it back in the laptop, though, make sure that you let the Ziploc bag containing it reaches room temperature. If you don’t, there’s a serious risk of damaging the battery. If you follow the instructions above, your Lithium-Ion battery will be in great shape next time you need it.

Guide to buy a vacuum cleaner

Ah, the vacuum cleaner. That very useful plastic was downgraded to a practical closet for most of the time. Yes, I admit, I have a love hate relationship with the vacuum. Of course, they clean the floor, but these household appliances also commit some crimes. Even the most basic cleaning is very painful. Some are very noisy, heavy, too little or too much accessories. Others carry trash cans, which are challenges to empty objects or bags that are difficult to find – you understand.

Basically, there are a lot of potential annoyances you can run into and it’s not like any of us need another excuse not to break out the vacuum. On top of that, today’s market has expanded to include a bunch of different vacuum categories. So how do you narrow down your options to find something durable that’s easy to use and cleans well? Well, by reading this buying guide, of course.

Vacuums, vacuums everywhere

The beauty of vacuum shopping is that there’s almost definitely a machine out there to fit your lifestyle. The problem with vacuum shopping is that there are tons of options and it can be difficult to zero in on that perfect model. I mean, you can find upright, canister, robot, handheld, stick and even convertible vacuums that can be both upright and canister or both handheld and stick depending on the configuration.

So here’s a rundown of the top vacuum styles, their key features and details about what type of cleaning is best suited for each one.

Upright

Upright vacuums are the most common style found in homes today. Typically, they have a foot lever you press to change the angle of the machine for increased maneuverability. Features and prices vary widely in this category — the $300 Electrolux Precision Brushroll Clean has two attachments, the $700 Dyson Cinetic Big Ball has nine — but as a general rule, these full-sized vacuums perform better than their smaller counterparts, so uprights are a good fit if you’re particular about cleanliness.

Average price: $40-$700

Average weight: 14-17 pounds

Key features: Upright position, bins or bags collect debris, typically comes with accessories, including a wand for corners or stairs. Many can transition between carpet and bare floors.

Takeaway: Best if you have the space to store something tall and if you want a deep clean of your carpets. They typically weigh more than other models, so an upright stick vacuum might be a good lighter-weight alternative.

Canister

Canister vacuums are also popular — especially in the UK. They are a bit more versatile than uprights, because you can lift the canister and take it wherever you want to go. Canister vacs still tout a full-sized engine, so you gain versatility without losing power. They are known for working well on stairs, because you can carry the canister and use the long wand extender to tackle each level with ease.

Average price: $50-$800

Average weight: 8-13 pounds

Key features: Most offer the same or similar cleaning options as uprights, but with increased mobility.

Takeaway: They are lighter than uprights, but you still have to be comfortable lifting at least 8 pounds. You’ll also have to bend over to push the canister around the house. You can use the wand to pull it, but you’ll have less control over the movements (both Dyson and LG are working to make this problem a thing of the past). The long wands and cords get tangled more easily and might be more difficult to store because the hose and wand don’t always snap to the canister.

Robot

Robot vacuums may seem like a novelty, but they actually do a lot to keep your floors clean. Just let ’em go and they bounce around your carpeted and bare floors to tidy up your messes. Robot vacuums won’t clean as well as full-sized models, but at the very least, they do well enough to help you put off your full-scale vacuum session for longer.

Average price: $100-$1,000

Average weight: Typically under 10 pounds

Key features: Battery-powered with docking station, cordless, sensor-controlled, automated via scheduling feature, various cleaning modes, many can clean both carpets and bare floors, some even have apps.

Takeaway: Supplement your regular vacuuming with this handy, high-tech gadget. Recent app-enabled models such as the Neato Botvac Connected and the Roomba 980 even let you set schedules remotely and control the vacs like a remote-controlled car.

Handheld

These little mini-vacs are great for smaller jobs. Some are cordless, so they work well for quick and easy cleaning or as a compact on-the-go option for RV owners. It’s also a great supplement if your main vacuum doesn’t offer many attachments or if you’d rather not pull out your whole vacuum every time you spot a mess.

Average price: $20-$200

Average weight: About 5 pounds

Key features: Lightweight and incredibly easy to store. Some are cordless.

Takeaway: Great option for small spaces and easy lifting. Cordless models can also clean your car, boat and so on.

Stick

Halfway between a handheld and an upright, stick vacs offer the former’s maneuverability and the cleaning power of the latter. As a streamlined upright, stick vacs are easy to store and lightweight. These models typically run on batteries, so they can go where corded vacuums can’t. They also tend to be less powerful than their upright counterparts.

Average price: $25-$600

Average weight: Typically under 10 pounds

Key features: Lightweight, often cordless and battery-powered, can transition from carpet to hardwood.

Takeaway: Great if you want something that can handle light debris. A good lightweight option for those with limited arm strength — the Shark Rocket is only 4.2 pounds.

Other considerations

In addition to the different types of vacuum models available today, there are a couple of other things you ought to think about before making a final decision.

All-in-one or a combo?

After going over the different types of vacuums, you might find you need more than one model to fit your needs. A full-sized vacuum — either an upright or canister — fits a thorough, seasonal cleaning the best. The smaller, more convenient models — robot vacuums, sticks and handhelds — could serve as a perfect tool for regular spot cleaning in the meantime.

You also might find a convertible model that takes care of all of your needs in one diverse package. You typically won’t find a full-sized that converts to a smaller vac, but the $350 Shark Rotator Powered Liftaway is an upright that converts to a canister. Similarly, the $300 Black & Decker Stick is one of a number of stick vacs that let you pull out a handheld when you need to reach into tight spaces.

Bag or bagless?

If you’re buying an upright or a canister vacuum, you will have to opt for disposable bags or a reusable bin. Bags tend to hold more dust, but it’s much harder to tell how full the bag is without removing it completely from the vacuum. Bags also release less dust into the air during disposal, but you have to deal with buying replacements fairly regularly.

