Warning: I received this article from a guest writer and unfortunately I didn’t check it for accuracy. According to some of the comments the first two steps won’t do much and the third will likely damage Li-ion batteries as they should never be depleted to 0%. Some better tips can be found at Wikipedia.

Here’s a quote from the Wikipedia howto:

Unlike NiCad batteries, lithium-ion batteries should be charged early and often. However, if they are not used for a longer time, they should be brought to a charge level of around 40%. Lithium-ion batteries should never be "deep-cycled" like NiCd batteries.

Li-ion batteries should be kept cool. Ideally they are stored in a refrigerator. Aging will take its toll much faster at high temperatures. The high temperatures found in cars cause lithium-ion batteries to degrade rapidly.

Lithium-ion batteries should never be depleted to empty (0%).

According to one book, lithium ion batteries should not be frozen. Note that most lithium-ion battery electrolytes freeze at approximately −40 ฐC, which is much colder than the lowest temperature reached by most household freezers.

Li-ion batteries should be bought only when needed, because the aging process begins as soon as the battery is manufactured.

When using a notebook computer running from fixed line power over extended periods, the battery can be removed and stored in a cool place so that it is not affected by the heat produced by the computer. (However, a notebook computer’s battery prevents sudden loss of the data in memory during power failures and brownouts. Reasonable alternatives are the use of an older lithium ion battery or an external uninterruptible power supply.)

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Notebook computers. At this point in the 21st century, they have become an indispensable part of many people’s everyday lives. From the commuting business executive and the busy college student, we all want to be mobile with our computers. The big drawback of that is the fact that there is not always a plug around when you need one. A notebook computer’s battery is its life-blood. Without proper care, your notebook battery could fail much earlier than anticipated. By following a few simple steps, you can expect to get the greatest amount of usage possible out of your notebook battery before a replacement is needed.

1. Upon purchase, charge the battery to full capacity. Whether you have purchased a new computer have purchased a new battery for your laptop, charging it fully as soon as you open the box is the best recommendation. This allows the battery to reach a full capacity before you begin to use it "unplugged". Most batteries come with a partial charge, enough to get you going if you absolutely had to. Giving that battery a full charge when it is brand new will help set the charge capacity for the battery at its highest possible level.

2. Once you reach a full charge, leave the computer plugged in for at least 2 hours. This action lets the battery "rest" at a full charge for a fairly lengthy period of time. At this point, the battery is not drawing power from your wall socket to charge, and it is also not supplying any power to your system. Letting your battery rest for a time after a full charge helps to "lock-in" that full charge capacity.

3. Unplug the computer and drain the battery. It might sound silly, but now that you have gotten that battery to a full charge, you need to drain the power almost completely. Again, this will help determine the charge capacity of the battery. Leave your computer unplugged and use it until you get a warning telling you that the battery is almost completely discharge. Then save whatever you are working on and power the computer down. Plug back into the wall socket for a fresh charge. Then use the computer at your leisure.

If you follow these steps about once a month, your notebook battery should last a nice long while. Not to say that you will never have to replace it, but at least it will be a long time before you need to.

Info about our guestwriter of the day: Michael Paul is the host/producer of the TechCast Weekly Podcast, a popular weekly show dedicated to providing computer help, tips, and tutorials to help make you computing life easier and easier to understand. Visit http://www.techcastweekly.com for the latest shows and tips for the average computer user.

How to extend the battery life of your notebook

(via http://www.dvhardware.net/article13731.htmlBlogger Labels: Http://www.dvhardware.net/article13731.html)

Blogger Labels: Seven Tips for Better Notebook Battery Life

Ever been on a long flight, ready to hunker down and get some work done, only to discover that your notebook’s battery is plunging toward the red zone an hour after takeoff? So have we. That’s why we’ve gathered these simple tips that will preserve your notebook’s juice and boost your productivity. Read them now. You’ll thank yourself later.

1. Sleep Is Good
Use the operating system’s power-management features (in Windows XP, under Power Options in the Control Panel; or in Vista, under Mobile PC in the Control Panel) to set aggressive targets for when the display will go dark (say, after five minutes of inactivity) and when the machine will slip into sleep mode (no longer than ten minutes of inactivity). And if you can spare the extra time it takes for the machine to resume, set the PC to hibernate, not just sleep, when you close the lid.

2. Don’t Be Performance Hungry
Unless you’re running high-order mathematical calculations on that long plane ride, chances are you don’t need all the processing power your CPU is capable of giving. So in Vista, select the "Power saver" power plan (found in the Control Panel, in the Power Options section) to extend battery life when on DC power, and leave the 3D gaming for when you’re near an AC outlet.

3. Dim the Lights
Turn down the brightness of the LCD panel (via the Function-key combo, or in the Control Panel’s Display Settings dialog) to the lowest level you can tolerate. The backlight sucks power like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

4. Banish Non-Essential Components
When you aren’t actively using the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and IR radios, turn them off (via the hard switch, if your PC has it, or in the appropriate utility set), so they don’t trickle you dry trying to connect. Also, use USB-attached devices only when absolutely necessary. They aren’t getting their power from positive ions in the air, you know.

