TIps - Tips keep your notebook battery in shape

    You only need to take a few precautions to enjoy your notebook battery longer. There are two different levels on which this can be achieved: the battery life and the battery life span. The battery life is the time you can work on a single fully-charged battery. The battery life span is the time a battery works before it will be completely out of function. Next to that, buying a second battery will increase your mobility and double the time you can stay away from the mains. For some models, there are also batteries with a higher capacity which will offer you a longer battery life.

Keeping a long battery life

You must realize that some devices use quite some power, such as:

• The processor (CPU)
• The LCD panel
• Hard disk and optical drive (e.g. a DVD writer)
• Video chipset (on high-end notebooks)

     To get a longer battery life it?s best to reduce the power consumption of these devices. On modern notebooks, much of this is already arranged automatically. For example, the high-end video chips reduce their functionality and speed when they are not under load. The same goes for most processors. Some precautions require manual settings:

• Set the brightness of your screen to the lowest setting you find comfortable.
• Avoid using CDs and DVDs while working on battery.
• Avoid heavy tasks (e.g. playing games, video editing) while working on battery.
• Make sure to use an appropriate power scheme in Windows.
• Turn off devices that you do not use, like wireless LAN or Bluetooth.
• If your system is equipped with an ECO-button, enable the ECO-status.

Maintaining battery life span

To reduce the battery wear, there are a few simple precautions to take

• Always charge your battery to 100%.
• Fully charge a new battery before its first use. Next, completely discharge it and recharge it completely.
• Avoid excessive heat.
• Work with the AC Adapter plugged in as much as you can.

     The above precautions will not only improve the battery life span, but your battery will also get a longer battery life per charge.

How to completely discharge your battery

         Normally, your system will enter stand-by or hibernation if the battery drops below a certain level. This is to avoid losing data you are working on. However, to completely discharge your battery you need to avoid such action. To do that, reboot your system and enter the BIOS setup (usually you need to press when booting the notebook). Leave the system running with the BIOS setup showing until it shuts down. At that moment, the battery will be completely empty. Alternatively, some systems have an option "Calibrate battery" or "Refresh battery" in the BIOS. You can use this option to perform a complete discharge of your battery. If your system uses a NiMH battery, make sure to repeat charging, discharging and recharging on a regular interval. For a Li-Ion battery, it is not needed to repeat this cycle often, but if you notice that your battery life is degraded it is recommended.