Dust bin models have been increasing in popularity ever since James Dyson invented the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum in the 1980s. The bins are transparent, making it easier to tell when they’re full — and you can empty and reuse them countless times. You may still have to replace the filter, though, which is more expensive, but less frequent than buying bags. Both bag and bin models are widely available, so it’s really a matter of preference here.

Corded or battery powered?

If you’re buying a stick vac, how it’s powered will effect maneuverability. Most stick vacs use batteries, but if you want to clean your whole house and don’t want to worry about recharging, consider one with a cord, like the Shark Rocket.

Otherwise, check out the Dyson DC16 Vacuum Battery life, as it can vary from model to model. Also, check on the battery indicator. I’d find it particularly annoying to be halfway through vacuuming a room when I had to stop for a charge. Not all models are great at keeping you updated about how long you have left to work, but some — like the Bissell Bolt Ion — have helpful displays.

Worthwhile extras

Lots of vacuums offer a dearth of attachments and brag of various advanced features. Most, like corner wands, are pretty run-of-the-mill. Here are the ones we’ve found particularly helpful in our testing. Use these as tie-breakers in your decision making:

• A powered brushroll — such as the one on the Dyson v6 Motorhead — helps reduce tangles.
• A pet hair specific attachment — specifically one with a powered brushroll — can make it easier to pick up after your furry friend.
• A mop attachment — like you find on the Dirt Devil Lift & Go — makes cleaning hardwood floors easier
• Electrolux has a few vacuums with a blade that scrape the tangles off of your brushroll for you. The feature is called the Brushroll clean.
• One of Dyson’s most recent uprights — the Dyson Cinetic — successfully did away with the need for a filter, reducing regular vacuum maintenance.

Do you really need a HEPA filter?

Many vacuums today come with a dedicated HEPA filter. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. That may sound fancy, but it really just means that it removes harmful allergens like mold, smoke or dust from the air. All filters do that to some extent, but the more expensive HEPA variety must trap at least 99.97 percent of particles to be considered the real deal. Take that, allergens.

If you have asthma or allergies or are just generally concerned with air quality, a vacuum with a HEPA filter might be worth your consideration. Many of them are removable and can be cleaned with water until they need to be replaced. This might all sound really good, but some non-HEPA models can do just as well as their High Efficiency Particulate Air counterparts. So do your research — emission reduction can vary a lot.

Wait, what about performance?

Within each category, a vacuum’s cleaning ability can vary wildly. Unfortunately, we’ve yet to discover a single exterior indicator that correlates reliably with cleaning power. You can find effective cheap models and you’ll also find models with great suction power that don’t do as well. Cleaning power comes from a strange alchemy of suction power, the shape of the vacuum head and the design of the brushroll. Check out our best list to find our favorite performers.

Ready to clean

Vacuum buying can seem daunting. Prices can climb quickly and there are a ton of different models available. Think about the type of cleaning you do on a regular basis. Have a pet that sheds a lot? You may want a model that offers attachments for dusting and getting hair that’s stuck under furniture or in crevices. Hate vacuuming, but want a clean house? A robot vacuum could really lessen your work load. Want something like an upright that’s lighter weight? Consider a stick model. It’s really all about the job you need to get done. But don’t be overwhelmed, there’s a good vacuum at every price level and if you think you need an expensive Dyson to get a clean floor, think again.

11 Ways to Improve Your Windows 7 Laptop’s Battery Life

When you’re moving, watching your laptop’s life drain can cause stress. Of course, there are extensions and slicing batteries for all kinds of machines. Laptop batteries can be obtained from companies like Duracell and Lind electronics. But these choices may mean more things in a bag that has been trapped by wires, files and accessories. A reliable way to store batteries is to follow the following 11 recommendations.

1. Lower your screen brightness.

Your screen backlight uses the most power of any component in your notebook, so you can save a lot of juice by turning it down to the lowest acceptable level. You can manually raise and lower the brightness in increments of 10 percent by hitting the appropriate key combination for your laptop (example: Fn + left/right arrows on the Acer Aspire TimelineX series), but we recommend changing the brightness in your power profile so it lowers automatically every time you unplug.

To lower the brightness level in your power profile:

• Select Power Options from the control panel.
• Click Change Plan Settings next to your current power plan.
• Select “Change advanced power settings.”
• Expand Display, then Display brightness.
• Enter a brightness percentage for On Battery, then Click OK.
• Experiment with different brightness levels to determine which is the lowest you can tolerate.

2. Prevent scheduled tasks from running on battery power.

Your virus scanner and disk defragmenter, along with auto updates from the likes of Apple and Google, are scheduled to run themselves on a regular basis—often without your knowledge or consent. Set these tasks to run only on AC power so they don’t eat up precious juice running your hard drive, CPU and wireless while you’re unplugged.

• Select Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler in the Control Panel.
• Select Task Scheduler (Local) in the left window pane.
• Go through each active task that has a future date in the Next Run Time column and do the following:
  • Double-click the task.
  • Select the Conditions tab.
  • Toggle on the first two power options: “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power” and “Stop if the computer switches to battery power” if they are not already checked.
  • Click the back button to return to the list of active tasks.

3. Turn off backlit keyboards.

If your notebook has a backlit keyboard, it will certainly help you see keys in a dark room, but it’s also sucking juice out of your Dell xps m1530 laptop battery. You’ll save some power by turning off that light. Every notebook has its own way of enabling or disabling its keyboard backlight, but the method usually involves hitting a Function key on the top row of the keyboard.

4. Unplug all USB devices and remove all discs.

Every USB peripheral attached to your notebook is eating up power just by registering itself with the operating system. By the same token, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays can drain battery life, even when they’re just sitting idle in your optical drive. Remove any discs along with USB keys, card readers, modems or other peripherals you don’t need while on battery power.

