Standard Laptop Batteries Average Life Expectancy
Average Life Expectancy of Standard Laptop Battery
Different battery manufacturers have different ways to describe their laptop battery life expectancies. However, no one really gives an exact length of time that a battery should survive. What most manufacturers will say is when the battery will start losing about 80 percent of its capacity. Some use “battery cycles” while others just give a number of years. For most lithium – ion laptop batteries, the time it takes for them to lose 80 percent battery capacity is one to two years.
For manufacturers that use cycles, it’s a little more complicated. One cycle is consumed each time a laptop battery is charged or discharged. Manufacturers like Acer and HP rate their laptop batteries at 300 cycles. So, after 300 discharges and charges, these laptop batteries will lose about 80 percent of their original battery capacity. Most laptop battery experts agree, however, that after four to six years, laptop batteries should be replaced.
Affect Overall Laptop Battery Life Factors
Like any piece of technology, laptop batteries will eventually stop working. However, there are many ways to extend notebook battery life. Laptop users can extend their batteries’ lives by first finding out which factors affect its life expectancy, such as regular use, discharging, extreme temperatures and storage conditions.
Laptop Battery Regular Use
There’s a saying that goes, “Use it or lose it” and the same can be said of laptop batteries. Many people that purchase laptops as desktop replacements keep it plugged it most of the time. They may think that keeping it plugged in to the Dell Inspiron N5010 Laptop AC Adapter will reduce the number of battery cycles. However, not using it at all can shorten the battery’s life as well. While plugged into a power source, the batteries remain fully charged and are effectively waiting to be used. All this waiting can harm the battery and shorten its lifespan. Also, the added heat from the power source and overcharging are the two culprits that can cause laptop batteries to age faster. So, even for just a few minutes each day, try to unplug the laptop and use the battery, or risk losing its capacity.
Laptop Battery Myths
There are indeed many factors that affect a battery’s life expectancy, and many things users can do to extend it. However, there are also some things that don’t affect the battery. These are either common myths or just outdated information, such as battery memory, refrigerating batteries, and fixing dying batteries.
Refrigerate Notebook Batteries to Increase Laptop Battery Life
When some people find that their alkaline batteries have run out, they stick them in the freezer for a few minutes and find they can use them for a few more hours. While this is certainly true, placing lithium-ion batteries in the refrigerator can damage them severely. Water can condense inside and the water can ruin the battery. For those who want to store the laptop battery for a long time, any dry, room-temperature area should be sufficient, such as a shelf that’s not in direct sunlight.
Extreme Temperatures
Heat is one of the things that can destroy electronics, and batteries are especially susceptible. The heat can activate chemical reactions that can wear down batteries, causing them to age faster. Most batteries shouldn’t be used or stored above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The table below shows how much temperature can affect a battery’s charge capacity after three months.
Temperature |
Fully Charge After Three Months |
|---|---|
|
32 Degrees Fahrenheit |
94 Percent Charge |
|
77 Degrees Fahrenheit |
80 Percent Charge |
|
104 Degrees Fahrenheit |
65 Percent Charge |
Extreme heat can also cause laptops to stop working. That’s because special circuits inside the laptop batteries can detect heat, and when it reaches a certain temperature, these circuits immediately shut down Dell inspiron 1750 laptop battery to prevent fires and explosions. So, it’s good to ensure that the laptop stays properly cooled by using and storing it only in cool areas. Extreme cold also affects the battery. Aside from draining the battery faster, cold weather can cause condensation inside the battery, which can cause permanent damage.
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