10 Top Tips For a Long Lasting Netbook Battery
1. Avoid heat. This is the first and most important step you can take. Avoid direct sunlight and consider removing the battery when in a hot car.
2. Internal heat is just as bad. When the processor is severely loaded it emits more heat that is bad for the longevity of the unit. To avoid this remove the battery(strictly when it’s off) and use the computer on AC power if you expect it to run processor or GPU heavy applications.
3. Don’t let it go flat. Lithium Ion batteries don’t like when they’re completely discharged. A few partial charges and discharges are more healthy than letting it go rock bottom then charging it 100%.
4. Don’t overcharge the device. Safety circuits take care of this problem but you shouldn’t keep it on charger for weeks at a time anyway. Overcharging is just as bad as complete discharge.
5. When you store it, make sure the temperature is not too high nor too low. Don’t freeze it and storing the unit in a hot car or near the radiator is a bad idea as well. Use a sealable bag, charge the battery to about 50% and put it into the fridge between 0 and 5C.
6. Avoid using replacement that has been on stock for a while. During storage the battery can lose much of its capacity through internal resistance, which damages it and lowers the maximum capacity.
7. If you notice serious performance drop in the first 3-4 months, contact the warranty hotline and have it replaced, no Lithium-Ion battery unit recovers over time, while the factory may be able to refurbish and repair one that has no permanent damage.
8. Use the charger that you got with the netbook and as long as possible avoid using re-manufactured unit. If it somehow breaks or gets lost, opt for a branded replacement (or apply for a replacement through warranty). An inappropriate one not only can break your battery but can cause fire hazard too.
9. Keep the battery dry. High moisture levels damage connectors between it and the connector and that can lead to safety risks or unit failure. If possible avoid using it in damp places.
10. Don’t buy an old netbook even if it’s ‘brand new’. If it’s been standing on the shelves for half a year chances are that the battery has deteriorated due to heat, or complete discharge, ’shelf discharge’. Should you have the opportunity check manufacturing date.
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