5. Turn on High-Contrast mode.

The LED-backlit screens used on most modern notebooks expend less energy displaying black pixels than those showing colors. Setting your computer to show white and yellow text on a black background can improve battery life and even make text more readable when sunlight is hitting your screen.

To enable High-Contrast mode in Windows 7, simply hit the key combination Left Shift + Left Alt + Print Screen and click Yes when asked to confirm. You can turn off High-Contrast mode by hitting the same combo.

High-Contrast mode will affect your desktop and most Windows programs, including the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox. However, if you use the Chrome browser, you will need to install the Change Colors extension, which is available for free from the Chrome Web Store. Once the extension is installed, it will show an icon in the right side of your address bar. Click that icon and select “Apply override on all pages” to enable high-contrast mode.

6. Close messaging software and apps that ping the Internet in the background.

While you’re surfing the Web, checking email or watching a movie, messaging apps such as Google Talk and Skype are hitting the Internet constantly, just to see which of your contacts are online and whether you’ve received any messages. Automatic updating apps from the likes of Adobe, Apple and Google may also be pinging the Internet to see if there are updates to your copies of Adobe Reader, Chrome browser or iTunes. To stop these silent power vampires before they start, prevent them from loading at boot time.

To see and disable programs from starting when your computer starts:

• Type msconfig into the Start Menu text field, and click msconfig.
• Select the Startup tab.
• Uncheck messaging programs such as AOL Instant Messenger, Gtalk and Skype. You can always launch them manually if you want to use them.
• Uncheck autoupdaters such as Adobe Update, Apple Update, Google Update and Java Autoupdater.
• Click OK.

7. Hibernate instead of sleep.

When you close the lid on your notebook and put it to sleep, the computer is still sending some power to the RAM and motherboard in order to keep the current session in memory so your system can wake quickly. Some newer lightweight notebooks such as the ASUS ZenBook UX31 have been designed to use little power during sleep, but most notebooks suck down quite a bit of juice unless they’re completely powered off.

In Hibernate mode, your notebook will save its memory to disk and completely power off, rather than just going to sleep. It will take nearly as long to wake from hibernation as it does to boot, but once it wakes, your session will be right where you left it.

To make your computer hibernate on demand, simply click the arrow next to the Shutdown button and select Hibernate. If you do not see Hibernate available as an option, your computer does not support this mode.

If your computer supports hibernation, you may want to set it to hibernate every time you close the lid.

To set your notebook to hibernate upon lid close:

• Type Lid into the Start menu text field.
• Click “Change what closing the lid does.”
• Select Hibernate from the “When I close the lid” menu under On Battery.
• Click Save Changes.

8. Disable Bluetooth.

If your notebook has Bluetooth, you’re probably not using it much. However, the radio is still sucking power, even when nothing is connected to it.

To disable Bluetooth:

• Type Network Connections into the text field inthe Start Menu.
• Select View Network Connections.
• Right-click on the Bluetooth Network Connection > Disable.

9. Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use.

If you’re connected to the Internet via Ethernet, or if you’re working some place that has no wireless signal, you can save a lot of power by turning off your notebook’s Wi-Fi radio. Most notebooks have a Function key on the top of the keyboard that toggles Wi-Fi on or off, though some have a dedicated button or switch.

10. Minimize hard drive usage.

If your notebook has a 5,400- or 7,200-rpm hard drive, it’s sucking up a lot of juice just spinning that magnetic platter around. There are several ways to save power by minimizing disk activity.

• Defragment your hard drive on a regular basis. If you run Windows 7’s Disk Defragmenter program every couple of weeks, your drive will spend less time spinning around looking for data.
• Replace your hard drive with an SSD. Because they have no moving parts, SSDs use less power than hard drives. They also don’t need to be defragmented.
• Add more RAM. Going from 2 to 4GB or 4 to 8GB of RAM should allow your computer to use less virtual memory and more physical memory, which means fewer hard drive accesses.

11. Turn off visual effects.

Such visual effects as Aero glass, showing window contents while dragging, and slide-out menus tax your CPU and, by extension, your Dell inspiron 1520 battery.

To disable these effects:

• Type Advanced System Settings into the Start Menu text field.
• Select “View advanced system settings.”
• Click Settings under Performance.
• Select “Adjust for best performance.”
• Click OK.

The Best Vacuum for Stairs in 2018

If you find that stairs are the hardest part to keep clean in your home, you are lucky.

This page is dedicated to the best vacuum for stairs (updated for 2018) and will help you forget how painful a task it is to keep them clean!

Often times stairs tend to go neglected during the regular vacuuming chore as they are harder to clean, require a bit more effort and aren’t as visible as the main living areas.

This is especially true if you have carpet based stairs! Ready for a change?

That being said, if your house is anything like mine, they are a great source of dirt, rocks, mud, hair, etc. We used to use a regular upright vacuum on our stairs which was inefficient to say the least. I would pull the vacuum down each stair, bring out the hose and do my best to dig into the entire stair one by one.

Although we provide full reviews/overviews of each vacuum in the above tables, this section provides a summary of each in case you are in a hurry.

1- Dyson DC65 (Our choice for the best vacuum for stairs)

Dyson DC65 – One of our top choices in 2018, the Dyson is always at the top of the list in vacuum cleaners and Dyson DC65 is no exception. This upright vacuum cleaner is an all-rounder as it can be used in the entire house from your floors to ceilings and everything in between (including your carpeted stairs). Though it clearly has an edge over others, where it truly shines is its versatility of use. Most other upright vacuums are good on floors only as they include a very limited hose; on the other hand, the Dyson DC65 comes with an extra-long hose and a telescopic wand along with a multitude of attachments that make it an ideal choice for all those small tasks around the house like cleaning the stairs.

