Question about my Laptops Battery.

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Evinta

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Master Geek

Topic # 14084 13-Jun-2007 22:17

I have a Toshiba Satellite M40 Laptop. I use the battery alot since i have wireless internet and im getting used to the mouse touch pad. Anyways my battery only lasts for a hour, is there any way i can get more out of it?

What i meant about the wireless bit is having no cables connected to the laptop.

freitasm

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Reply # 74590 13-Jun-2007 22:29

Really hard - if it's an old battery it could be approaching its end of life. Try reducing the screen brightness, but that's it really...

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Evinta

118 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 74594 13-Jun-2007 22:36

If it helps its over a year old this laptop.

Ok change of question, are there any "signs" that show [like my phone >_<] that i should go and get a new one as unlike my phone im not getting a whole new laptop!

Batman

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Reply # 74603 14-Jun-2007 02:23

you meant signs to show when to get a new battery?

well when you cant stand it anymore i guess! (like gone in 15 minutes for example)

there is a theoritical "number of times" a battery is designed to charge fully and discharge cycles. say, 1000 times. so battery life really depends on how often you charge it, but also on things you can't control like whether it was fully charged at the start, or if you fully discharge it everytime, operating temperature etc etc etc (erm dont ask me if which one actually prolongs life of battery because i dont know, and dont think if anyone does for sure to be honest!)

or did you mean signs when to get a new laptop ...

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.

Evinta

118 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 74646 14-Jun-2007 12:08

This laptop has a five year extended warranty.

So if it breaks down Hardware wise its free repair wise, trust me i already used it. [Harddrive crashed]

Its still lasting over a hour each time and i do fully discharge it and then charge it up again so i'll watch when it goes lower time wise.

sbiddle

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Reply # 74655 14-Jun-2007 12:37

Lithium Ion batteries are now the norm in cellphones and laptops but they will reastically only give you 300-400 charge cycles before they will no longer hold a charge. If you're charging your laptop every day then it's most probably time to buy a new battery.

I've had good dealings with www.laptopbattery.co.nz who offer reasonable prices (not necessarily the cheapest around) but have great same day service.

There is also no need to discharge a lithium battery before charging it. Leaving a Lithium ion battery flat for long periods of time can even run the risk of damaging the battery.

AllNightNerding

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 74693 14-Jun-2007 16:56

One thing that I find shortens the life of batteries is leaving them charging for more than than they should be say leaving it charging overnight and it finishes at 2 in the morning it is still plugged in for about 6 more hours

Evinta

118 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 75114 18-Jun-2007 23:34

Oh my, 150 bucks for a battery?

I never ever leave my laptop on charging for longer than it should. Only exception is when im working on it.

Oh and one more question, if the battery dies completly can i still use the laptop as long as i have power?

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Reply # 75117 19-Jun-2007 00:20

Evinta: Oh and one more question, if the battery dies completly can i still use the laptop as long as i have power?

Yes. My Dell Inspiron 9100 will no longer turn on without AC power