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    Should I format a new battery on my Z13?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by BDB, Jan 19, 2011.

  1. BDB

    BDB Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi All,

    I got a battery replacement for my battery because the old one (3 weeks old) did not hold it's charge properly, it would go down to 95% within a few seconds after disconnecting it from mainz.

    What should I do with the new battery? complete charge and discharge and complete recharge?

    I would like to maximise the battery life over time so this information as well as other would be welcome.

    Thanks,
    BDB
     
    BDB, Jan 19, 2011
    #1
  2. Astrogiblet

    Astrogiblet Notebook Evangelist

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    To maximize the life of your battery, your best option is to remove the battery when the laptop is plugged in and the battery is fully charged. When batteries are fully charged and plugged in they are cycling. Which means, in most cases, the computer lets the battery discharge a few percent and then charges it back up to full. Your battery can only handle so many cycles before it goes bad, which is why a lot of people have dead batteries after a year or a year and a half cause they are always plugged in and cycling.
     
    Astrogiblet, Jan 19, 2011
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  3. BDB

    BDB Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks,

    what about the fact that it's new, should I fully charge and discharge the first time, 3 times? I am unsure.

    Thanks
     
    BDB, Jan 19, 2011
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  4. Astrogiblet

    Astrogiblet Notebook Evangelist

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    Sometimes there is a battery calibration function you can (optionally) run in BIOS, but other than that there isn't any necessary steps that I've ever heard of with a new battery.
     
    Astrogiblet, Jan 19, 2011
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  5. BDB

    BDB Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was just wondering because before with mobile phones you use to have to format the battery first
     
    BDB, Jan 19, 2011
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  6. taboripeter

    taboripeter Notebook Enthusiast

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    As far as I know, only the NiMH needed special formatting. thus it is normal for Li batteries to reach their full capacity after the first couple of charges.
     
    taboripeter, Jan 19, 2011
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  7. mfpreach

    mfpreach Notebook Evangelist

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    Truth.
    10 char
     
    mfpreach, Jan 19, 2011
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  8. sonus

    sonus Notebook Consultant

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    Li-On batteries DO NOT need to be fully discharged, in fact this is bad for them as it counts as a full cycle in the life's battery. Just use your laptop with it plugged in and not plugged in occasionally. Try not to wear it down to 0% charge on the majority of uses. Enable Sony's Vaio Battery Care option if you plan on keeping your laptop plugged in a lot.
    Use 80% if you are only mobile a day or two a week or less
    Use 50% if you are just about never mobile

    Nickel Metal Hydride batteries of the old days are best maintained by full discharge cycles, but those aren't in our laptops.
     
    sonus, Jan 19, 2011
    #8