For one, it gives you extra-long reach with its telescopic wand and hose. This means you can clean them easily. Second, it comes with powerful attachments that will make cleaning stairs extremely easy. If animal hair is your problem, you can use the tangle free turbine tool to clean your stairs and pick up all the hair from your carpeted stairs. Alternatively, it comes with a combination crevice and stair tool, both of which will clean your stairs to perfection. It even comes with a soft dusting brush in case you have non-carpeted stairs.

So, if stair cleaning feels troublesome for you, get the Dyson DC65, the ultimate choice in upright cleaners, no doubt.

2- Shark Lift-Away

Shark Lift-Away – An upright with a lift-away canister vacuum, this 2 in 1 vacuum cleaner can easily be called an all-rounder machine highly recommended for people who want one machine to do all the cleaning jobs around their house. Whether you want to deep clean your carpeted floors or pick up dirt and debris from your upholstery, the Shark Lift-Away will do it all for you.

First, it has a portable, lift-away canister that you can easily take with you on your stairs to clean your steps using the hose. With a 30ft. cord, cleaning all the way up to the top is not a problem at all. The canister comes off the floor head with just a push of a button, making it very easy to use. Second, it comes with powerful attachments that can be used for cleaning your stairs to perfection. The power brush gives excellent performance on carpeted stairs, picking up all kind of debris, deeply embedded dirt and hair off your carpeted steps. The dust-away attachment is another great tool, which is made for cleaning hard surfaces. If you have wood steps, use the dust-away attachment. And if dirt is getting piled up in the tiny corners of your stairs, use the crevice tool to clean them.

All these powerful features make the Shark Lift-Away an ideal choice. It is an all-rounder machine so if you are buying this, you don’t need another vacuum cleaner in your home. This will take care of everything from floors to ceiling and everything in between.

3- Hoover Platinum

Hoover Platinum – Its sleek design is the first thing people notice when they look at the Hoover Platinum Linx, Hoover’s only stick vacuum with their patented Wind Tunnel technology. It comes with cordless convenience that makes it a breeze to carry it on the stairs and clean all those areas where finding an outlet is difficult. Being cordless also means you can clean them without getting those frustrating cords in your way. Its lightweight design further makes it easy to clean. Stick vacuums tend to be lighter as well making them easier to apply pressure and pick up debris from stairs surrounded by carpet.

The 18V Lithium Ion battery gives you fade free power, which means it runs at full power the whole time. Plus, it charges fully within 3 hours and lasts about 30 minutes, which is more than enough to do all the cleaning you need to do. The Hoover Platinum Linx comes with a wide cleaning path so you clean your stairs with just one swipe per step, which saves a lot of time. Plus, it has edge cleaning bristles, meaning all your corners and the walls of your steps stay clean.

With its brush roll powered by Wind Tunnel technology, your carpeted stairs remain dirt free. If pets are your problem, its strong brush roll will give you no trouble picking them all up. And if you need to move from carpet to bare floor, just turn it to the first setting to turn off the brush roll. Hence, the Hoover Platinum Linx truly shines because of its ease of use, lightweight and sleek design, cordless convenience and superb cleaning performance.

4- Eureka RapidClean

Eureka RapidClean – The Eureka Rapid Clean Step should be the first choice of anyone looking for the best handheld vacuum for stairs. It has all the features that allow you to immaculately clean whether carpeted or non-carpeted.

First, the lightweight handheld design makes it easy for you to carry it up and down. Since your stairs are one of the high traffic areas in your home, they get very dirty and very quickly. Hence, having a lightweight, handheld vacuum around your house is a blessing. Second, it is mains powered instead of battery operated, which is again more convenient as there is no hassle of charging a battery and there are no runtime constraints. With a 25ft. cord and 3ft. hose, you can conveniently clean all the carpets or other type of surface on your stairs. Third, a 6 amp motor gives it enough power to pick up all surface debris and the dirt deeply embedded in your carpets, giving it superb cleaning performance.

Another feature included in the Eureka Rapid Clean Step, which lacks in most handheld systems is the option to switch off the brush roll. With this feature, you can go from carpeted to non-carpeted , cleaning immaculately on both surfaces. Plus, it also includes a bare floor brush in case you have all non-carpeted. With all these features included in this small yet powerful machine, the Eureka Rapid Clean Step is no doubt the ultimate choice for anyone looking for a stair vacuum.

5- Bissell Powerglide

Bissell Powerglide – The Bissell PowerGlide Pet Vacuum gives you extremely good value for your money with its 2 in 1 design which includes a portable canister and an upright vacuum. This means you can buy an all-rounder machine, which can be used for the entire house, whether stairs, upholstery, furniture or your carpet.

The lightweight portable handheld canister makes it easy to carry, making it an ideal vacuum for cleaning stairs. The canister releases with just a push of a button, making it extremely easy to use. Not only stairs, but you can also use the portable canister vacuum for cleaning your upholstery, walls, ceilings, car mats, and other hard-to-reach areas. Plus, it has a 27ft. cord, making it convenient to go all the way up without the need to re-plug. Being corded means there is no hassle of charging a battery and waiting between charges. You can clean whenever you want for as long as you want.

If you need to clean carpeted stairs, you can use the pet turbo brush included in it. The pet power brush lifts up all dirt, dust, allergens and hair, leaving them immaculately clean. It also includes a crevice tool for cleaning the corners where dust tends to pile up. The Bissell PowerGlide Pet is therefore, an ideal vacuum for your entire house that gives you good value for your money.

How to find the best vacuum for stairs

Stairs are one of the high traffic areas in your home and if you have carpeted stairs, keeping them clean is truly a pain. Add to it the problem of hair and you will have a cleaning challenge in front of you. Of all the cleaning jobs in the house, vacuuming your carpeted stairs is the most troublesome unless you have the right tool for the job. Here are some factors to consider when buying a vacuum to help make great.

Type of vacuum: Handheld, Portable Canister, Upright

When it comes to the type to buy, you have the option to choose between handheld, canister, and upright. Upright are the hardest to use on stairs while handheld are the most convenient. However, some upright versions include a lift away portable canister, which can be carried while others come with long hoses and attachments so you can keep them standing on the floor while you vacuum with the hose. These types of upright vacuums are recommended if you want an all-rounder machine that can be used for the entire house including floors and stairs.

