Save battery by not using it? (laptops, installed, memory, connected)

[VegasGrace]

I've read so much about laptop batteries giving out....usually way before the laptop is dead by other means.

If someone just uses their laptop by plugin....can they just take out the battery all together and just use it when it is being moved or mobile?

[EscapeCalifornia]

It's the constant charging/discharging cycles that kills them. Keeping them topped off doesn't really hurt. I have laptop batteries that rarely go below 50% full and they're still running well 4 years later. Same with cell phone batteries since they're the same technology. If you do take it out of the computer, don't let it sit discharged for a long time. That's bad for them too.

[Asheville Native]

Some laptops will not even power on without the battery installed, but connected to AC. Don't know how common that is, but I have come across a few.

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

It's the constant charging/discharging cycles that kills them. Keeping them topped off doesn't really hurt.

I would disagree. Keeping a battery on constant charge and never cycling it can be a surefire way to give it a quick death, they need to be used, I fully cycle mine probably 5 or 6 times a week from use and have never got less than 2 years out of a battery.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by NHDave

I would disagree. Keeping a battery on constant charge and never cycling it can be a surefire way to give it a quick death, they need to be used, I fully cycle mine probably 5 or 6 times a week from use and have never got less than 2 years out of a battery.

True for NiCads, which easily develop a memory, not so much for Li-ion or NiMH

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

True for NiCads, which easily develop a memory, not so much for Li-ion or NiMH

On paper maybe, my experience with my clients differs, despite what is said about the newer battery technologies.