topic Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age in PCs & Accessories

Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Lizzie — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:00:35 GMT

Have this puter since Feb '04. Just bought a new battery as the one I have doesn't last long and it generally just doesn't act healthy at the best of times.

Though i don't think i'll use the new one yet (had to get it shipped from California, Vaio don't stock them anymore), any hints, clues etc to make the new one last.

:smileygrin:

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Twisted-Rizla — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:05:38 GMT

Hi Lizzie

You might find this useful:smileyhappy:

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

tonybeard — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 21:03:47 GMT

Mmmm, in the very useful link Twisted provided it mentions to remove the battery when not in use (in the clean the terminals bit). I have strong doubts about removing the battery with the ac power on as the battery is about 90 pounds whereas the hard drive is 260 pounds with possibly unbacked up data on board. If there is a power cut and you have taken out the battery then the HD will crash and likely bugger it up wheras the battery will kick in and save the HD. I have two batteries and keep them both busy I would never take them out to preserve them. Another thing. Why is the original battery shipped with the vaio so mickey mouse and have a third of the battery life of the accessory battery supplied by Sony and yet it is Li-on as well????

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:18:53 GMT

I have mine in the bay only when I'm using it, and charge it up every month.

Still going strong 2 years on (touches wood)

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Webster — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:55:43 GMT

I have mine in the bay only when I'm using it, and charge it up every month.

Still going strong 2 years on (touches wood)

Kee-Lo, so if you're running on mains adapter - you remove the battery and just fit it when required?

I'm just curious as I run mine on mains for most of the time and was thinking of removing the battery to help try and preserve its lifespan etc, just fitting it when I need battery power and to charge it periodically.

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Lizzie — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 07:40:25 GMT

I run mine on mains for most of the time and was thinking of removing the battery to help try and preserve its lifespan etc, just fitting it when I need battery power and to charge it periodically.

i reckon that is why mine didn't last that long because i was running off the mains most of the time. i think i'll keep the old one for when i run with the mains just as a backup in case their is a powercut or something and switch over to the new battery when i don't use the mains.

thanks for the link TR.

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:42:39 GMT

As long as you keep it in a dry, not too hot place out of sunlight, dust and other elements you should be fine (mine goes in the notebook bag)

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Webster — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 16:25:48 GMT

Sounds like a good plan Lizzie, i think I'll start taking mine out when running on mains, and use the battery when I'm in the garden or visiting my friends/clients.

Thanks for your help again Kee-Lo, much appreciated

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

zina — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 16:34:31 GMT

what about what tony bird said about power failure and the hard drive crashing?
is it possible?:smileyconfused:

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 18:44:48 GMT

Yes it can be possible, specially if your local power station isn't the best.

No problem Webster

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

tonybeard — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 20:07:26 GMT

For all those Las Vagas style notebook users (operators relying solely on the mains without a battery in the bay) here is a link for youPower conditioners

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 14:26:38 GMT

LOL get your point Tony

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

diecerll — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 16:27:09 GMT

Hi, a good gadget to avoid spikes and lighting dangers is a notebook surge arrester like this from APC:

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=PNOTEPROC8%2DEC

I have one.

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 18:37:14 GMT

I have a surge protector which protects the incoming phone line but I think I'll get one of the new media ones where it protects RJ-45, TV, USB and power

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

Lizzie — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:34:36 GMT

hi guys, you getting all techie on me, heh.

Ok, I charged up the new battery and was using it today. The option to view the battery meter is turned on in power options but nothing shows in the taskbar, so i was going into control panel, power options and clicking on the tab to see how it was running. It was doing well until I ran a program (forgot about the battery only power ), i checked and the battery was down to 6%. I've it set to give me a warning at 30% and then another at 15%, so I'm thinking (and hoping) that I didn't get the warning because the program i ran just ate all the battery and the puter hadn't time to warn me.

Anyway, any one any idea why the meter won't show on the taskbar so I can keep a proper eye on it in the future?

as always :smileygrin:

edit i searched microsoft and they said to activate the option to view meter when i start up the puter. it worked!

Re: Battery - how to make it reach a good pensionable age

kee-lo_ — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:52:27 GMT

I remember this set of WAVs a friend had from Simposns that he used as battery warnings