5. Watch Scheduled Tasks
Be sure that your periodic virus scan is set to a time when you’re usually plugged in; running a full-disk virus check keeps the hard drive and CPU fully engaged for the better part of an hour.

6. Lay Off the Multimedia
A little in-flight music is nice while you construct that PowerPoint presentation, but streaming music from your hard drive (or playing a CD) means the disk (or disc) is always spinning.

7. Get More Juice
Let everyone else fight over that free AC outlet. Designed to sit underneath your notebook, the APC Universal Notebook Battery 70 ($149; www.apcc.com) can provide up to six hours of endurance using its lithium polymer technology. It comes with a variety of notebook tips and features selectable output voltages. The unit adds 1.8 pounds to your carry-on, but it’s better than having your laptop run out of gas midflight

Seven Tips for Better Notebook Battery Life

(via batteries notebook tips - )

http://www.laptopmag.com/advice/tips/seven-tips-for-better-battery-life.aspx

• Heat is your battery’s worst enemy. Avoid keeping your battery in hot places such as your car during the daytime.
• A full discharge puts more strain on your battery than several partial discharges. You do not need to worry about battery memory with Li-Ion batteries. Get into the habit of recharging the battery when it reaches 10-20%.
• Never discharge your battery to 0% – as this can render your battery useless.
• Calibrate your battery’s fuel gauge by doing a full discharge every 30 cycles. Run the battery to the cut-off point in your notebook to keep the battery’s fuel gauge accurate.
• If you will be on AC power for an extended period of time, you can prolong your battery’s lifespan by removing it and putting it into prolonged storage.
• Prolonged storage should be done with a 40% charge-level and in a cool, dry place. Some experts recommend you place the battery in your refrigerator. Use a sealed plastic bag to keep moisture out if you do this.
• Do not freeze your battery.
• Allow a stored battery to warm to room temperature completely before using or recharging it
Notebook Battery Guide

(via Notebook Battery Guide)

Li-Ion cells are permanently damaged when their charge drops below certain levels. If the voltage gets too low, the battery will stop working and become unsafe to use. Therefore all systems powered by Li-Ion batteries have a predefined threshold set to shut down at certain levels of discharge. As a result, Li-Ion batteries are made to the exact specifications of the systems they are designed for, and vice-versa. This is where batteries from another system or low-cost generic batteries may not be compatible. If the thresholds of the system and battery do not match, there is a risk of power cutting off at the wrong moment. This may lead to unsaved work being lost, data corruption, or irreversible battery damage.

In addition, generic low-cost batteries are not made with the high safety standards of official batteries. Main-brand batteries use only approved safety circuits in their battery packs whereas there is no regulation of off-brand battery production. This, as well as attempts by notebook manufacturers to ensure approved batteries are used, is responsible for the higher cost of official batteries. There have been reports of notebooks rejecting generic batteries (to avoid usage of potentially dangerous batteries) without software changes (bypassing the security system). Some generic batteries even fail to work altogether.

There are subtle differences in design, manufacture, and the operation of generic and official batteries which may or may not cause problems for you. For every person that has had problems using generic batteries, there is another who has had no problems whatsoever. You must decide if saving a little money on a replacement battery is worth the potential risks.
Notebook Battery Guide

(via Notebook Battery Guide)

As mentioned above, the elements inside your Li-Ion battery will deteriorate over time regardless of what you do. This is why you may want to consider delaying that second battery purchase – to stagger the aging process of multiple batteries. You may find that you do not need a second battery after all. If you do find that you need an extra battery, however, it is recommended that you buy only when needed for this reason.
Notebook Battery Guide

(via Notebook Battery Guide)

Hardware utility applications such as Notebook Hardware Control can estimate the amount of wear your notebook’s battery has experienced. Many are alarmed when their two-week-old battery registers a 16% battery-wear-level. Understandably, they are concerned that their battery is dying and will not be useful for long. Unless you were given an older battery with your new system, you can take those alarmingly high figures with a grain of salt.

Unless the application you are using was designed with the exact specifications of your notebook and battery, it is a generic program that estimates battery wear levels. There are countless variables that can affect the outcome of this estimate (notebook-specific configurations, BIOS and software settings, battery specifications, etc.). The utility can not possibly communicate perfectly with every notebook system and battery model available, so it takes what information it can and calculates its best guess. To give you an idea of how inaccurate these figures can be, my five month-old battery has 0% battery wear according to Notebook Hardware Control.
Notebook Battery Guide

(via Notebook Battery Guide)

Calibrate your battery with a full discharge every 30 charges to help the battery’s fuel gauge remain accurate. Run the battery down to the automatic cut-off point of your notebook before recharging.
• Avoid repetitive and regular full discharges. Li-Ion batteries will lose less charge capacity when partially recharged. Recharging at a 10 to 20% charge level is recommended.
• Disconnect the battery and store it in a cool, dry place. The optimal charge level is 40% for prolonged storage. Storing the battery with a low charge will result in permanent damage or battery failure.
• If you store your battery in a refrigerator, use a sealed plastic bag to keep moisture
Notebook Battery Guide

(via Notebook Battery Guide)