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    best battery practice

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Peter123, Jun 27, 2007.

  1. Peter123

    Peter123 Notebook Guru

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    Most of the time I have AC available, so I plug the T60P in to keep it charged. But is it a good thing to have it plugged in all the time and not letting the battery discharged?
    Maybe this way the battery will become weaker? Or is this only another old wife's tale?
    Peter
     
    Peter123, Jun 27, 2007
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  2. desperado

    desperado Notebook Consultant

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    Well. I don't think you should take the battery out at any time, cuz if there is a power failure your laptop will get hurt pretty much. According to PCWorld there is not much difference whether you take the battery out or not when you are using AC adapter. In my opinion, keep the battery in the machine is much safer.
     
    desperado, Jun 27, 2007
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  3. Peter123

    Peter123 Notebook Guru

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    Oh, I am sorry, I wasn't clear: the battery is always in the machine, I never take it out. The question is whether its good to let the battery drain once in a while or is it OK to use the AC (w/ the battery in) all the time. In other words: does it hurt the battery being charges all the time?
    Peter
     
    Peter123, Jun 27, 2007
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  4. Leon2245

    Leon2245 Notebook Deity

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    I think the less it drops below that "cycle" threshold, the better.
     
    Leon2245, Jun 27, 2007
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  5. tebore

    tebore Notebook Evangelist

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    Keeping a threshold of 80%-90% on the battery will give you more life than having it at 100% especially on T60p where it gets warm.

    I set mine to charge to 90% and to only start charging once the battery drops below 80%.
     
    tebore, Jun 27, 2007
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  6. Peter123

    Peter123 Notebook Guru

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    How do you set those charging parameters? -Peter
     
    Peter123, Jun 27, 2007
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  7. Leon2245

    Leon2245 Notebook Deity

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    I think if you constantly let it drop down below 80% then charge it over and over, you add to the cycle count.

    Try it and see. I'd keep it 100%.
     
    Leon2245, Jun 27, 2007
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  8. tebore

    tebore Notebook Evangelist

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    The cycle count is an estimate. So if you drain from 100-30 and recharge that's a cycle count. If you charge it to 90 and let it self drain to 80 and recharge that's a 0.1cycle. It'll take 10 of those to get 1 cycle. If you don't move your laptop it'll take just over two months to log a cycle.

    I've had my laptop for over a month and I have less than 7 cycles on it. 2 Cycles were adjusting the battery gage. If you're constantly using your laptop on battery power then set it to let the laptop set the threshold to extend battery life. If you're constantly plugged in set your thresholds to try and keep the battery at 60% as close as possible while still maintaining good usage time. Li-ions like being stored at around 18degrees and at a 40-60% charge.

    Peter you can adjust your thresholds using the Power Manager and clicking on Battery Maintance.
     
    tebore, Jun 28, 2007
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