On the other hand, if you talk about convenience, a handheld vacuum is what you should look for. Since it is lightweight and small, you can easily carry it and clean your steps immaculately. However, a handheld vacuum is practically useless on your floors so it can only be bought as an addition to an upright or canister, which is affordable given their low price range.

Corded vs. Cordless

Whether corded or cordless depends on personal preference but as far as convenience in cleaning is concerned, a cordless should be your choice. This is because a cordless vacuum is much easier to use on stairs without getting those cords in your way and without the need to re-plug your machine as you move up and down. However, a cordless has its own time constraints and Dyson DC16 Vacuum Cleaner Battery considerations so, make sure you look over these factors.

Attachments

The biggest build-up of dirt and debris on carpets is along the edges and in the corners. For that, you need a crevice tool for cleaning edges and corners.
Another useful attachment you should look for is a pet turbo brush. Pet brushes are not just useful for picking up debris but they also help to lift up stubborn dirt and debris from your carpets. Plus, if you have a furry friend, having a pet turbo brush is a must.

Brush roll on/off feature

Having the option to switch off brush roll is an extremely valuable one especially if you have non carpeted stairs as well. This means you can move from carpeted to hardwood steps safely by just switching off the brush roll without the need to change attachments.

Besides this, make sure you read customer reviews of the vacuum you are buying and find out how customers feel its usage on stairs. It can help you make the right decision and get the best vacuum for stairs for cleaning to perfection. We try to keep this website as up to date as possible and have therefore updated our comparison chart recently for the 2018 shopping year. Best of luck in your search!

Pro Tips for Choosing a Laptop

If you buy a new laptop in the market, you will certainly have some big chaos, because in the past few years, the notebook market has changed dramatically.

The current laptop market is littered with new laptop designs that serve all kinds of purposes, from ultra lightweight productivity beasts geared towards business use, to monstrous gaming laptops that are so heavy that they are better suited at being desktop replacements. On top of this, their appearances have changed too, with laptop manufacturers now producing convertible designs that make use of touch interfaces, breaking away from the traditional clamshell designs. You will find laptops that function as tablets, bending and folding in ways you would never have though possible. Others are simply slate tablets that come with attachable keyboards that offer notebook style functionality

With the large variety of laptops currently available in the laptop world, we thought that a guide identifying all the latest designs and specs would assist you in a choosing a laptop that fits your particular purpose.

1. Which OS should you be going for?

Selecting the correct operating system (OS) can be tricky. The three mainstream OSs employed by laptop manufacturers are Windows, MacOS and Chrome OS. There are others (Ubuntu, Unix, Linux, and more), but most laptops will come with one of the three operating systems mentioned above.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is the most up-to-date version of Windows. New notebooks come pre-installed with windows 10 and supports features such as touchscreens, finger print readers, dual graphics chips, and more. It is relatively easy to learn and comes with a great digital assistant called Cortana. Windows 10 users enjoy various improvements over the previous versions, such as the neat ability to switch between desktop and tablet modes, which is useful for 2-in-1 laptops, and this is where the touchscreen capabilities come in handy. Windows have constantly worked to improve the user experience since the release of their latest edition of the OS, and improvements such as asking Cortana follow up questions or Cortana’s ability to search your emails, its excellent stylus supports that allows you to scribble almost anywhere.

Apple macOS High Sierra

Apple’s macOS High Sierra comes pre-installed on all MacBooks, and it functions in a similar way to Windows 10, except the interface is slightly different. It has an apps dock at the bottom where Windows usually has its start menu and task bar. Its biggest features are Siri integration, Cortana’s counterpart, a neat Auto Unlock ability with Apple Watches and Safari’s built in Apple Pay. One notable drawback of macOS is that it doesn’t support touchscreen capabilities, which is something that is unique to Windows 10 and ChromeOS.

Chrome OS

Chromebooks are generally less expensive than Windows and macOS laptops, and it comes with Chrome OS, which is based on Google’s web browser, Chrome. It is simple and easy to use, but it has limitations when compared to Windows and macOS. It has a similar interface to Windows with its desktop and application menu, but it doesn’t quite offer the same full desktop operating system as Windows or MacOS. This is not necessarily a bad thing however, as the lack of bloat often leads to a speedier overall system. The main apps you use is in Chrome browser, but the biggest drawback is that when offline, you can’t use many of the essential web apps. However, ChromeOS does support Android Apps now, allowing you to download Apps off of Chrome Store and Google Play Store. A major plus is that most Chromebooks are fast, highly portable and they have excellent Acer as10d31 laptop battery lives, and are often preferred to Windows or MacOS or laptops for these reasons.

2. Screen Features

Size

Depending on your specific needs, you will need to consider what size laptop to get. Sizes typically range from 11-inches to 17-inches. Larger displays are great for things such as gaming, movie watching, and photo and video editing. Furthermore, larger laptops often come with larger keyboards that are less congested than smaller laptops, which makes them more comfortable to use. However, you should keep in mind that a larger laptop is significantly less portable than a smaller laptop, with the large 17-inch beasts being more suitable for replacing desktops due to their weight and size.

Display types

There are a number of different display technologies employed by laptop manufacturers that deliver different results, with the most notable differences being the color differences and the brightness levels. LED backlit displays are power efficient and often have bright color representations. IPS panels offer the best viewing angles, retaining an accurate color depiction regardless of the color you are viewing from. TN panels are often found on budget laptops. They often make colors look washed out at certain angles and are inferior to IPS displays. Screens that have a glossy finish will generally have richer colors and their blacks are deeper, and matte displays reduce screen glare, but dull down the colors somewhat.

