Laptop Battery FAQ

Should I Store My Laptop Battery in the Fridge/Refrigerator?

2007-04-02T15:00:00.000Z

This may sound crazy, but it is logical. Modern laptop batteries, or Lithium Ion laptop batteries start deteriorating or losing charge from the time they leave the production line. There is nothing we can do about it, except reduce this process. Hence, the reason manufacturers supply the battery with very little charge.

Since, this reaction takes place continually, a fully charged laptop battery will lose its charge even when it is not in use. Exposure to extreme heat, like a laptop left in a hot car (not that it would last long in most cities), by a window under direct sunlight or next to a radiator would certainly increase this rate of discharge.

Cooler temperatures, slows down this process. A fridge/refrigerator is an ideal cool storage for a laptop battery. However, you will be doing so at your own risk. Manufacturers warranties would not extend to such storage practices, nor would they recommend it!!!

However, here are some precautions before you rush off to store your laptop battery next to the half-eaten takeaway from the weekend.

The battery should be securely wrapped and should be placed in an airtight container to protect it from condensation and moisture.
Store the laptop battery when not in use for a very long period of time.
Always allow the battery to reach room temperature before using it in a laptop.

As I mentioned before, you are doing so at your own risk. No scientific research or study has been carried out on this subject.

A word of warning, DO NOT STORE THE LAPTOP BATTERY IN THE FREEZER, this can be detrimental to the life of the laptop battery.

Refurbishing Old Laptop Batteries

2007-03-12T14:40:00.000Z

There are several websites claiming that one can refurbish their old laptop batteries by following a simple set of instructions. This is very true if you have time, some technical knowledge and you are adventurous. It may only apply to a few old laptops, whose batteries were simply constructed. They contained a number of Lithium Ion cells in a particular arrangement and connected together.

However, most modern laptop batteries contain PCBs or smart chips which communicate with the laptop and these need to be properly calibrated for the battery to power the laptop. The availability of good quality Lithium Ion cells may be restricted. These cells are hazardous if they are wired up incorrectly or not handled carefully. Overheating and exposure can cause fire and even explosion. Poor quality Lithium Ion cells will be inexpensive and maybe readily available. However, these cells will not offer the same amount of power and will certainly compromise on the quality.

This method of crude refurbishing may void the manufacturer's warranty and the cost of any repairs caused by the refurbished battery may cost more than a new battery.

Several laptops have compatible or replacement laptop batteries made by reputable manufacturers. These are constructed to high standards and are sold with manufacturers warranty. Since, these batteries are not branded they tend to be cheaper than an original laptop battery.

More battery recalls

2006-10-17T08:02:00.000Z

Sharp has announced that 28,000 of its batteries are to be recalled and at the same time Sony has announced that around 60,000 of its laptop batteries are to be recalled mainly in Japan. Battery numbers to be recalled overseas is unclear.

Laptop Batteries, Compatible Laptop Batteries

2006-10-12T14:47:00.001Z

After the recent and possibly ongoing Sony laptop battery recall, I have renewed faith in compatible laptop batteries. I currently use a 2-Power branded laptop battery, from ComputerBatteries. This is the same manufacturer of the Universal Laptop Battery, I reviewed in an earlier post. My old IBM ThinkPad 600's original battery has a capcity of 3000mAh, but the 2-Power branded battery has a capacity of 4000mAh. It has worked without any problems. They also provide a year's warranty and more importantly it was cheaper than the IBM original.

There are plenty of manufacturers and retailers out there. Making it very difficult to distinguish between the genuine ones and the cowboys. Before you make a purchase, ask them questions. Make sure they are easily contactable, in case of problems. Do they provide any Warranty? Are their website secure? These are some of the questions and points to consider if you are entering into the world of compatible laptop batteries.

We all know of Duracell batteries. Very reliable and good quality. A brand that you can trust. Duracell also manufacture batteries for laptops, digital cameras, camcorders and many other devices. These are available through DuracellDirect, which is a partnership between Duracell and PSA Parts Ltd.

Latest Battery recall

2006-10-10T10:49:00.000Z

The latest battery recall is by Hitachi. It is a modest 16,000 batteries compared to Apple, Dell and a few other manufacturers. This does raise questions of manufacturing standards, quality control and testing by Sony.

Sony VAIO laptops seem unaffected by any battery problems. Does this suugest differring standards or controls.

