amark
join:2001-02-09
94045
| Leave Laptop IN Docking Station 24/7-Should I Remove Battery
I leave my laptop in docking station 27/7 and usually on as well. Should I be removing the battery when doing so?
Maybe this question better-I leave my laptop connected to dock or AC all the time. Does this ruin the battery? Should the battery be removed?
Info appreciated, thanks.
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Ken Peterson
Premium
join:2000-12-08
| I kept a Compaq plugged in for 24/7 on A/C. The battery was fine when I gave away the machine a few years later. Other folks have found their battery having no reserve after this sort of behavior. In short, there is no real definite answer. YMMV. |
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Mospaw
D O N E
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| reply to amark
It depends.
Some laptops have a very unsophisticated charging mechanism that always charges the battery. Older machines, especially have this. It will eventually "cook" a battery. Newer machines (and their batteries) can determine the battery's charge level and only charge when needed, rather than continuously. Some even have the ability to "condition" a battery by depleting the charge completely and then recharging.
My ThinkPad T42's only charge when necessary and can condition batteries (using software). My wife's is plugged in 100% f the time with no ill effects. Mine travels a lot, so it's usually unplugged.
You'll probably have to do some research on your specific model to find out what it does. |
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PeteC2
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join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
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| In almost any recent notebook, over-charging is now a non-issue, however, many manufacturers still advise removing the battery when on constant AC power due to the possibility of the battery picking up too much heat from the notebook, which of course in and of intself may shorten battery life.
Having said that, I usually run my notebooks on AC, and never bother removing the batteries. To date, this has had no ill effects on battery life, I find that they last about the same either way.
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