Laptop Battery FAQ

Always check your computer manual for the correct ratings and the type of Adaptor that your machine requires. Adaptors are usually rated by Watts/Wattage(W). You can calculate the Wattage by multiplying Volts(V) with Amps(A). This information is found on the label on the underside of the notebook computer.

It is always best to match the wattage of the notebook and the AC adaptor. An AC adaptor with a higher wattage can be used with a notebook with a lower wattage rating. However, an AC adaptor with a lower wattage rating cannot be used with a notebook with a higer rating. The notebook will be underpowered and may not boot up properly.

The AC adapter will get hot whilst it is plugged in and being used. This is normal. Any device that gets hot will require ventilation. Good ventilation prolongs the life of the device and avoids any accidental damage.

Some points to consider:

The led light, on most AC adaptors should stay constant when plugged in to the wall socket or AC power supply and switched on and plugged into the notebook computer. If the light flickers or blinks then check all connections and check the power lead. It may also turn out that the adaptor is simply faulty.

The AC adapter will get hot whilst it is plugged in and being used. This is normal. Any device that gets hot will require ventilation. Good ventilation prolongs the life of the device and avoids any accidental damage.

If you have several different notebooks, all of which are different types and made by different manufacturers, you can still use one charger. Universal AC adaptors are supplied with different tips which enables you to plug it into different notebook computers. However, you cant charge more than one notebook at a time.

Battery Wizard
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What are the different battery types? What are the chemistries?

The 3 main different types of batteries or battery chemistries. Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium.


Lithium Ion(Li-Ion)

Lithium Ion batteries use Lithium Oxide and a Carbon compound, usually Graphite as the electrodes. These are separated by a microporous film containing an organic solvent as the electrolyte. Compared to NiCd and NiMH batteries, Li-Ion batteries provide the same capacity inspite of being smaller and lighter. Li-Ion batteries have a higher power to weight ratio. These batteries do not suffer from the dreaded "memory effect", that affects NiCd batteries. Li-Ion also has a much lower levels of self-discharging. These tend to be comparatively more expensive due to higher production costs.


Nickel Metal Hydride(NiMH)

This battery uses Nickel and other rare earth metals as its electrodes and Potassium Hydroxide as the electrolyte. These are constructed from non-toxic metals making it environmentally friendly. These batteries do not suffer from the memory effect and has a higher capacity than NiCd batteries. However, the NiMH battery has a much shorter life span than NiCd and Li-Ion batteries.


Nickel Cadmium or Ni-Cad(NiCd)

This battery uses Nickel and Cadmium as its electrodes and aqueous Potassium Hydroxide as the electrolyte. It is an older type of battery, but is quick to charge and can handle higher loads. These batteries suffer from the "memory effect". Also due to the presence of heavy metals, they are environmentally unsafe and hazardous.


There are plenty of other types, but these have been the popular and easier to manufacture. The latest type is Lithium-Ion Polymer or Lithium Polymer Ion batteries. These are pretty much the same as Lithium Ion, but uses a polymer as the electrolyte. It is like a very thin plastic film. This dry ploymer design allows the battery to be lighter, smaller and the fabrication cheaper. It also has extremely good power-to-weight ratio.

What is a Fuel Cell? How does it work?

Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device, producing electricity from an external fuel supply of Hydrogen and Oxygen. This fuel cell produces electricity and Water as the by-products. As long as the fuel supply is maintained, it continues to produce electricity. Unlike a battery, where it is limited by storage capacity.

DMFC - Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

This is less complicated as Methanol is fed directly, unlike Hydrogen which needs to be stored at high pressure. The energy density of Methanol is greater than Hydrogen. Companies like NEC, Toshiba, Sanyo, Hitachi and Panasonic are developing DMFCs to power laptops upto about 20 hours!! 20 hours!!!, looks like good bye to batteries.

Don't throw away your batteries just yet. There are several issues yet to be resolved by the manufacturers. Methanol is flammable liquid and is Toxic. You cannot carry it in an airplane. Due to the use of Platinum as a catalyst, these tend to be very expensive. More expensive than the laptop it is supposed to power. It will be expensive until, DMFCs become commercialized.

So, dont throw away your laptop batteries just yet.

The question all laptop/notebook owners ask, how do you get the most out of your battery? How can I make it last a very long time?

Nothing lasts forever, especially when it comes to batteries, even Lithium Ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries degrade or deteriorate continuously. Even when not in use they will deteriorate, at a smaller pace. The battery loses about 15% of its capacity every 100 cycles. A cycle is a discharger, charge event. After about 3 - 5 years, the battery will end up with very low capacity and this renders the battery unusable.

Listed below are tips to ensure an optimal battery life:

1. Use the AC Adapter whenever possible, but not all the time, let the battery do some work as well. It does not hurt to exercise now and then!!


2. Lower the brightness setting on the screen backlight


3. Remove all devices, cards that are not being used, like Wireless LAN cards, modems. If they do need to be plugged in then make sure that they are switched off in software.


4. Minimize the number of programs running at the same time.


5. Stop unnecessary programs that may be running in the background.


6. Add more memory, RAM, to lower disk access time.


7. Set the Windows Power Management settings to maximum savings.


8. Powersave settings in the BIOS needs to be enabled for the Windows Power Management to work properly.


9. If you have a second battery, use it in rotation with the current battery.


10. Fully discharge and recharge your battery about once every 3 months. This is simply because, the smart electronics gets a bit confused as to capacity. (Not very smart....)


11. If you are taking the battery out to store it, make sure it is only has about 40 - 50% charge. (NOT FULLY CHARGED!!)

From NiCd and NiMH batteries, to Lithium Ion batteries. Laptop users the World over breathed a sigh of relief. Lightweight batteries that were able to last for a reasonable time and much more reliable. Then came Lithium Polymer Ion batteries. Used in mobile phones, PDAs and other small devices. Very light weight and good power to weight ratio.

Now, fuel cells, for use in laptops!! Well technology is certainly moving forward, very rapidly. So far Toshiba, Hitachi and NEC have come up with various prototypes. I am not aware of other companies (sorry if I missed you out).

There is also a working group dedicated to battery life. To, "accelerate the achievement of all-day battery life". So, is it time yet to say good bye to batteries??