Bought new laptop battery. Best maintenance to keep it running for a long long time.

Blue Highway ^ | 07-07-09 | Blue Highway

[Blue Highway]

Bought an aftermarket replacement battery from Ebay for $40 which is much more reasonable than the $130 Compaq charges. In any event I want to be able to maximize battery lifespan but also be able to use the battery to it's limits so as to near it's end of life so I can get a replacement if/when it fails to within a year.

With the original laptop battery I tried to maximize the time the laptop was running off the battery to try this theory. I'd basically start from 100% full and then run it down to 8-10% and then charge it back up to 100% and start the cycle over again.

It seemed like a month after the year warranty expired the battery wasn't lasting as long and it was noticeable. I want this to happen before the year warranty of this battery expires so what way is the best way?

I have used this strategy for getting warranty replacements on my UPS battery systems. I like the idea of running the PC and monitor off the grid for 20-30 minutes and using the battery to have it fail so I can get a replacement before the warranty period expires.

[papasmurf]

Yes, pretty much always on. I’m on my tablet right now.

[angkor]

If you can’t see it then there’s no point debating it.

[Blue Highway]

You sound like the type that thinks it would be better off if manufacturers didn’t offer a warranty at all.

[angkor]

You know, I have a new toaster and I have no intention of toasting a loaf of bread every day so that I can make it break before the warranty expires, with the sole motive being to get a brand new replacement toaster from the manufacturer in order to start the same “strategy” all over again.

In fact I simply make toast when I need to, and if the toaster breaks and is still under warranty, then I’ll request a new one.

Otherwise I’ll use it for a few years and then fork over $40 for a new toaster if I happen to need a new toaster.

This is way too much of a headache to save $40.

And the more I respond to you the more totally demented your “strategy” seems.

[Blue Highway]

If that was a $130 toaster, you'd change your mind I bet. I have a KPCM050NP KitchenAid Pro Line Coffee Maker that cost $299 and after a few years it will corrode where the water is poured into the top of the unit at the front.

They use die-cast pot metal as the paint will bubble after only a years worth of use. This is a $299 coffee maker and I am on my second replacement and the SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN. Low and behold they discontinued this coffee maker since this is a known problem.

Here's hoping they offer me a replacement to an equally top of the line high quality 12 cup coffee maker that will heat up the way this one will (this is one of the highest wattage coffee makers they make for residential use). Although I know they do not offer a better coffee maker than this, but hopefully within the next year they will.

Knowing now what I know, you are damned right I will make sure the problem shows up before the 2 year warranty is up. This is no scam this is a recall issue really only they won't admit the problem.

[Blue Highway]

Well since I installed it today, I have ran it from 55% down to 35%, charged it back to 100% and now run it down to 30%, I will charge it back to 100% shortly and continue to run it like this throughout it’s lifespan. I may at a future time take the critical level shutdown down to my previous 5-10% I used to set the theshold at.

[Blue Highway]

It is great to be able to have at least a 2 hour runtime even running a USB chill pad and with 5 active tabs in Firefox going at all times. Life is good!

[TheNext]

♦ Lead acid lasts for 10 years not 2, with it's minor burn risk (liquid) ♦ Partial discharge is counted as a cycle ♦ Add a hardware switch to disconnect battery from charging circuit when power is available ♦ batteries should be cycled at least once a month ♦ supposed to get 1000 cycles, however capacity drops off after couple years ♦ look up the battery type: % percent discharge recommended ♦ charge to 100% each cycle ♦ - battery technology is still an annoyance, no free lunch

[perfect stranger]

Welcome to FreeRepublic!

[perfect stranger]

I bought a 4-pack of Rayovac rechargeable ‘AA’ batteries in 2006. After 3 years of bringing them down to zero and then charging them to full again, one has recently died.

There were not even 200 cycles on that battery, dammit. Now I have to buy another 4-pack just so I have a complete set of 4 to power my camera!

The man is keeping me down! Rechargeable batteries should be free!

“Rechargeable” power to the people.

[Nervous Tick]

Running the battery through an occasional deep discharge is *supposed* to be good for the battery. Truth be told, I’ve never had the diligence to do it, though. The only deep discharge mine gets is what happens naturally on airplanes.

I’ve also never EVER had any good luck with aftermarket batteries. About a year is all I have ever gotten from one. The only replacement battery that’s done me right is the Lenovo OEM battery I bought to replace my dead Lenovo battery. So far it’s working great. It’s LiIon, though, not NiMH.

FWIW

[Blue Highway]

There were not even 200 cycles on that battery, dammit.

That's because they were Ray o' Vac, lol