Charging battery for the first time (E1705)

My first laptop is about to be delivered tomorrow. Are there any best practices as far as charging the battery for the first time? Does the battery come charged? Would I really have to wait 24 hours, for example, to wait for the battery to charge before I use the laptop?

I am just curious what folks out there have done. Thanks ...

 

That battery will come with some charge in it. There are various opinions about what is the proper way to "break in" a battery. Some feel that you should just charge it up and start using it. Others say that you should charge and discharge once or twice. I personally don't feel that it makes much difference, so you might as well do whatever makes you feel better. Charging and discharging the battery will calibrate the battery so windows will report a more "honest" time. You don't have to wait for the battery to charge before using your computer, although it will charge faster with the power off. It won't take 24 hours to charge either

I just plugged mine in and went to work. I have not noticed any change in battery life. I'm sure that you will get many responses to your question.

Consider perusing www.batteryuniversity.com if you are interested more about how batteries work.

cheers

 

Mine came about 90% charged. I have been mistreating mine for over 7 months with out any problems Calibration has not been needed as of date. No break in needed for L-ion batteries.

From our manual:

Using a Battery
Battery Performance
NOTE: For information about the Dell warranty for your computer, see the Product Information Guide or
separate paper warranty document that shipped with your computer.
For optimal computer performance and to help preserve BIOS settings, operate your Dell™ portable
computer with the battery installed at all times. One battery is supplied as standard equipment in
the battery bay.
NOTE: Because the battery may not be fully charged, use the AC adapter to connect your new computer to an
electrical outlet the first time you use the computer. For best results, operate the computer with the AC
adapter until the battery is fully charged. To view battery charge status, click the Start button, point to Control
Panel→ Power Options, and click the Power Meter tab.
NOTE: Battery operating time (the time the battery can operate the computer) decreases over time.
Depending on how often the battery is used and the conditions under which it is used, you may need to
purchase a new battery during the life of your computer.
Battery operating time varies depending on operating conditions.
Operating time is significantly reduced when you perform operations including, but not limited to,
the following:
• Using optical drives
• Using wireless communications devices, ExpressCards, media memory cards, or USB devices
• Using high-brightness display settings, 3D screen savers, or other power-intensive programs such
as complex 3D graphics applications
• Running the computer in maximum performance mode (See "Power Management Modes" on
page 45.)
NOTE: It is recommended that you connect your computer to an electrical outlet when writing to a CD or DVD.
You can check the battery charge before you insert the battery into the computer. You can also set
power management options to alert you when the battery charge is low.
CAUTION: Using an incompatible battery may increase the risk of fire or explosion. Replace the battery
only with a compatible battery purchased from Dell. The battery is designed to work with your Dell
computer. Do not use a battery from other computers with your computer.
CAUTION: Do not dispose of batteries with household waste. When your battery no longer holds a charge,
call your local waste disposal or environmental agency for advice on disposing of a lithium-ion battery. See
"Battery Disposal" in the Product Information Guide.