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The laptop is an HP Pavilion if that matters. I found out yesterday that the batt. should not remain in play when running on ac power. It's a six cell batt 10.8 volt 47whr. How long do these hold a charge when unused? How long to top off after sitting around in limbo for a month? Anyone know the self discharge rate? None of this info is in the help section, if you could call it that. Thanks for your time.

Ron

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Hi Ron. No one can tell you how long your battery will last, since that is completely dependent on how you use the computer, particularly how much you access the disk drive. About charging, the only things I have read is that it is better to charge the battery to full, then unplug it and let the battery run down, then recharge fully. This apparently allows for the longest battery life overall. Lithium batteries no longer suffer from the 'memory effect' so how deeply you discharge seems to not make a difference anymore.


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ron,

NiCad (nickel-cadmium) batteries (piles) have a high self-discharge rate. after a month i would expect it to be totally discharged. new technology batteries are nickel-metal hydride or lithium ion, both much better batteries, albeit more expensive. it don't sound like you have a 6-cell battery. if there are any numbers on the battery itself, i can research it for you.

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Hi Don thanks,it's a li-ion HP Mu06 I think the six is the cell number. Don't remember where I read it but I didn't make it up. 593553-001 is the hp replacement#.

Matt: the batt. will languish in the `puter bag most of the time. Which is why I'm concerned. I'd like to give it good care. But don't wish to `exercise' it needlessly.

Ron

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I see; that's helpful. My Toshiba laptop, fully charged, would still have some charge after a month in the bag. Just be sure to turn it off first, instead of allowing it to hibernate.


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I think he's asking "should the battery be taken out of the laptop when running on AC power & why"


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You should let the battery drain every month or so and re-charge. Don't leave your laptop plugged in when it's shutdown. Later, Ray


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All laptop/notebook batteries, regardless of technology, will give their best when "exercised".

The absolute worst thing you can do for battery life is leave the battery on charge constantly. E.G. running from mains all the time. I might add that if this were a Lead/acid battery then a constant float would actually be the best thing you could do, but it is not that technology so those rules do not apply.

Another possible issue is that many notebooks won't start unless there is a battery present. Toshi's seem to have more models with this "feature" than other manufacturers.

For storage of the battery, charge it fully first. Again, this is for maintaning battery life rather than having a charged battery in a month or so as you probably won't have much charge left.


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Leave the battery on the laptop when using AC power. It will stay float charged that way, always ready for use when you need to go portable, away from the AC line.

Lithium-ion battery technology will allow that without fear of overcharging, etc.

That said, it is a good idea to "excercise" your laptop battery occasionally, maybe once a month, by disconnecting the AC and letting the laptop run off of the battery, disharging it and then when it is about 75% discharged or so, re-connect to AC and let the battery fully charge again. This little bit of excercise can help to extend the battery life a bit. These new technology LI-ion battery packs and ghe charging circuits built into today's laptops don't need a lot of babysitting.


--Mac

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Quote:

Leave the battery on the laptop when using AC power. It will stay float charged that way, always ready for use when you need to go portable, away from the AC line. Lithium-ion battery technology will allow that without fear of overcharging, etc. --Mac




Dang Mac,that's what I wanted to hear,which usually makes me a little nervous. Everyone else says take it out to avoid over charging. Where can I learn more about Li-ion batteries? The help section on this hp is useless. It makes sense that the charging circuitry would be more up to date and no so dumb as to over charge. I live off grid and have lots of big batteries in another room and an inverter smart enough not to boil my electrolyte away.

Ron

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I wouldn't sweat it, my HP lappy is gettin' pretty long in the tooth now, but the original Li batpack is still goin' strong. So is the laptop.


--Mac

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