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Interesting laptop battery facts...
Each year, as the battery manufacturing process is refined and improved, more powerful batteries are created for laptops. This means that if your original laptop battery was a 14.4 volt, 4000mAh battery, most likely you will be able to find a 4400mAh or 4800mAh battery available. So if you were able to get 3 hours of run time from your battery, you may be able to get 3.5 to 4 hours with a new one.
Watching a DVD movie on your laptop will significantly decrease the available runtime of your battery. Many people who can run their laptop on the battery for 3 to 4 hours will barely be able to get through a 2 hour DVD movie. This is because the DVD requires a lot of processing power. The same can be said of video games.
Did you know that your laptop will recharge the battery much faster if you power the laptop off? A typical laptop will recharge the battery in about 3 hours when it is turned on, but when turned off, that same battery will recharge in about half the time.
Battery Types
There are three different laptop battery chemistries. Nickel cadmium was the first chemistry, which was followed in time by nickel metal hydride and lithium ion battery types. Notebook batteries are also sometimes referred to as "smart" or "dumb." These terms are explained below.
Laptop Travel carries a complete line of laptop / notebook batteries for Apple, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, Sony, Toshiba and many other laptop and notebook brands. Click here to select your laptop model from the drop down menu for a list of available batteries for your notebook.
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
NiCd batteries were the first rechargeable batteries for notebook computers and featured low cost, versatility and high output current capability. NiCd batteries can be charged rapidly and used in a wide range of products. However, they are now being designed out of notebooks in favor of the newer and higher power NiMH and LiON batteries.
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
NiMH batteries represented a significant improvement over NiCd batteries due to improvements in cost, safety, reliability and capacity. Currently the most widely used notebook battery, the NiMH battery has only one drawback. The "memory effect" of NiMH batteries requires that they be fully discharged prior to recharging for maximum charge effectiveness.
Lithium Ion (LiON)
LiON batteries are now the most popular notebook battery because of improvements over NiMH in the area of memory effect. In addition, for batteries of comparable capacity, LiON batteries are generally somewhat lighter in weight than NiMH batteries. Because the LiON chemistry is the newest in the market and offers these benefits, the market price for LiON batteries is often significantly higher than for NiMH batteries with the same actual capacity.
Smart / Dumb Batteries
Some batteries are denominated as "smart" or "dumb." Smart batteries have internal microprocessor circuits which help manage battery energy, report the state of the charge, predict running time and track battery usage. Dumb batteries are counterparts of smart batteries but do not have these smart battery features.
Battery Capacity
The power rating of a laptop battery is usually stated in terms of volts and milliamps; for example:10.8V, 3500mAH. A good rule of thumb for determining a battery's overall capacity is to calculate its watt hours by multiplying the battery voltage by the amp hours. In the example: 10.8V times 3.5 amp hours (AHr) = 37.8 watt hours (WHr).
When comparing batteries, it is a good idea to compare their capacities based on their AHr (amp hours) or WHr (watt hours) to provide a perspective on battery life. Battery life varies depending on notebook PC model, configuration, applications, power-management settings, and features being used. As with all batteries, the maximum capacity decreases with time and usage. Factors that significantly affect battery life include its age, charge level, whether or not you're using wireless connectivity, and the level of LCD brightness.
Laptop Travel carries a complete line of laptop / notebook batteries for Apple, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, Sony, Toshiba and many other laptop and notebook brands. Click here to select your laptop model from the drop down menu for a list of avaliable batteries for your notebook.
Battery Tips
Read below for a helpful set of tips regarding use of new laptop batteries, battery storage, and maximizing battery performance. Laptop Travel carries a complete line of laptop / notebook batteries for Apple, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, Sony, Toshiba and many other laptop and notebook brands. Click here to select your laptop model from the drop down menu for a list of avaliable batteries for your notebook.
New Batteries
When buying your next laptop, be sure to consider the computer's power requirements and performance. Pay attention to what battery comes with the machine, the run-time and cost of additional batteries, the ease with which new batteries can be inserted or attached and the time it takes to recharge batteries. Too often people focus only on a computer's great new features and ignore the power requirements of those features. No one likes to lug around several extra batteries just to keep a computer running on a long trip.
New batteries are generally not charged before they are delivered because the charge is not stable during the shipping process. You should fully charge and discharge a new battery as soon as you receive it. As a rule, a new battery must be fully charged and discharged at least five times in order to realize the maximum run time.
A new battery may cause the battery status indicator on your computer to indicate a dead or low battery condition. If this should occur, remove the battery and then re-insert it. If you still don't get a full indicator, let the battery charge in your computer overnight then discharge fully and recharge 3 - 5 times.
Battery Storage
Do not store batteries in extreme temperatures or wet areas. For example, do not leave your cellular phone or laptop in your car during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter.
Optimize Battery Performance
A rapid charger/conditioner can help optimize the performance and extend the life of your NiCD and NiMH rechargeable batteries. A conditioner fully drains the battery's power prior to recharging which is vital to avoid memory effect
Conserve Power
Save yourself some extra battery time! Whenever you need to operate your laptop on battery power and won't be using your PCMCIA modem card, remove the card from its slot. These cards draw power whether you are using them or not.