However, the recalls have highlighted the fact that laptop batteries can be potentially dangerous and the need for improvements in the technology.

Sony Laptop Batteries in the News Again

2006-10-03T08:30:00.000Z

According to ComputerWeekly, Fujitsu has joined Dell, Apple, Toshiba and IBM/Lenovo in recalling batteries as they may be a fire risk. Fujitsu will offer replacements of Sony made battery packs.

Sony has said it will be initiating a Global Replacement Program.

ASUS -Lamborghini VX1 Laptop

2006-09-25T11:57:00.000Z

First it was Acer teaming up with Ferrari, now it is Asus teaming up with Lamborgihini to produce innovative laptops.

The Lamborghini notebook series is available in both black and yellow, trademark colours of the Lamborghini logo. The VX1 is an ultra-slim 15 inch notebook and boasts dual core processing from Intel and NVidia GeFoce Go7400VX for graphics.

Read more about the Asus Lamborghini VX1 laptop.

We will just have to wait and see for BMW, Mercedes Benz and Porsche.

Yet Another Battery Recall........ Maybe!!

2006-09-25T11:19:00.000Z

According to Reuters, Lenovo are investigating a recent incident where a Lenovo Laptop overheated and caught fire in LA airport. This was a Lenovo ThinkPad T43 laptop with a battery manufactured by Sony. The battery type is the same as the ones recalled by Apple and Dell.

Curious, as to whether any batteries for the VAIO laptops are affected??

Toshiba Battery Recall

2006-09-20T08:06:00.000Z

Check whether your Toshiba laptop battery is affected at Toshiba Battery Exchange Program

Battery Recall...... Again......

2006-09-19T08:08:00.000Z

Toshiba is the latest manufacturer to join the growing list of manufacturers recalling their batteries. It affects Dynabook and Dynabook Satellite laptops manufactured between March and May this year. The batteries were manufactured by Sony. Unlike, Dell and Apple laptops overheating and exploding, this would simply stop charging.

The recall is estimated to be in the region of about 340,000.

Another Airline Bans Apple and Dell Battery Use

2006-09-18T09:41:00.000Z

Virgin Atalantic is the latest carrier to ban the use of laptop batteries in-flight. Apple and Dell laptops can be used by plugging into the in-seat power supply. The batteries however, must be taken out and stored in your luggage. The laptop batteries must be individually wrapped and protected. This is limited to two batteries per passenger.

This follows the ban by Korean Air.

Check with your carrier before flying to avoid disappointment and heartache at the airport.

A Potential Solution to the Exploding Batteries

2006-09-07T09:09:00.000Z

Lithium Ion laptop batteries are much better than their predecessors. They do not suffer from the "memory effect", where the battery remembers only the capacity from the previous discharge/charge cycle and they have much better power to weight ratio.

However, lithium ion batteries are not without their problems. The recent events of exploding and overheating batteries has highlighted this fact. These laptop batteries contain hazardous chemicals in liquid state. Heat is a by product of the chemical reaction that takes place to produce electricity, but overheating acts as a catalyst in the same chemical reaction.

Infinite Power Solutions Inc, a company based in Golden, Colarado have developed solid state Lithium batteries, called thin film batteries. Unlike traditional Lithium Ion batteries which contain a liquid electrolyte, these batteries contain a thin, film like solid-state electrolyte. Similar to lithium Polymer, but the fabrication of thin film is much smaller.

Thin film batteries are supposed to have better power to weight ratio, a superior cycle life, broad temperature performance, rapid recharge and low power leakage. The use of solid state electrolyte also reduces the risk of explosion and fires.

We will just have to wait for Infinite Power Solutions to mass produce these batteries!!!!

Another Battery Recall!!!!

2006-09-07T08:56:00.000Z

This time it is the turn of Panasonic to recall laptop batteries. Matsushita, maker of Panasonic products issued the recall for 6,000 Lithium ion laptop batteries over fears of overheating. This affects Panasonic Let’s Note CF-W4G laptops sold in Japan.

The problem, unlike the faulty Sony cells in Dell's and Apple's laptop batteries, is a small defective spring. A drop or sudden jarring movement may cause the spring to fall onto the cells and cause overheating. The spring is part of the latch, which holds the battery in place.

