Is this True or False about my laptop battery?

[TeddyBallgame]

I've had a DELL Inspiron E1405 laptop computer for the last 5 years, or so...in that period of time I've had to replace the battery 3 times...usually it just gets to the point where it won't hold a charge very long, sometimes less than 10 to 15 minutes

An internet buddy I have told me that he thinks it's because I always keep it plugged into the power supply, and, I'm not supposed to do that...I just had to order another battery this week, because of the same problem, so, if that does happen to be true, i'll start unplugging it from the power source

I know very little about computers, sounds like a reasonable explanation, maybe some of you more computer savvy Calgunners can give me your opinion...the laptop itself is in excellent shape, I use it daily, other than the battery issue, it's been a very reliable laptop

Maybe 3 times in the last 5 years isn't bad, I don't know, but, for example, the battery in here right now has been doing this for over 7 to 8 months, not staying charged, its only now that I've decided to change it out...also, this happens whether its the DELL OEM battery, or, a after market battery

I would appreciate any input

Thanks

[Bainter1212]

Same happened to my Dell. I kept it plugged in and used it like a desktop. After doing that for awhile, the battery wouldn't hold a charge at all.

[3lsmc7]

Idk, I have had the same battery in my dell for about the same time as OP and I haven't changed it. Maybe it's because it's the 9 cell?

But I do keep mine plugged in if I'm not using it; it does sometime goes for days without being plugged in tho.

[d4v0s]

Most laptops do not have decent charge controllers in them, or any way to bypass the battery while plugged in. My advice is to only install the battery when you need it, I take mine out when its plugged in unless the battery needs a charge.

Batteries only have a few thousand charge cycles on them, and *most* laptops use battery power only, making the ac power charge it up only a few percent. Essentially causing premature wear. A good option too is to just leave it plugged in long enough to charge then pull the power.

Some newer laptops have real charge controllers and AC power pass thru which alleviate these problems.

[stilly]

Most laptops do not have decent charge controllers in them, or any way to bypass the battery while plugged in. My advice is to only install the battery when you need it, I take mine out when its plugged in unless the battery needs a charge.

Batteries only have a few thousand charge cycles on them, and *most* laptops use battery power only, making the ac power charge it up only a few percent. Essentially causing premature wear. A good option too is to just leave it plugged in long enough to charge then pull the power.

Some newer laptops have real charge controllers and AC power pass thru which alleviate these problems.

I would rag on the batteries but I have to agree with some of this. I am no expert but I have come to the conclusion too that when it comes down to it, change your habits and see how long the batteries last when you treat them like batteries and only plug them in to charge them up. When the charge drops to about 10% or so plug it back in to charge and see if it changes anything...

Heck, just leave the battery out and only plug the battery in when you are on the move, else if you have an outlet, use the ac adapter.

[OTP]

I've run my Dell Studio for 4 years on the same battery. Unless you take it on the go, who cares if it will hold a charge. Mine recommends a battery change, but it is fine when plugged in.
I have a new battery on hand so if it craps out, I am not stuck, since it will not work without a battery even if plugged in.

[meaty-btz]

Charge cycles are one thing but LiOn batteries do not like to be heavily drained. Damaging crystals form and reduce the cells capacity. So, if you drain down your battery before recharging.. kill the battery. Charge all the time.. kill the battery. Use battery.. kill battery.

To be frank, our battery technology SUCKS.

Batteries are warrantied for ONE YEAR. Any life time after the 1 year mark is borrowed time.

[cid`]

like mentioned above.. exercise the battery, dont discharge it completely, but dont leave it plugged in. even batteries with controllers end up dying too

[nick]

I've had a DELL Inspiron E1405 laptop computer for the last 5 years, or so...in that period of time I've had to replace the battery 3 times...usually it just gets to the point where it won't hold a charge very long, sometimes less than 10 to 15 minutes

An internet buddy I have told me that he thinks it's because I always keep it plugged into the power supply, and, I'm not supposed to do that...I just had to order another battery this week, because of the same problem, so, if that does happen to be true, i'll start unplugging it from the power source

