PSA for laptop users

[LVSteve]

Do you leave your laptop plugged into the power brick 95% of the time?

Have you noticed the fan running harder lately?

If so, it could be your battery going Tango Uniform. I've just been through this with a 2009 HP laptop. I was having issues that I thought might have been a virus, but I decided to run the HP diagnostics in case the memory or the hard drive had taken a dump. The only thing reported bad was the battery.

Fitting a new battery did not fix my original problem, that took a system restore. However, since getting everything straight I have noticed that the laptop cooling fan stays at a lower setting. I'm guessing that as the battery goes bad the charging system fights to keep it good and generates more heat. For sure, the machine is running cooler now.

I'm now going to run my battery down to 25% at least once a week so it gets to cycle. I suspect that running it on the power brick 100% of the time is not good for the battery. YMMV.

 

[pawngal]

Just like cell phones, don't leave a laptop plugged in. Use it, run the battery down, then plug in to charge. That's the way they are meant to operate.

 

[prairieviper]

I don't know which is worse, leaving the battery at 100% all the time or continually letting it run through discharge and recharge cycles. Batteries will eventually wear down over time, no matter what you do. I doubt if you will find many laptop manufacturers that even agree on this issue.

My wife leaves her laptops plugged in most of the time and that has worked for her. Your experience may be different.

 

[crazyphil]

My battery died years ago. I just plugged it into an electrical outlet in
my office and have enjoyed using it ever since.

 

[wood714]

I have an older HP laptop that doesn't even have a battery.

Kept getting a low battery message, so I took it out.

Only use it for torrents, so it's all good.

 

[Jeff423]

The type of battery also makes a difference. NiMH batteries have different charging/discharging needs than do the newer Li-Ion batteries.

 

[Tradewind36]

I leave my 9 year old Sony laptop always plugged into AC, replaced the battery about 5 years ago, don't think I've ever used it on battery alone and I'm on it a few hours each day.