battery life?

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops,uk.comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

blockhed wrote:
> Hi,
>
> my Dell Inspiron 8100 battery is not working properly.
>
> For the past 6-8 months it charges, then looses it power very quickly,
> usually 1-3 minutes and the laptop goes into hibernation.
>
> Is the battery dead?
>
> Thanks

Yes.

Remove "nospam" from return address.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I'll bet that you left it in the laptop while the laptop was almost
continuously connected to AC power, right?

That kills batteries due to overcharging and heat.


B. Peg wrote:

> Mine only last about a year. Same symptoms, very fast drain after a lengthy
> charge.
> B~
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Chip Orange wrote...
> Barry Watzman wrote ...
> > I'll bet that you left it in the laptop while the laptop was almost
> > continuously connected to AC power, right?
> >
> > That kills batteries due to overcharging and heat.
> >
> I didn't think this theory as widely accepted?

Overcharging isn't a normally problem with Li-ion batteries: they vent
hydrogen when overcharged- generally as a sheet of flame! Hence laptops
must have a very good battery management circuitry that prevents
overcharging.

Temperature is another matter - the higher the temperature the faster the
inevitable loss of capacity. Most manufacturers advise storage in a cool
place - preferably at 40-50% charge if storage is going to be for an
extended period.

I have two batteries, which I keep out of the laptop when on mains power
(unless I'm doing something critical like a BIOS upgrade where loss of power
would be disastrous). I keep one battery fully charged and the other at 40%
and top it up when I need to take it on the road, periodically swapping main
and spare to give them both the same amount of use.

David