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Battery use - G75 in particular, any other laptop in general

ZoidbergForPres
Level 7
Hello,

Do any of you know what is the best way to use a battery? I'm asking myself this because I recently bought the G75, and it is my first laptop.

The battery in this laptop actually only recharges when getting under 95% but is there a better way to use it?

1) Let the laptop be continuously connected with the power cord
2) Not connect the power cord and wait for the remaining battery to come under 30 or 40% before connecting
3) Is it possible to remove the battery but connect the power cord and use the current directly?
4) Any other solution?

Regards,
4,907 Views
8 REPLIES 8

dstrakele
Level 14
Here is HP's take on computer battery use and care: http://h20239.www2.hp.com/techcenter/battery/Battery_max.htm.

If you are after a mote-detailed scientific approach, see http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries.
G74SX-A1 - stock hardware - BIOS 202 - 2nd Monitor VISIO VF551XVT

I can only tell you what I do and that with this method battery wear was low. For example I have one 4 year old battery with 25% wear and a 2 years old with very little wear.

Batteries are affected most by heat, recharge cycles and deep discharge.

I try to avoid these as much as possible.

If I can, I always use the laptop on a surface that is flat and allows air flow. A cooler might be a good idea as well.

I use it plugged if I have a power outlet near.

I never let it discharge over long periods of time.

I use BatteryBar to monitor it and see if wear is within normal per year.

cl-scott
Level 12
HP's "advice" was a little light on actual advice, and the calibration information is out of date.

For the most part, I would just say don't worry about it. Batteries are consumables, and no matter what you do, they will eventually stop working. So I always tell people that it is not worth developing an obsessive compulsive disorder over, just use the battery when you are not around an outlet or want the freedom from the AC adapter, use AC power when it's convenient/necessary, and don't really worry about it otherwise.

You have a Lithium Ion (Li Ion) battery, so it does NOT suffer from memory like some may claim. The average service life of a Li Ion battery is about 300 cycles before it is consumed. That is true for laptops, cell phones, handheld game consoles, and anything else using a Li Ion battery. A cycle is defined as the battery going from 100% charge down to 0%, and this can be done just about any unique combination you like. A very simple example would be to say you start out with 100% charge, run it down to 50%, charge it back up, and then go back down to 50% again. That would be one cycle. As the battery ages, the chemicals used to store the electrical charge will break down and the battery will gradually lose capacity. When this happens the battery is considered to be consumed. Once a battery is consumed, its performance typically drops off very quickly, and this is normal. Once a battery is consumed, it is best to replace it as quickly as you can, or simply remove it from the unit and take it somewhere for proper disposal. Failure to do so will eventually result in the battery swelling and causing damage to the cosmetics of your laptop, possibly even damaging the electronics. If you still do not act, eventually the battery will explode. However, before you get too worked up, the process from consumed to swelling usually takes a good couple of months, and from swelling to exploding is a couple more months past that. So you will really have no one but yourself to blame if it gets that far.

On the average, a battery should last approximately 2 years, however that is an average. Some will last longer, others will die sooner. Same as the number of cycles a battery will last. I have seen batteries consumed in the high 200 cycles and batteries that have made it over 500 cycles and are still going strong. The 300 cycles is merely an average, not necessarily a sign of a defect if yours does not last that long.

So at the end of the day, I would say that you should spend more time just enjoying your laptop and not obsessing over prolonging the service life of the battery.

cl-scott wrote:

So at the end of the day, I would say that you should spend more time just enjoying your laptop and not obsessing over prolonging the service life of the battery.


Bingo ... do you worry about how much tread life you are using each time you drive your car? Forget about it!

OK, but tyres are not like 25% worth of car's value. Battery might be if original and the laptop is not very expesive (this is not the case with G75, but in a more general view, I had quite a few of those). And if they are, then you migh not go for burnouts too often. It's as simple as that. Battery can be used for a long time with some consideration to it.

ZoidbergForPres
Level 7
Well thanks for all the answers.

But I don't obssess over this, thanks. I merely just want to avoid using it the wrong way than wanting to use it the best way absolutely. 😛

So it is typically not good to let it discharge too much and it is actually better to keep it plugged if possible. All along keeping it cool enough?

Noted. Thanks again!

Yes. If it does not get too hot during usage.

"Obsessive" care for battery might be better than chaotic use of it. There are just 3 simple things to look for, I hardly call that an obsession of any kind. But one is free to spend his money in any way he wants. All I'm saying is that it's possible to maximize the time a battery will perform well.

ZoidbergForPres
Level 7
Interesting info:
When plugged, the g75
1 Will recharge when under 95% of charge
2 Will not recharge when between 95 and 99%
3 Apparently doesn't recharge at 100%

The transfo is still hot though.

Shouldn't that be perfect?