Apple Battery Recall

2006-08-25T09:21:00.000Z

It must be the month of battery hell. Now Apple has issued a battery recall for PowerBook and iBook batteries sold between October 2003 through to August 2006. Apple has cited that lithium ion batteries containing cells manufactured by Sony pose a safety risk. Follow the link for information on the Apple battery excahnge program.

2-power Universal Laptop Battery

2006-08-25T09:01:00.000Z

One of my earliest posts was about the universal external laptop battery, Universal External Laptop Battery From 2 - power. These are external battery packs with greater capacity than the battery supplied with the laptop.

A recent review of the universal external laptop battery.

Football and Laptops... Again!!

2006-08-25T08:39:00.000Z

What does football and laptops have in common? Nothing really. You can possibly watch a football game on a laptop, but you dont take a laptop to a football game. That is soccer to any American readers.

My earlier post named, Toshiba - Get 66% of the Purchase Price Back, was a brilliant deal if Englad had won the World Cup. I wonder how many passionate England fans bought a Toshiba laptop during the qualifying period.

According to Reg, Fujitsu Siemens are now bringing out laptops in the colours of teams of the English and Scottish Premier Leagues. Laptops are available in the colours of Celtic, Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. What about Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea? We will just have to wait and see.

Nano batteries - The New Era In Laptop Batteries?

2006-08-24T08:42:00.000Z

After recent events of laptop batteries burning up and exploding and Dell's mammoth battery recall, Nano batteries may hold the answer. Toshiba, which also makes laptop batteries among other devices has developed a lithium battery with nano material technology.

The new battery can recharge 80% of a battery's energy capacity in one minute. This battery also has an improved energy density. The battery also boasts, a long life cycle, operate in extreme temperatures and the ambient temperature is 25 degree centigrade. The prototype battery is only 3.8mm thick, 62mm high and 35mm deep and has a capacity of 600mAh.

This will be ideal for laptops and other mobile devices. Eventhough Lithium Ion batteries offered better performance than Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, they still lose capacity. This is due to the organic liquid electrolyte reducing during the battery recahrging process. The new nano battery contains nano particles which absorb and store the Lithium ions without causing any deterioration.

We will just have to wait and see for Toshiba to develop these batteries commercially in the coming months.

Dell Laptop Battery Recall

2006-08-15T08:08:00.000Z

Dell has issued a battery recall, after several incidents where laptops have exploded and or caught fire. Faulty batteries are to blame. This battery recall seems to be the largest and is said to have affected around 4m or so laptop owners. It has also affected across the range of Dell laptops. The Latitude, Inspiron, Precision and the XPS ranges are affected.

To find out if you are affected, check the Dell Battery Program.

What does the future hold???

2006-08-14T14:58:00.000Z

With terror plots on airlines and security ramped up in airports, what does the future hold for the geeks and business travellers alike. Hand luggage stripped down to just your passports and tickets. It is going to be a very long flight. No iPods, digital cameras and certainly no laptops.

These security measures are going to stay for a while. What hope can the traveller have? Airlines can certainly provide the devices. Security checked and especially sealed. We would be asking for a seat by the window, special meal and a laptop with a return flight to New York. You might wonder what about my work, my documents, that important file. Surely, we will see the rise of online storage, or log into the ftp server at work or home to access the important files. Online behmoths like Google and Yahoo providing ever more useful services, it may come to the point where you really dont need your own laptop to do some work in-flight.

What does the future hold???

Burning Laptops? Exploding Batteries?

2006-07-13T10:18:00.000Z

There are several news articles circulating around of fault in laptop batteries causing them to explode and catch fire. Burning the laptops in the process. Several manufacturers have also recalled thousands of batteries, citing technical flaws.

It is well known that, laptops do get hot and the batteries also get hot. Some precautionary measures may help, but it may not completely prevent a fire. A technical fault inside the battery may not be apparent when looking at the battery. A physical fault, like a crack or a rupture or leakage is immediately noticeable and such a battery should not be used under any circumstances. It should be disposed responsibly.

Some points to consider:

Keep laptop on a flat surface and keep all vents clear of any obtrusions, like clothing and paper.

Keep all the cooling vents on the laptop cleaned. No dust balls, hair and other particles blocking them.

Make sure that you are using the correct battery and charger for your lasptop.

If you feel that the laptop is getting hotter than usual, switch it off and check the battery compartment as well. If it is abnormally hot then consult the laptop manufacturer.

Do not leave laptop unattended and especially when a child is allowed to use it.

