DIY

Thursday, January 15, 2009

If your laptop battery has lost its spunk, then you may be able to regain some of its charge.

Most modern laptops use lithium-ion batteries. There is a processor in the battery that measures the charge left in the battery. Over time, the processor can misreport the charge. If your lithium-ion battery has become inaccurate, then it is time to recalibrate it. The following method is recommended by Apple for its computers. You should check with your manufacturer for its approved method, though the process will probably be similar.

Adam Schoof

First, fully charge your battery and wait two hours with the AC adapter plugged into your laptop. Then unplug the AC adapter and let your computer’s battery run out. Your computer will go to sleep. You can either turn off your laptop or let it sleep at least five hours. Finally, plug in your AC adapter into your laptop and let it fully charge. Your battery should now give a more accurate reading.

Older laptops use nickel-based batteries. These batteries can develop a memory if not charged correctly, so you should consult your laptop’s manufacturer for the proper way to maintain your battery.

For both lithium-ion and nickel-based batteries, you should avoid running on AC power for extended periods.

Laptop batteries are like any other battery, in that they eventually die. If your battery cannot hold a charge, then you will have to buy a new one.

You should not throw away your old laptop battery because it may contain toxic chemicals. AT&T, Lawrence Battery and RadioShack will recycle your laptop battery.

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