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Explanation of the "Memory Effect"
Rechargeable batteries suffer from what is called the memory effect.
The memory effect means that the battery forgets that it has the
capacity to further discharge all the way down. This occurs when
a battery is repeatedly discharged and recharged before it loses
all of its charge. For example, if you repeatedly fully charge your
battery and then only allow it to discharge to 50% before you recharge
it again, your battery will forget about the remaining 50% that
it normally uses. The battery will continue to work but only at
50% of its charge. Your battery charge indicator will still normally
show full power but the battery will drain much faster than normal.
You can avoid this effect by fully charging and discharging your
battery at least once a month.
How can I maximize my batteries life?
- All batteries eventually lose their charge but there are things
you can do to prolong the life of your battery.
- New batteries generally come discharged for safety reasons.
We recommend that you fully charge your battery before first use.
We also recommend that you allow the battery to fully discharge
at least once a month to avoid the memory effect.
- Notebook batteries can be maximized by optimizing the notebooks
power management system. Please refer to your notebook user guide
as operating systems vary.
- Keep your battery clean by using a clean swab of cotton and
alcohol on the connectors. This ensures a good connection.
- Do not leave your battery unused. We recommend that you use
the battery at least once a month. If a battery is left unused
for prolonged periods of time then recharge as if it were a new
battery that has never been used.
- If you do not plan on using a battery for an extended period
of time, then we recommend storing it in a dry, clean and cool
place. Do not store acid batteries without fully charging them
first.
- We recommend that you do not use the battery when you have
available AC power. Each battery is rated for a limited number
of charge-discharge cycles.
How long do batteries last?
Battery life varies depending on the type of battery and the way
it is used. A general rule of thumb is that a battery lasts between
18 to 36 months. You should replace your battery if you are running
at 50% capacity. For instance, you should replace your battery if
your battery gave you 3 hours of output when you first got it and
now only lasts 1 1/2 hours.
What should be the run time of a battery?
Run times vary for many reasons such as the type of laptop, the
type of applications being used, whether or not you are playing
a cd and the chemistry of the battery. The average battery should
give you between 1 ½ to 3 hours of run time. Once
again, this varies for many reasons.
What is the difference between a LI ION battery and a NI
MH battery?
"LI ION" stands for Lithium Ion and is the most advanced
battery technology available to consumers today. Li-Ion batteries
are 50% lighter than the NI MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries
and will run your device about 50% longer. They are, however, more
expensive.
Can you choose what battery chemistry you would like to
purchase?
Most laptops have been designed for one type of battery chemistry.
However some models can take either LI ION or NI MH. Please check
your product specifications before buying a battery with a different
chemistry.
What Are Volts and Amps?
Every battery has two ratings which are volts and amp-hours (Ah).
The Ah rating may also be given as milliamp-hours (mAh), which are
one-thousandth of an amp-hour (for example, a 2Ah battery is 2000mAh).
Amp-hours are a rating of the amount of energy that a battery can
store. The higher a battery's amp-hour rating is, the longer the
battery's run-time will be. It is not uncommon for some of our batteries
to have higher or lower amp ratings. This will not cause any incompatibilities.
Voltage ratings however must be within a reasonable range. For instance,
your original battery may say 3.6v but 3.7v is acceptable.
What should I do if the battery gets very hot?
You should remove the battery from the unit and let it cool down.
If this problem continues then you may have a defective battery.
Please call us at 1-800-991-2738 if this problem continues.
How should I dispose of my old battery?
RBRC or Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation will recycle
old working and non-working batteries for laptops. Call them at
(800) 8-Battery or look them up at www.rbrc.org.
You can also call Portable Rechargeable Battery Association at 1-800-822-8837.
They can provide you with a list of recyclers.
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