BATTERY TIPS!

HOW LONG DO BATTERIES LAST?

Depending on the type of battery and the way it is used, battery life varies. Generally a battery lasts between 18 and 36 months.  You should replace your battery if you are running on 50% capacity.  For example, you should replace your battery if your battery gave you 3 hours of output when it was first new and now lasts only 1 1/2 hours.

CAN YOU CHOOSE WHAT BATTERY CHEMISTRY YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE?

Most all laptops have been designed for only one type of battery chemistry.  There are a few, however that can take either LI ION or NI MH.  Always check your product specifications before buying a battery with a different chemistry.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LI ION and a NI MH BATTERY?

"LI ION" stands for Lithium Ion and  "NI MH" stands for Nickel Metal Hydride.  LI ION batteries are not only 50% lighter than NI MH but will also run your laptop about 50% LONGER!  LI ION batteries are also more expensive.

WHAT ARE VOLTS AND AMPS?

Every battery has two ratings which are volts and amp-hours (Ah).  The Ah rating may also be given as milliamp-hours (mAh) which are one-thousandth of an amp-hour (for example, a 2Ah battery is 2000mAh).  Amp-hours are a rating of the amount of energy that a battery can store.  The higher a battery's amp-hour rating is, the longer the battery's run-time will be,  It is not uncommon for some batteries to have higher or lower amp ratings.  This will not cause any incompatibilities, however voltage ratings must be within a reasonable range.  For instance, your original battery may say 3.6v, but 3.7v is acceptable.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE RUN-TIME OF A BATTERY?

 Run times vary for many reasons such as the type of device, the type of applications being used, whether or not you are playing a cd or dvd and the chemistry of the battery.  On average, your laptop computer battery should give you 1 1/2 to 3 hours of run time.  Again, this does vary for many reasons.

HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE MY BATTERY'S LIFE?

All batteries eventually lose their charge but there are things you can do to prolong the lifetime of your battery.

* New batteries come discharged for safety reasons.  It is recommended that you fully charge your battery before first use.

* Notebook batteries can be maximized by optimizing the notebook's power management system.  Refer to your notebook user guide as operating systems vary.

* Keep your battery clean by using a clean swab of cotton and alcohol on the conductors to insure a good connection.

* It is recommended that you use the battery at least once a month.  If a battery is left unused for prolonged periods of time, recharge as if it were a new battery that has never been used.

* If you do not intend on using the battery for an extended period of time, then store it in a dry, clean and cool place.  Do not store acid batteries without fully charging them first.

* Do not use your battery when you have available AC power.  Each battery is rated for a limited number of charge-discharge cycles.