Wireless Skype Phones

2006-06-13T15:50:00.000Z

We have all used or heard of Skype one way or another. Headphones and microphones plugged into the soundcard. Then came the headsets. Now, actual phones for use with Skype. Some of these are now wireless, which does not tie us down to our PCs or laptops.

The online retailer Best Skype Phones has three different phones on offer. All connect to the PCs or laptops through the USB port. Very easy to use, just install the software provided with the phone and you are off and away. The wireless skype phone with the USB dongle actually uses wireless technology (WiFi). This gives greater freedom for the user.

I managed to test this phone with MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and AOL Instant Messenger. Call quality was superb. However, a fast internet connection is recommended.

Hybrid Hard Drive Aims to Extend Laptop Battery Life

2006-06-02T08:49:00.000Z

Samsung has built a new hybrid hard disk drive. This new hard disk has a flash memory chip built into the drive. A traditional hard disk will spin once the computer is turned on and will continue to so until the computer is switched off. This causes hard disk drives to be power hungry. In the case of laptops, this eats into the battery life very quickly.

Samsung Electronics is the world leader in advanced memory technology. It's OneNAND flash memory is incorporated into the design of Microsoft's prototype Hybrid Hard Disk Drive. Since 2003, Microsoft and Samsung have been working together to produce ultra-low power disk drives for laptops.

Traditionally, the disks spin whilst data is written to and read from. The flash memory has a write buffer and a boot buffer. Data is written to the flash memory and when the write buffer becomes full the disks are spun and is written to the drive from this buffer. The mechanical drive is spun down and is kept idle whilst data is written to the flash memory. This saves considerable power.

The CPU is able to read from and write to the flash memory at a higher rate. Booting up the computer is a much faster process as the CPU does not need to wait for the drive to be spun up to the optimum speed.

Consumers can expect a considerable power saving by using these hybrid hard disk drives.

Bacteria Powered Laptops.... BACTERIA

2006-05-23T09:42:00.000Z

No, this is not a typo. Yes, you read it correctly and No, I am not drunk. Bacteria produce electricity. Derek Lovely, director of the Environmental Biotechnology Center at UMass Amherst (University of Massachusetts), found this micro-organism in 1987 on the bottom of the Potomac River.

Geobacter is a member of the microbial family Geobacteraceae and is also known as Geobacter metallireducens. These organisms can destory petroleum contaminants in polluted groundwater. They are also able to remove radioactive metal contaminants from groundwater.

Great!!! They are good for the environment. How can they power a laptop? These organisms produce electrons or electrical energy as they consume pollutants or organic waste. Derek Lovely's team have powered calculators and lightbulbs in the lab. The next step seems to be a microbial fuel cells or bacterial batteries to power digital cameras, mobile phone and even laptops. An excerpt from the article on how it could be used to power a laptop:

"Imagine you get off a plane and want to use your laptop, but your battery is dead and there’s nowhere to plug in your computer. You go to the nearest Starbucks, buy a coffee, grab more than your share of sugar packets, and empty half into your cup and half into your laptop. Voila! Both you and your computer are powered up."

Read the full article on Geobacter and Derek Lovely's efforts.

Toshiba - Get 66% of the Purchase Price Back

2006-05-04T12:39:00.000Z

Buy a Toshiba Notebook, Pray that England wins the World Cup and get 66% of the purchase price back.

You have to purchase a Toshiba notebook between 27th April and 8th June 2006. It can be Qosmio, Satellite, Satellite Pro, Tecra or Portege with Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology. Register with Toshiba and keep your proof of purchase.

Then on 9th July 2006, if England lift the World Cup in Berlin, you will be a winner as well. You will get 66% of the purchase price back!!!

Typical, Wayne Rooney breaks his leg, Owen recovering from injury, Ashley Cole just recovered from injury. So What are England's Chances????

Laptops & Leather!!

2006-04-28T08:44:00.000Z

No, this is not a fetish, honest. It is the latest offering from Asus. Luxury leather laptop, S6F. The details can be found on "The Register". This falls into the category of a sub-notebook or in this case a sub-laptop.

It has a 11 inch anti-glare screen. The processor is a low-voltage dual-core Core Duo processor with 1GB DDR2 SDRAM memory. The hard drive is a whopping 100GB and a multi-format DVD writer. Pretty impressive. It apparently ships with two batteries, one with double the capacity.

