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    Best way to use two identical batteries?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by iqcar, May 24, 2009.

  1. iqcar

    iqcar Notebook Evangelist

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    If you have two identical batteries for your laptop, is it better to use one until it dies, then use the other (which is kept in refrigerator when only using the first one), or is it better to use both alternatively? Which way can preserve the most of the batteries' life?
     
    iqcar, May 24, 2009
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  2. Kingcodez

    Kingcodez Notebook Consultant

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    I don't know how much putting a battery in the fridge would work, but I'd just use one battery for the 3 years that I have the computer, and then when I sold it, I'd just say it has a new battery, and throw out the old used one... or sell it.

    Until you notice a preformance decrease in the batteries actual life time, then it really doesn't need to be replaced.

    Do you mean, using battery power for the 3 hours, then when that battery dies, you will reach into the refridgerator, and grab the freshly charged, cold battery and swap them?

    If you are keeping it in the refrigerator in the short term (less than a day) then that isn't needed, batteries don't lose much charge over time, and if they do it will be negligible.. Maby more over a few months, but not hours..

    Honestly, I wouldn't put mine in the refrigerator, liquids could get spilled, there's extra moisture floating around, it's a LiPO batt and not a simple Alkaline AA...
     
    Kingcodez, May 24, 2009
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  3. iqcar

    iqcar Notebook Evangelist

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    Kingcodez, thank you for your input. It's a good idea to keep one new battery until selling the laptop, but if I don't sell it after more than 3 years, I worry even the new battery will have lost some capacities?

    When I mention refrigerator I meant, at least daily, maybe every few days, not every few hours (how busy I would be!). I would put it in refrigerator when the room temperature is too hot like summer without air condition.

    Generally, I think you are right, and I will use just one until it dies. May even sell the other lest it lose capacicity after too long time.
     
    iqcar, May 24, 2009
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  4. HPpavilion

    HPpavilion Notebook Consultant

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    Li-ion batteries lose capacity permanently with age, faster at full charge and higher temperature.

    If you have two batteries, because you need to have one as a spare for extra run-time, then keep it charged.

    If one is going to sit around unused, don't leave it fully charged. Keep it around 30-40%.
     
    HPpavilion, May 25, 2009
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