Resolution

The screens resolution affects the sharpness of your picture quality. The resolution ranges from HD to 4K Ultra HD. Let’s have a look at the various resolutions:

• HD: HD has a resolution of 1366 x 768, and it is often found on the budget laptops. While the picture quality is not as sharp as a 1080p display, the resolution is great for surfing the web, reading emails, and other basic tasks.
• HD+: HD+ is a resolution of 1600 x 900 is suitable for decent quality video streaming  and for casual gaming.
• Full HD: 1920 x 1080 is delivers crisp image quality and is suitable for Blu-ray movies and is the preferred resolution for gaming.
• Retina display: Retina displays are found on certain Apple laptops and offer a higher pixel density than traditional apple displays, with their resolutions being 2304 x 1440, 2560 x 1600 and 2880 x 1800.
•  QHD (Quad HD) and QHD+: These display resolutions of 2560 x 1440 and 3200 x 1800 are incredibly crisp and detailed thanks to the high pixel density, and are an excellent choice for professional photo and video editors, as well as gamers. These are often found on higher end laptops that have more powerful hardware.
• 4K Ultra HD: The 3840 x 2160 resolution is as high as it gets and is reserved for the high end machines. This resolution has four times as many pixels as Full-HD and needless to say, it offers incredibly lifelike picture quality due to its sharpness.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Important things to check when purchasing a laptop is the quality of the keyboard and touchpad. Bad ergonomics often make a bad buy, especially since you’ll be using the keyboard and touchpad the most when you are on your laptop. Make sure that the keys have enough travel when pressed (1 to 2mm is usually best), that they offer tactile feedback, and check that there is enough space between them. Check the palm rest too; if your wrist fits comfortably on the palm rest, as opposed to hanging off the edge, then your shoulders muscles will be doing less work. The touchpad should also be responsive to the touch and they should respond well to multitouch gestures. A keyboard with a pointing stick is often a good buy for those looking for business laptops, allowing you to navigate around your computer without needing to lift your fingers off the keyboard.

Specs and What to Look Out For

In the following section, we will be looking at the main components that you need to look at when picking a laptop: the processor, memory, hard drive, and graphics chip.

Processors(CPU)

The processor within a laptop is known as a CPU, and it is the brains of the computer. In combination with your systems memory (RAM) it determines how many programs you can run simultaneously, the complexity of software that you can run, and how fast you can run those programs.

• Intel Core i7: These are Intel‘s top of the line processors for consumers. They are suitable for power users, graphics designers, photographers, videographers, and hardcore gamers. The models that end in HQ or K have four cores and they use higher wattage, meaning more power, while the Core i7 Y series chips have lower power and power usage and therefore lower performance.
• Intel Core i5: These are mid-range Core processors that offer the best combination of price and performance. You will commonly find i5 models that end in U, such as the Core i5-7200U, and then you also get the Y and HQ chips that we see in the i7s.
• Intel Core i3: If you are on a budget, then the entry-level Core  i3 is perfect for you. It provides more than enough power for everyday internet browsing and productivity tasks, and it is only a step below the Core i5. If your budget allows it however, we recommend that you got for the Core i5.
• Core M: These CPUs will usually be found in ultra slim laptops and a decent amount of power for day-to-day use, allowing you to comfortably surf the web and email, and they are usually power efficient and don’t drain your battery as fast as the Core family.
• Intel Pentium / Celeron: Budget laptops under $500 will make use of the chips. While they do under perform, they perform well enough at web surfing and light document editing. While the Core family of processors will usually push the price of a laptop up quite a bit, we recommend getting a Core i3 or i5.
• AMD Ryzen Mobile: The AMD Ryzen Mobile chips are AMD’s new CPUs that compete with Intel’s Core i5 and i7.
• AMD A, FX or E Series: These are budget chips that have a good price-to-performance ratio, and are good for web surfing, video, photo viewing and productivity.

Memory (RAM)

The memory of a laptop is known as RAM – Random-access memory – and it works with your CPU to tackle multiple tasks at once. 2GB is the minimum for basic computing tasks, but 4GB is ideal for budget systems, while 8GB is the perfect amount for most. 16GB or more is usually the maximum amount and this is perfect for videographers and photographers, but anything more for the everyday user usually overkill.

Internal storage

• Hard disk drive (HDD): These traditional mechanical hard drives are usually inexpensive storage solutions. They are slow and heavy and can generate both noise and heat. There are two main speeds: 5400RPM and 7200RPM, with the 5400RPM being the slowest.
• Solid State Drive (SSD): Solid state drives, or SSDs, are significantly faster than HDDs, but their storage capacity is often reduced, and if you are looking for an SSD with a large storage capacity, then you will need to pay quite a bit extra. However, they are superior in size, power efficiency and weight, and they don’t produce heat or noise. NVME units are triple the speed of the original SATA drives, and you will often find eMMC memory on sub $300 laptops (more often than not Chromebooks), but it is often soldered directly onto the motherboard. SSDs often lead to a responsive laptop and they decrease boot up times and application loading time.

2-in-1 Convertibles

2-in-1 laptops, or hybrids, are laptops that can usually switch between four modes: traditional laptop, tablet, tent or stand mode. 2-in-1’s have touchscreens for when using them in slate mode. They come in two styles; one where the screen can physically detach itself from the keyboard, and the other style is where the laptops hinges are flexible and can bend 360 degrees, allowing it to change modes. If you do not intend on using your laptops as a tablet, then there is no real reason to purchase a 2-in-1, as traditional laptops still generally offer better performance for the price.

Touchscreen

If you are not looking for a 2-in-1 laptop particularly, then touchscreen laptops are not worth it due to their high demand on the battery, reducing it by 1 to 3 hours. However, for 2-in-1s it is an essential feature, as it allows you to interact with your laptop as you would with a tablet. If you spot a 2-in-1 laptop that interests you, be sure to check what customers say about the responsiveness of the display. Unresponsive touch displays can be incredibly frustrating.