I want One of These.... May be Two.....

2006-04-25T09:10:00.000Z

Sonos. That's right Sonos. If you have not heard about it, then better read on. It's awesome, brilliant and I want it.

What Is It?
A wireless multi-room digital music system controlled by a remote control in the palm of your hand.

How Does It Work?
You got an MP3 collection on your computer and you want to listen to a song everywhere in your house, without a visit from the "Noise Control". Simply setup a Sonos Zone Player in every room, connect a Sonos Zone Player to high speed internet connection and to your music collection and you are done. With the wireless remote control, you are now able to control music anywhere in the house. Music is streamed wirelessly and you can play the same song in different rooms or different songs in different rooms. Ideal for house parties.

You can even connect your normal stereo system, on one of the Sonos Zone Players.

Dual Core Apple MacBook Pro

2006-04-25T08:32:00.000Z

Apple has launched its Dual Core MacBook Pro, with a battery life of 5.5 hours.

It has a 2.16GHz Intel Core duo processor, 1GB SDRAM and a 120GB Hard disk drive. ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 provides video. Supposed to be 5 times faster than PowerBook G4. The MacBook Pro comes loaded with lots of extras, check these out at the MacBook Pro page.

One brilliant feature is the new power adapter connector, called MagSafe The connector is magnetic, makes it easy to connect and disconnect. Especially when someone trips over the cable. The connector breaks away cleanly without damage to itself or the Macbook Pro. Less wear on the connectors and also less damage to the notebook. MagSafe is the way forward.

Power a Laptop Over The Corporate LAN?

2006-04-10T14:31:00.000Z

Huh? Is this possible? Connect your laptop to the Ethernet network and you have power.
Power over Ethernet or PoE technology, is the ability of a system to transmit electrical power over standard twisted-pair cable in an Ethernet network.

Low drain devices like IP telephones, wireless LAN access points and webcams are easily powered over the ethernet. The question remains, Can it Power a Laptop?

Low drain, low power consuming laptops should be able to be powered in this way. The standards organization, IEEE have standardized Power over Ethernet in IEEE 802.3af. This standard provides 48 Volts DC at a maximum current of 350mA for a maximum load power of 15.4 watts. It certainly wont be able to power the latest 64 bit Dual Core processor gaming laptops.

This is certainly the way forward. You wouldn't need to plug the AC adapter in whilst at work. No more cumbersome cables. One of the pioneers of this technology is PowerDsine.

The advances in technology should enable any type of laptop to connected to a suitable Ethernet network and recharge the battery.

Standards for Laptops, Another Battle Between AMD and Intel?

2006-04-07T14:59:00.000Z

Intel, has been promoting whitebox laptops and now wants notebook component makers to agree to standards. Simplifying the the swapping of parts between different laptop platforms.

This is called the Intel Interchangeable Initiative. A collaboration between Intel and Original Design Manufacturers(ODMs), based on the concept of Common Building Blocks(CBBs).

The core parts identified for Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology based laptops are listed below:

Hard disk drive

Optical disk drive

LCD panel/screen

Battery pack

Keyboards

AC/DC Adapter

Customizable notebook panel

So, what's the big deal? OEMs, system builders and other ODMs can repair, upgrade these components with relative ease. Means more choice for us end users. Perhaps.

AMD not one for missing out on the fun is also planning to release its own platform named, "Yamato". Unlike Centrino, this will offer several different chipsets, including nVidia, VIA, SiS and ATi. However, they are still a long way off.

How Do the "Universal External Laptop Batteries" work?

2006-03-01T12:06:00.000Z

My first post was about 2-power branded external laptop battery. How do these batteries work?

As you know a laptop battery consists of a number of battery cells
inside. A pack of cells, produces the correct amount of voltage and
current to power the laptop. This is the reason laptop batteries are
often called laptop battery packs.

External laptop batteries, as the name suggests, do not fit inside the
battery bay of the laptop. They simply sit outside, plugged into the
laptop by the necessary cables. These batteries consists of a greater
number of cells. Allowing for a greater capacity to power the laptop
for a longer time.

Standard laptop batteries have an internal circuitry with chips to
control the flow of current etc, Universal laptop batteries contain
these circuitry, but the tips that plug into the laptop detect the
voltage and current. The various tips that are supplied with the
external laptop battery allows it to be used with almost any brand of
laptop.

