Laptop Battery Frequently Asked Questions


1. Battery Care And Use
2. Battery Don'ts
3. My New Battery Isn’t Charging. What’s The Deal?
4. How Can I Maximize Battery Performance?
5. How Are Batteries Rated? (What Are Volts and Amps?)
6. How Long Do Batteries Last?

BATTERY CARE AND USE INSTRUCTIONS

Your 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.

It is normal for a battery to become warm during charging and discharging.

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

BATTERY DON’TS

Do not short-circuit a battery. A short-circuit may cause damage to the battery.

Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents, which are corrosive.

Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.

Keep battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of batteries to extreme heat may result in an explosion.

MY NEW BATTERY ISN’T CHARGING WHAT’S THE DEAL

New batteries are shipped in a discharged condition and must be charged before use. We generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve hours). Refer to your user’s manual for charging instruction. Rechargeable batteries should be cycled – fully charged and then fully discharged – 2 to 4 times initially to allow them to reach their full capacity. (Note: It is perfectly normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging).

New batteries are hard for your device to charge; they have never been fully charged and are therefore “unformed”. Sometimes your device’s charger will stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens, simply remove the battery from your device and then re-insert it. The charge cycle should start again. This may happen several times during your first battery charge. Don’t worry; it’s perfectly normal.

HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE BATTERY PERFORMANCE

Breaking In New Batteries - new batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge your new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.

Keep Your Batteries Clean - 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 your laptop.

Exercise Your Battery – Do not leave your 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.

Battery Storage – If you do not plan on using the battery for a month or more, we recommend storing in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects.

HOW ARE BATTERIES RATED?

There are two ratings on every battery: Volts and Milliamp-hour (mAh). The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of your original. Some of our batteries will have higher amp-hour ratings that the original battery found in your device. This is indicative of a longer run-time (high capacity) and will not cause any incompatibilities. Remember: in some cases, the voltage will differ from the original battery. This often happens when both a Li-Ion battery and a Ni-Mh battery are available for the laptop.

HOW LONG SHOULD MY BATTERY LAST?

The life of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is generally around 500 charge-discharge cycles. This translates into one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As your rechargeable battery begins to die, you will notice a decline in the run time of the battery. When your two-hour battery is only supplying you with an hour’s worth of use, it’s time for a new battery.