In-Flight Power
Many airplanes are now equipped with power for passengers to use in-flight. If you are in the market for extra batteries for in-flight use, consider instead an air adapter designed for use with the in-flight power systems.
Laptop Battery Glossary
Many different terms are used to describe laptop batteries. Because these terms are often unintentionally misused, we have provided a glossary of notebook battery terms below. Laptop Travel carries a complete line of laptop / notebook batteries for Apple, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, Sony, Toshiba and many other laptop and notebook brands. Click here to select your laptop model from the drop down menu for a list of avaliable batteries for your notebook.
Alkaline
A primary battery (non-rechargeable) often used in electronics applications requiring heavy currents for long periods of time (i.e.: cd players, radios, etc.). Alkaline batteries can deliver 50-100% more total energy than conventional Carbon/Zinc batteries of the same size, hence their popularity in consumer applications.
Ampere-Hour Capacity
The quantity of electricity measured in ampere-hours (Ah) that may be delivered by a cell or battery under specified conditions.
Battery or Pack
Two or more electrochemical cells electrically interconnected in an appropriate series/parallel arrangement to provide the required operating voltage and current levels. Under common usage, the term "battery" is often also applied to a single cell.
Capacity
The total number of ampere-hours or watt-hours that can be withdrawn from a fully charged cell or battery under specified conditions of discharge.
Capacity Retention (or Charge Retention)
The fraction of the fall capacity available from a battery under specified conditions of discharge after it has been stored for a period of time.
Cell
The basic electrochemical unit used to generate or store electrical energy.
Current Drain
The current withdrawn from a battery during discharge.
Discharge
The conversion of the chemical energy of a battery into electrical energy, and the withdrawal of the electrical energy into a load.
Discharge Rate
The rate, usually expressed in amperes, at which electrical current is taken from the battery.
Drain
The current withdrawn from a battery during discharge.
Dumb Battery
Straight battery pack without internal circuits enabling communication between the battery and the user.
Energy
The output capability of a cell or battery, usually expressed in watt-hours.
Fast Charge
Typical fast charge time for a NiCd is 1 to 3 hours. The fast-charger detects the state of charge and switches to trickle charge when full-charge is reached.
Lithium Ion (Li Ion or LiON)
One of the newer rechargeable battery technologies, Li Ion batteries can deliver 40% more capacity than comparably sized NiCd batteries and are one of the lightest rechargeable batteries available today. Li Ion batteries are the batteries of choice in notebook computers, wireless telephones and many camcorder models. They are also one of the more expensive rechargeable technologies.
Memory Effect
A phenomenon in which a cell or battery operated in successive cycles to the same, but less than full, depth of discharge temporarily loses the rest of its capacity at normal voltage levels.
Milliamps
Refers to battery capacity. A 1/1000th of an amp, e.g.: 1.0Ah = 1000mAh.
Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
One of the most proven and historically most widely used rechargeable batteries. Very dependable and "robust" but contain cadmium and have relatively low capacity when compared to other rechargeable systems. Very good high rate discharge capabilities make them very popular in high drain applications such as power tools.
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh)
Interchangeable with most NiCd batteries, nickel metal hydride (NiMh) batteries generally deliver 10-25% greater capacity than NiCds and are environmentally more friendly than NiCds since they do not contain cadmium. Used in many wireless phone and camcorders.
Nominal Voltage
The characteristic operating voltage or rated voltage of a battery.
Rapid Charge
A charge time that is between slow charge and fast charge (typically 3 to 6 hours for a NiCd).
Rated Capacity
The number of ampere-hours a battery can deliver under specific conditions (e.g., rate of discharge, end voltage, temperature); usually specified by the battery manufacturer.
Rechargeable Battery
A galvanic battery which, after discharge, may be restored to the fully charged state by the passage of an electrical current through the cell in the opposite direction to that of discharge.
Recondition
One or more deep discharge cycles below 1.0 volt/cell at a very low, controlled current. Recondition helps to revert large crystals to small desirable sized, often restoring the battery to it's full capacity.
Service Life
The period of useful life of a battery before a predetermined end-point voltage is reached.
Shelf Life
The duration of storage under specified conditions at the end of which the battery still retains the ability to give a specified performance.
Slow Charge
Typically an over-night charge lasting abut 14 hours at a charge current of 0.1C. Battery does not require instant removal when fully charged.
Smart Battery
Battery with internal circuit enabling some communication between the battery and the user. Some batteries feature a capacity indicator only, others offer an external bus to interface with the equipment the battery power and the intelligent charger.
Trickle Charge
A charge at a low rate, balancing losses through local action and/or periodic discharge, to maintain a cell or battery in a fully charged condition.
Voltage
A unit of measuring electrical pressure, all batteries are rated in volts DC (Direct Current).
Watts
A measurement of energy, arrived at by multiplying the voltage by the amperage.
Watt Hours
A common measurement of energy produced in a given amount of time, arrived at by multiplying the voltage by the amp hours.
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