AC Adaptors, Power Adaptors and Chargers

2006-02-24T13:26:00.000Z

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
http://www.ComputerBatteries.co.uk

Battery Chemistries... The Main Types

2006-02-21T09:20:00.000Z

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.

Dont Throw Away Your Laptop Batteries Just Yet....

2006-02-13T09:42:00.000Z

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.

How do you get the most out of your Laptop/Notebook Battery's Life?

2006-02-06T09:23:00.000Z

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:

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!!

Lower the brightness setting on the screen backlight

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.

Minimize the number of programs running at the same time.

Stop unnecessary programs that may be running in the background.

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

Set the Windows Power Management settings to maximum savings.

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

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

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....)

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

Fuel Cells for Laptops!!

2006-02-02T13:39:00.000Z

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??

Flexible Keyboards!!!

2006-01-30T11:51:00.000Z

I have never seen anyhting like this. It is made from rubber. You can roll it up, twist it and use it even when it's laid out across your lap. It does work. Fits both PS2 and USB.

Nearly forgot to mention that it is washable as well. No more panicking after spilling the contents of your cup.

It would have been great if it was wireless.

Checkout ComputerBatteries. Sorry, the XCells are availabe through them as well, completely forgot to mention it before.

2 - Power External Battery Test Results

2006-01-30T11:06:00.000Z

Apologies for the long delay, it has been well overdue. Due to unforseen circumstances , I have not been able to post. I have straightened things out now and back on track.

I tested the XCell 70 universal external battery, with a Dell Inspiron 8200 notebook. Took the original battery out of the notebook whilst testing.

1. Browsing the net
2. Import 2 music CDs using iTunes
3. Burnt 3 data CDs
4. The usual MS Office tasks

The external battery lasted about 4 hours, before beeping to indicate low battery.

I found this product really useful. It is not cumbersome to carry. Fits nicely in the side pocket of the notebook carry case.

2005-04-05T11:35:00.000Z

Universal External Laptop Batteries - picture supplied by "2 - power".

Universal External Laptop Battery From 2 - power

2005-04-05T09:22:00.000Z

Battery manufacturer, 2 - power, have longer lasting external laptop batteries. The amazing thing is that they are universal and will power a multitude of laptop makes and models. This is achieved by a number of tips which are supplied with this battery. There are two models, XCell 70 which runs upto 5 hours and XCell Pro 100 which runs upto 10 hours.

The universal batteries are supplied with about 13 different tips. The user has to choose the correct one for their laptop. It simply plugs in to the AC power port of their laptop. Apart from the well known brands like Apple, IBM, Dell, HP and Toshiba, it also fits brands like Commax, Grid, Sager, Trigem and Windrover.

These can be used as a second battery and greatly extend the run time of your laptop. The battery contains a number of Lithium Polymer Ion cells. Due to their slim design, it can be hidden underneath the laptop. Actually I use it as a mouse pad. I am currently testing an XCell 70 and will be posting my results soon.

Tips for Laptop Battery Care

2005-03-31T08:38:00.000Z

Care is essential for laptop batteries, laptops or for any products whilst in use or in storage. This ensures an optimum performance and life of laptop batteries.

Tips for Laptop Battery Care:

A new battery comes in a discharged condition and must be charged before use. Upon initial use (or after prolonged storage period) the battery may require two to three charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.

If the battery is not going to be used for more than a month, it is recommended that it be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.

A battery will eventually lose its charge if unused. It may therefore be necessary to recharge the battery after a storage period.

Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.

It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.

Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break-in procedure described above.

Welcome

2005-02-17T22:46:00.000Z

Welcome to the Laptop Battery FAQ Blog. Hoping to answer your questions and share information about laptop batteries and laptop power products. I will be posting known issues and new FAQs weekly, as well as answering any questions.

We have all used or owned a laptop at somepoint and experienced the trials and tribulations that comes with it. Working on the move, showing off to friends and colleagues and then "Low Battery". The replacement laptop battery you purchased doesn't fit, or the laptop doesn't recognise it. After charging for 24 hours, it only shows as having 50% charge. Aaaaaaagh!!!

Anger, despair, frustration, more anger. Resorted to throwing it out of the window or fixing it with the delicate touch of a sledgehammer. If you have been through this and more then you are at the right place. Feel free to share your experiences, expertise and also ask any questions relating to laptop batteries and power products.