Graphics Chip

Integrated graphics are perfect for those who have no intention of gaming or doing intensive high resolution video editing. For those who are looking for a multimedia machine that does both of the above well, then ideally a discrete graphics processor from either AMD or Nvidia is required. For the most up-to-date laptops, you should be looking out for Nvidia’s GTX 10-series. The GTX 1050 is usually found in entry-level worsktations, and while it is an entry level card, it is powerful enough to run most modern games on decent settings and it will allow you to comfortably edit videos and photos on Adobe. The GTX 1050Ti and 1060 are usually found in mid-range workstations and these cards offer plenty of power for gamers, photographers and videographer. The GTX 1060 will also allow you to run VR applications. The GTX 1070, 1080 and 1080Ti will be found in high-end machines, and they are the top of the line cards. Needless to say, they are very powerful cards that will make easy work of games, demanding editing software and VR applications. Both Nvidia and AMD have comprehensive lists of all their current GPUs available for laptops and it is definitely worth checking out.

Ports and Connectivity

Laptops provide you with a host of connectivity options that allow you stay connected to both the internet as well as to other devices. Most mainstream laptops provide you with the latest wireless and Bluetooth technologies that allows you to connect to your smartphone, speakers as well as other portable devices. Those who travel a lot should keep an eye out for laptops that connect to 4G LTE networks so you can readily access the Web without needing to rely on Wi-Fi to do so.

The following ports are useful for connecting to other external devices and commonly found on laptops:

• USB 2.0: While these are older ports, they allow you to connect to external hard drives, smartphones, MP3 player, game controllers, and other devices.
• USB3.0: These ports transfer data faster than the older USB 2.0 ports, but this is only the case when connecting with another USB 3.0 device.
• USB Type-C: These offer lightning fast speeds and feature connectors that have identical ends that can plug in both upside down or right-side up.  It is video and backwards compatible and it allows you to connect to universal charges and docks.
• Thunderbolt: These offer ultra-high bandwidth that allow for incredibly fast data transferal between other devices that feature Thunderbolt or a MiniDisplayPort connection.
• HDMI: This will allow you to connect an external display or projector to your laptop.
• Media-card slots: This will allow you to transfer photos or video from your camera or video recorder.

3. Battery life

If your plan is to purchase a laptop that you want to use at your desk near an outlet at home or at the office, then you do not necessarily have to worry about battery life. If you are looking for a laptop to use at varsity, coffee shops, or while you’re away from an outlet, then you should ideally be looking for laptops that offer around 7 to 8 hours of juice at least. A good way to to find out what the Acer as07b41 battery life of a laptop is to check customer reviews or from reputable tech sites that do hands on testing, such as Notebookcheck, CNet, Laptop Mag, or even checking Amazon or BestBuy customer reviews.

4. Consider Your Budget

Let’s have a quick look at what the difference price ranges will get you:

• $150 –  $300: Chromebooks are often the cheapest laptops, but you can also get low-end Windows laptops in this price range. Both will generally have very little storage space as well as slow CPUs and little RAM. In terms of gaming, you can expect to play the older classics, but modern day AAA just won’t make the cut. There are also decent refurbished laptop available which often offer better specs, but it will have been used.
• $300 – $500: You will be able to find a respectable laptop at this price that features some pretty decent specs, such as an Intel Core i3 and a slower mechanical hard drive that will afford you a lot of storage space. Large SSDs are still out of reach, and you will more than likely be settling for HD resolution as opposed to Full-HD. Gaming will be better than on cheaper laptops under $300, but you still won’t get a dedicated GPU.
• $500 – $1000: In this price range you can get yourself a decent workstation that features a high quality design, a Full-HD IPS display, as well as a fast SSD. For gamers, you can expect to get to get the Nvidia GTX 1050, 1050Ti, or, if you luck, the 1060, but the discreet GPU will usually come at the expense of an SSD, with most manufacturers instead optinf for a larger, but slower, mechanical HDD.
• $1000 and up: This price range range will get you a laptop that is fitted with premium components that are powerful, efficient and often highly portable. You will be getting top of the line processors, high quality displays that offer Full-HD or higher resolutions, and more than likely a powerful discreet GPU. The more features packed into a single laptop, the more you can expect to pay. You can expect the cream of the crop in this price range for both gamers and for power users.

Wrap Up

Taking a leap of faith and purchasing a laptop that seems suited to you can often result in long-term frustrations that could have been avoided from the start with the proper research. Be sure to refer to this guide if you are unsure about what you should looking out for when purchasing your laptop. We will work hard to keep this guide as up to date as possible as new laptop designs and features are released.

Best Practices for Long Battery Pack Life of Power Tools

1. Is it better for DEWALT battery to discharge completely before charging?No, it’s the opposite. You should stop using the battery once you feel that the power from the tool has dropped drastically. The battery can be damaged by the full depletion of the battery. Do not bring the trigger into the battery.

2. WHAT IS MEMORY, AND DO DEWALT BATTERIES HAVE IT?
Memory is one of many conditions which causes a loss of run-time. Memory is created from repetitive light use in the exact same application (i.e. Cordless Phones, Video Cameras, Electric Shavers, etc.) Our products rarely see light use or the exact same loads, due to variability from the user, the accessory size, as well as the material. The same variability which causes different run-times prevents our cells from developing memory. Power tools are considered high-drain applications. Memory typically develops in lower-drain rate applications, such as cordless phones, laptops, etc…, because the rate at which the battery is draining is continuously the same. Power tools draw higher currents and have sporadic drain rates minimizing the opportunity for the battery to develop a memory.

