| Some of you might have got in a rage when in an extremely essential instant when you were working or expecting an urgent e-mail, your laptop went dead, because its battery had discharged. In such cases the battery requires re-charging or replacing.
Laptop batteries can be of 3 kinds - Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Ion (LiON). They differ in price, weight and specific characteristics. Yet, the charging procedures are similar. The charging time for brand new laptop batteries should be 14-16 hours. If you want to re-charge old ones, primarily let them cool off, since overcharging can decrease their life. When buying NiMH batteries, remember they have the so-called "memory defect". Thus, if a battery is not discharged to the fullest, it will "think" that it has, for instance 50% of its original power, and will use only this half, threfore, decreasing the number of hours during which your laptop function properly.
Laptop batteries are re-charged in different ways. The first method is by using AC power. The so-called "trickle charge" automatically re-charges batteries as soon as a laptop has been unplugged. A second alternative is by using an external laptop battery charger. All you need to do is to insert batteries into a charger that is plugged into an outlet.
Laptop batteries' life can also be extended if:
- you charge and discharge batteries to the full;
- you have only those programs on at a time which you truly need. Downloading music to your iPod, surfing the Internet, chatting online along with using other programs can make laptop batteries' life far shorter.
- you exploit batteries' energy rationally;
- you defragment the hard disk now and then, since it spares space and, therefore, power;
- you adjust screen brightness;
- you make use of cooling devices (widely available on the market) for the laptop temperature to meet the established requirements;
- you make use of AC adapters when it is possible.
Naturally, it is essential to use a laptop and its diverse devices in accordance with the safety requirements to assure your laptop will work longer. |
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