Couple of Questions About Batteries

Hi guys, first off I've read the battery guide and it's a wonderful source of information. That said I have a couple of questions that either weren't covered, or were debated in that thread. These are all related to making my battery last as long as possible. Thanks!

(1) What is the best thing to do on the first ever recharge?
a. Charge up to 100%
b. Charge for 18 hours
c. Charge for 18 hours, use for 1 hour and then charge for another 18 hours
d. Something else

(2) Say I'm near a powerpoint and my battery's at about 50%, but I need to make the charge last for the rest of the day. Do I plug the laptop in and top up the charge, or do I take the battery out and run off AC power?

(3) Sort of related to the above, would taking the battery out everytime I'm using AC power wear down the physical connectors holding it to the notebook? If so how could I avoid this?

(4) The guide recommends storing batteries at 40% charge, is it alright to store them overnight at either 15% charge or 100% charge, or should I use/recharge to reach 40%?

Bonus Question

(5) If I'm getting a notebook delivered, do I have to sign for it or can someone else do it (and if so do I have to write a note designating them as an authorised recipient?)?

Sorry if these are really basic questions, I'm just really noob when it comes to using notebooks and batteries. Thanks!

 

charge up to 100%. i usually leave my new notebook charging for 24 hour, before i touch the power button. not necessary, but i just do it just to be safe, 2 hours after it has been charged is usually enough. if you dont really care, just using your new notebook right of the battery (without charging) is ok too. there is really no rule. there is little difference.

most battery manufacturer recommend on calibrating the battery when the battery is new, and every two months or so. or when you feel that the battery gauge is not accurate (you think there is still more power than the notebook percentage meter tells you)

to calibrate:

1) charge your notebook to 100%
2) discharge it to 0% the notebook will shutdown at this point, leave it for another 2 hour.
3) charge your notebook to 100% and leave it idle for like 6 hour.

in anycase, if you have thinkpad computer with thinkvantage software, go to power manager and there is automated battery care program/procedure, all you have to do is click a button.

top up the battery, li-ion have no memory problem like nickle-based battery.
you can top up at any point even 80%, topping up li-ion doesnt have any negative effect.

of course there be wear and tear, but i think that will be neglibile.

there is no need for you to take out the battery in the first place. li-ion wears out with age as well as charge/discharge cycle. so it will eventually die wheter you use it or not.

having the battery out is actually not good for the laptop. usually with newer notebook computer, the machine will downclock itself to avoid damage when running with the adapter only, without the battery plugged.

yes 15% is fine, you can store it for weeks at 100%

the worst thing you can do to a li-ion battery is having the juice down to 0%. then storing it at 0% condition.

on my desktop replacement laptop, it has been plugged in for 2 years, i maybe only discharge the battery to 15% twice a year. its still going strong.

just relax, dont worry about the battery, leave it plugged in while you use the notebook. dont worry about when to charge it. worst case scenario is that you buy another battery in like 3-5 years time.

i sometimes is not at home when having some stuff delivered, wheter it be notebook or other stuff requiring signature. in such cases, someone else sign the receive form, no note or what not is required.

 

@5 - Uhh sometimes you have to be the one to sign for it, sometimes you dont have to be the one. It depends on the shipping instructions.

 

Is it true you should let your batter die out completely once a month? And then fully charge it?

 

If you do it, then don't keep it uncharged to too long.