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Geek Culture / Laptop charger -> good or bad?

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Irojo
17
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Joined: 21st May 2008
Location: Eating toast.
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 06:20
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Hey guys, I have a longtime debate going on here.

I'm not going to give my side, but one of us thinks that laptop batteries last longer if you charge it to full power, then unplug it, then let the batteries die, and recharge, and rinse and repeat.

The other thinks that when it is plugged in it isn't using the battery and is therefore the best way to preserve the battery.


Who's right?

Thanks a bundle,

Irojo


Time is money. I just ripped you off.
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Peter H
21
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Joined: 20th Feb 2004
Location: Witness Protection Program
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 06:26
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well, i know my laptop that was plugged in about 95% of its life now has a crappy battery life (something around 5 minutes )

One man, one lawnmower, plenty of angry groundhogs.
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charger bandit
15
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Joined: 10th Nov 2009
Location: Slovenia
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 08:00
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Yeah it decreases battery life quite a lot. Heat also decreases the life.


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Van B
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Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 13:19
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It has to constantly charge the battery and uses the battery when plugged in - I mean, does your friend think that the battery automatically kicks into life if you disconnect the power?

The battery is constantly charged and powers the laptop while the PSU is plugged in - the only time the laptop will not use the battery is if you remove it, then it has to use the PSU.

Really, if you keep your laptop plugged in all the time, then take the battery out. Personally I never use my laptop battery, it's plugged in if I'm using it - but it's not exactly a lap-top, not unless your Geoff Capes, damn think has a 21'' screen, full keyboard, and weighs about 20kg.

Most laptops actually reduce performance while using the battery to preserve it - I'd rather have the PSU plugged in than be left with a strangled laptop.


Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
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charger bandit
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Location: Slovenia
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 13:38
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Thats why I am going to change my HP laptop (only 1h battery life) to an ASUS EEE 1005P that has a battery life of 6h under high stress.


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Green Gandalf
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Joined: 3rd Jan 2005
Playing: Malevolence:Sword of Ahkranox, Skyrim, Civ6.
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 16:56
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Quote: "Personally I never use my laptop battery, it's plugged in if I'm using it - but it's not exactly a lap-top, not unless your Geoff Capes, damn think has a 21'' screen, full keyboard, and weighs about 20kg."


If that's your laptop, how heavy is your PC?
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Van B
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Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 9th Jun 2010 17:17
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My PC is probably close to the same weight as the laptop! - this is me laptop BTW:

http://i.testfreaks.com/images/products/600x400/48/acer-aspire-9810.3261744.jpg

It's brilliant, but I don't consider it a laptop, it's never been on my lap!

It has a 2 inch wide 'shelf' at the back, so it doesn't fall back when lifting the screen. But yeah, the battery has no real purpose other than adding weight - besides, when new it probably only lasted 2 hours tops. The thing that concerns me with laptops though is not the battery, it's the damn PSU wire and connector - I've seen dozens of laptops with PSU issues, broken wires, bad solders on connectors etc etc. It's actually pretty rare to have someone ask about replacement batteries - it's when they can't even charge it that they panic. For instance one of my friends is using a laptop I got for free, just because the PSU had died - bought a replacement from eBay for 9 bucks, job done .


Health, Ammo, and bacon and eggs!
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