I know very little about computers, sounds like a reasonable explanation, maybe some of you more computer savvy Calgunners can give me your opinion...the laptop itself is in excellent shape, I use it daily, other than the battery issue, it's been a very reliable laptop

Maybe 3 times in the last 5 years isn't bad, I don't know, but, for example, the battery in here right now has been doing this for over 7 to 8 months, not staying charged, its only now that I've decided to change it out...also, this happens whether its the DELL OEM battery, or, a after market battery

I would appreciate any input

Thanks

1. Your buddy is right. You need to cycle your battery.

2. If battery life is important to you, the next time you're choosing a laptop, make sure it has a good charging circuit/controller, and make sure to install the software that comes with it. You'll have to find that out for each model you're considering, as no manufacture that I know of has a whole line with good charging circuits and controllers. For example, Dell XPS 12 that I use has one, but Dell XPS 15, that I was considering, does not. Same line, different models, and very different designs.

[bohoki]

heat is the enemy you laptop gets hot also trickle charging always overcharges so it makes heat too

[the86d]

The more you used to use your notebook on battery the quicker they would wear out (<1 year), so it would seem that you are durned if you do, AND durned if you don't.

I have some notebooks with batteries that are ALMOST as good as new, and they are like 5+ years old, and I never let them drain... I guess they don't make them like they used to.

[sl0re10]

I've had a DELLlaptop computer for the last 5 years, or so...in that period of time I've had to replace the battery 3 times...usually it just gets to the point where it won't hold a charge very long, sometimes less than 10 to 15 minutes

An internet buddy I have told me that he thinks it's because I always keep it plugged into the power supply, and, I'm not supposed to do that...I just had to order another battery this week, because of the same problem, so, if that does happen to be true, i'll start unplugging it from the power source

I know very little about computers, sounds like a reasonable explanation, maybe some of you more computer savvy Calgunners can give me your opinion...the laptop itself is in excellent shape, I use it daily, other than the battery issue, it's been a very reliable laptop

Maybe 3 times in the last 5 years isn't bad, I don't know, but, for example, the battery in here right now has been doing this for over 7 to 8 months, not staying charged, its only now that I've decided to change it out...also, this happens whether its the DELL OEM battery, or, a after market battery

I would appreciate any input

Thanks

This was more common with older battery tech (niCads) but if you use it 99% of the time plugged in I think it would be a good idea to test the theory by unplugging the power now and then and running the battery down (plug it back in when you get power alerts). I do this sometimes and my batteries usually last longer than your describing.

Next on the list; I checked ebay and some of the batteries for that model are not very big / don't store a lot of power. I wonder how long they'd run your laptop when brand new. Keep an eye on "capacity" in mAh next time you buy one and higher means more time on battery.

Cell phone have battery monitor software that the data can get screwed up. I'll check if laptops have something similar.

[Nutbucket]

I have some notebooks with batteries that are ALMOST as good as new, and they are like 5+ years old, and I never let them drain... I guess they don't make them like they used to.

There's partially dumb luck involved too. I bought two Dells in 2008, an XPS 13" and an Latitude 15". Well, the XPS has been solid aside from a busted power connector a couple years ago (thank you included 3 year in-home warranty) whereas the Latitude **** the bed at the beginning of the year.

Also, the XPS battery still holds a good charge; at least a couple hours while the Latitude battery had a failed cell two years ago. So really this is all just anecdotal evidence. Oh right, and both laptops spend/spent the majority of their lives plugged in.

What I really can't quite figure out is why the HP Elitebooks my company issues seem to have a relatively high self-discharge rate. I don't user hibernate or sleep much, 90% of the time I shut down. Yet it seems like the battery loses half its charge in the course of a few weeks.

[high_revs]

i've done some research and for li-ions from what i read, what kills is is the constant draining. they don't like doing that many, many times over. so i keep mine plugged all the time unless i have to. which is odd for dslr batteries since (for mine) they are li-ion don't operate being plugged in obviously.

for nimh, i read drain them and then charge fully. but supposedly, newer nimh technology do not have that memory charging problem anymore.

nicad.. hmm.. are there still uses for nicad?

[Nutbucket]

NiCad has excellent high-current discharge characteristics. Their best uses are for cordless tools IMHO.