Tips To Extend Your Laptop Battery Life:
- Make your laptop use less energy
- Minimize startup programs, you can start working faster too
- Unplug unnecessary USB devices, they hog the power of your laptop
- Keep the CD/DVD drive empty, remove disks that are not in use
- Work in a well-lit place so you can minimize the brightness of the screen
- Set the monitor to turn off instead of using a screensaver when idle
- Choose hibernate instead of sleep
- Store your laptop in a cool place. Clean the air vents regularly. Heat deteriorates the battery.
- Use original adaptors or one with the correct specifications
- Remove the battery and just plug-in if you’re planning to use it for several hours and an outlet is available
The last one is perhaps one of the most controversial of all issues regarding laptop batteries. I’ve found a related question over at
About.com and I thought it may be good to share it.
Should I remove the laptop battery for a desktop replacement laptop?
When using a laptop as a desktop replacement the battery should not be left in for long periods of time. The laptop will over time discharge the battery. Remove the battery – making sure that it is charged to 40% and store it in a dry, warm place. Ensure that it is wrapped protectively and nothing will be dropped on it.
The battery should be re-installed every 3-4 weeks and allowed to fully discharge. Leaving a battery in storage for longer than this without using could cause the battery to fully discharge as the circuitry of the battery itself consumes power.
Leaving a battery in a laptop while using an electrical outlet for long periods of time will keep the battery in a constant state of charging up and that will reduce the life cycle of the battery.
Remember that when you have removed the battery from a laptop while using with an electrical outlet – the automatic battery backup is no longer functional. Make sure to plug your laptop into an uninterrupted power source (UPS) not directly into an outlet or surge protector.