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    When should a battery be charged?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by The Fire Snake, Aug 1, 2009.

  1. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have my power manager set up so that my battery starts charging when the battery is below 60% and stops charging at 95%. I read that this can help prolong the health of the battery. But my question is when do I plug in my machine to charge the battery, when it reaches 20%, 10%, when? At what percentage would it be good for the health for the battery to plug it in?
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 1, 2009
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  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It doesn't really matter IMO, as long as it's not 0%. Once you drain it completely, you do permanent and irreversible damage to the battery.
     
    sgogeta4, Aug 1, 2009
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  3. cloud962

    cloud962 Notebook Consultant

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    Don't most computers shut off at around 5% battery though?
     
    cloud962, Aug 1, 2009
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  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can change it. Have you read the battery guide?

    If I need max battery life I charge to 100% and set it to hibernate at critical at 2% but my low is 20% (warning, where I usually stop to charge it). On average I keep it at 95%, battery is almost always in my notebook, even on A/C b/c the power where I live isn't that clean. I have a voltage regulator and my battery acts as UPS as often there are minor fluctuations or temporary power outages.
     
    sgogeta4, Aug 1, 2009
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  5. zephir

    zephir Notebook Deity

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    With thinkpad's battery, you can drain it down to 0% and some more before the laptop shut down. It's not recommended though. I usually drain the battery down to 5%, then charge it up. My battery still retains 93% of the original charge after 8 months.
     
    zephir, Aug 1, 2009
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  6. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    0% in the battery meter is the minimumm safe limit. Your battery pack will cut off the current when it hits the safe limit a little while after 0%.
    Anywhere from 0%-100% is perfectly safe for the battery and you'll not loose any work. Any where below 0%, the battery will not be guarenteed to supply power.

    In the battery guide, they suggest not discharge the battery level too low. In reality, you'll have to disassemble the battery, take out the battery protection device, and then use the battery in order to discharge the battery below a safe level. I bet 99.9999% of the people won't do that, thus it's literally impossible to discharge below a safe level.

    So dont' worry about anything. Charge whenever you want, discharge whenever you want.
    Yes.. life is this easy.
     
    jackluo923, Aug 1, 2009
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