Care and Treatment a Notebook Battery
Recently, subscriber Don Hammons wrote to ask about how to treat the battery in a notebook computer. Don is the proud owher of a new Dell notebook.
Hey Terry,
I have searched your site looking for info for a new Notebook user. I was interested in how to handle power for the Notebook, especially whether to leave the power cable connected when the computer is shutdown. I understand that the battery will still charge so I wonder if it is fully charged the cable should remain connected or disconnected. Should the battery be run down to a low level occasionally and should you never use, let’s say 20%, then put it back on charge.
Don, Here’s what I do with my Dell Inspiron 8600. It’s a couple years old and is my primary computer, although I’ve also got a home-built Windows XP desktop, a home-built Linux box, and of course my home-built Home Theater PC! My Dell notebook gets used extensively, enough so that the plastic is starting to show discolorations where my wrists rest on it. In other words, it runs a lot…
- First, it stays plugged in 24/7, unless I’m travelling. I probably should, but I don’t, have it connected through a surge suppressor (I think I’ll change that!)
- I turn it off or close the lid to hibernate it most nights
- The power cable stays plugged in and the power brick is “live.”
- I leave the main battery in at all times. My speaker unit is built into the main battery compartment
- I also have the optional second battery that fits into the “media bay.” I’ve found that I use it a lot more often than I use my DVD/CD. I recently changed started leaving the second battery in the media bay all the time. If I need the DVD drive, I’ll get it out of my notebook’s case.
Continue reading Care and Treatment a Notebook Battery