3. DOES IT HURT DEWALT BATTERIES TO LEAVE THEM IN THE CHARGER?
No. The DEWALT chargers have a maintenance mode which allows batteries to remain in the charger, maintaining a fully charged pack until the user is ready to work. If DEWALT NiCd batteries are stored outside of the charger, they will discharge naturally, 15-20% the first 24 hours, 7-10% the next day, and about 1% every day there after. NiCd batteries lose the bulk of the capacity when outside of the charger in the first 3 days. In fact, it is better for the battery to leave it in the charger to be sure it goes through Equalization and Maintenance Modes. One of the benefits of DEWALT XRP™ Lithium Ion batteries is that they have limited self discharge. Storing DEWALT Lithium Ion batteries outside of the charger will not result in loss of charge. Learn more about brushless tools technology.

4. WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE THE RUN-TIME OF MY BATTERY?
If no permanent damage has been done to your DEWALT DE9074 Power Tool Battery, you may be able to improve its run-time.The correct procedure for charging your batteries is as follows:
1. Discharge the battery under normal use. Remove the battery, once you feel a loss of power from the tool. Do not tape the trigger ON.
2. Let the battery sit out of the charger for a least 2 hours until the battery is at room temperature.
3. Place the battery in the charger overnight to allow for a full charge on each individual cell (A minimum of 8 hours at room temperature).
If there is no difference in run-time, there is either permanent damage or the battery has reached the end of its usable life. In either case, the battery should be replaced.

5. DOES THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AFFECT BATTERIES? HOW?
Yes. If the batteries are too hot (105°F or higher) or too cold (below 40°F), the batteries will not take a full charge. Attempting to charge batteries outside the 40°F-105°F range can result in a permanent loss of run-time. When batteries are being charged and discharged, a chemical reaction is taking place, and if it is too hot or cold the chemical reaction is disturbed causing a loss of run-time.

6. CAN THE DEWALT CHARGER BE USED WITH A GENERATOR?
Yes. All DEWALT chargers, excluding the DW9106, have been designed to handle the variations in voltage and current delivered by generators.

7. SHOULD ANY SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS BE TAKEN WHEN TRANSPORTING OR TRAVELING WITH BATTERIES?
Transporting batteries can possibly cause fires if the battery terminals inadvertently come in contact with conductive materials such as keys, coins, hand tools and the like. The U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) actually prohibit transporting batteries in commerce or on airplanes (i.e. packed in suitcases and carryon luggage) UNLESS they are properly protected from short circuits.So anytime you transport individual batteries, make sure that the battery terminals are protected and well insulated from materials that could contact them and cause a short circuit. For more information consult the U.S. DOT website.

8. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH BATTERIES ONCE THEY HAVE GONE BAD?
RECYCLE THEM. DEWALT is an active participant with RBRC (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation), the organization which is the international leader in the collection, transportation and recycling of NiCd cells. Old batteries should be disposed of at DEWALT Service Centers.

How to repair the Dyson cordless vacuum pulsating off and on

I like my Dyson DC16 motorcycle cordless vacuum. At any time, the vacuum is very convenient at any time. However, it has a drawback — at least, if you do not know how to repair it, this is a possible drawback.

Sometimes, my Dyson DC16 cordless vacuum will start pulsating off and on constantly while I’m vacuuming with it. I’ve encountered this problem on two separate occasions, and the fix turned out to be something different each time.

The first time, I emailed Dyson support, but I’d already tried everything in their response. I’d tried everything Dyson’s website had to offer before contacting support.

Here are five things to try if you encounter a problem with your Dyson cordless vacuum pulsing off and on. Mine is a DC16, but these tips may apply to other, similar Dyson cordless vacuums, such as V6 and DC12.

The only tools you’ll need are a coin such as a nickel or quarter, plus something long and skinny like a flat-head screwdriver or a butter knife.

Make Sure the Battery is Charging

Ensure that the power cable did not partially disconnect from either the wall or the vacuum while it was charging. It’s remotely possible that the rechargeable Dyson DC16 Vacuum Battery has stopped charging, but it’s more likely that it’s somehow not getting plugged in properly or it’s getting knocked off kilter when it’s charging.

The vacuum can easily fall over and pull the plug partially out of the wall. Flashing blue lights on both sides of the motor indicate that the battery needs charged.

Check the MAX Button

If the MAX button lights up and flashes when your Dyson cordless vacuum keeps pulsating on and off, hold the power button and depress the MAX button to turn off that function. You may have to try a few times to get the hang of it.

I had this happen to me, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how or why MAX had gotten activated. I’m also not sure why it’s there if it causes problems when it’s turned on.

Look For Clogs in Attachments

Try the Dyson vacuum without the long sweeper attachment and see if you still have the problem. If not, then you may have a clog somewhere in that attachment.

Look down through the tube with a flashlight. Check to see if there are clogs on the sweeper end or if the roller is tangled up in fibers. It’s easy to use a coin to remove the roller assembly and clean the whole area thoroughly.

A reader of this post suggested I add something that fixed his problem – check the valve at the top of the wand where it attaches to the cannister. Make sure it’s free of debris and that the valve opens and closes freely.

Remove the Dust Bucket

It can be challenging to completely empty the dust bucket sometimes. It’s a minor inconvenience for me, since I just use an old butter knife. Even so, debris can bunch up in hard-to-reach places.

Fortunately, removing the dust bucket for more thorough cleaning is pretty simple. Simply pull the red release tab once to open the flap and a second time to detach the dust bucket.

Rinse the Filter

You know that blue cone-shaped filter you’re supposed to rinse monthly? If you’re like me, you might pull it out occasionally, see that it looks clean as a whistle and put it back in.

I’ve found that you really do need to rinse the filter regularly, even if it looks clean on the outside. Follow the vacuum’s instructions to rinse it under the sink for a minute or two, twisting and squeezing gently as you rinse.

Squeeze out the excess water and let it dry at least 24 hours. When it’s completely bone dry, return it to the Dyson.

Here’s a great tip left by a commenter – try removing the filter, and see if the vacuum runs smoothly without pulsating. That should tell you whether the filter is the problem. The vacuum won’t suck properly without the filter, but at least you’ll now whether a clogged or faulty filter is causing your Dyson to pulse off and on.