What is the best way to preserve and store a laptop battery?

thetonynator

I know this has probably been asked before, but i went through the first 10 pages of threads and couldn't find it.

What is the best temperature, percentage etc. to store a laptop battery in order to preserve it withoul losing power permanently? Should you use it at least once a week/month/year???

thanks

Voodu Child

You can't preserve a li-ion battery permanently. The minute it rolls off the production line it starts to degrade. Even if you never used it or took it out of the box, it would lose all its capcacity eventually.

The main cause of battery capacity loss is simply use. ie charging the battery. Which for most people is unavoidable - if you need to use the battery you need to use it, simple as. What this means is that its a good idea not to use it needlessly, for example, if you are sitting right beside a power socket.

Other factors affecting how much capacity is lost over time are temperature and charge level. Most people will never 'store' a battery, you'll be using it here and there - there's no real point in buying a battery if you're going to leave it in a cupboard for a few years. But if you were to consider the hypothetical situation, then a battery stored at low temp (close to 0 C) and 40-60% charge is the ideal situation.

Some people try to work this into their normal battery useage, by removing the battery when they're on mains, or by leaving it in the fridge overnight for example. If you're playing the % game then it will all have a small effect. Its up to you how far you want to take it, just remember that the battery will eventually lose all its useful capacity anyway.

thetonynator

Thanks!!!

jbloggs

Lot of decent info at Battery University

CaSCaDe711

Voodu Child wrote: »

or by leaving it in the fridge overnight for example.

:eek::eek: Seriously..?