Q: How long does a laptop battery last and when should I replace it?

A: Time and usage will vary the performance of a laptop's battery life. The truth is a battery will not hold a charge forever, and it will not keep a full charge the same time it did when it was young in its life. The average laptop battery lasts about 2 years under normal circumstances. If you are a heavy user, this time span can shorten dramatically. It is always recommended to replace the battery with the same identical battery with the same manufacturer brand to avoid any incompatibilities.

Q: I have seen different battery cell types like 6, 9, and even 12 cells, what are they?

A: The more cells in a battery, the longer the life of the charge is suppose to be. However, if your laptop is really power hungry, it may altogether require the larger cell to get any length of mobile time out of it. Under normal circumstances a 6 cell battery may get a 1 1/2 hour use where as a 12 cell may get up to 4 hours of use.

Q: I don't unplug my laptop from the wall outlet very often, will it overcharge or harm my battery?

A: No, it will not harm your battery. Almost all laptop computers power supplies have a built in detection device that understands when the battery if fully charged. When the battery is fully charged the power supply discontinues charging the battery until it see a drain on the battery. If you notice that you battery almost never fully charges or stays on continuous charge then it may be time for a new battery or even a power supply (power adapter.)

Q: Does completely draining (discharging) and recharging a Lithium Ion battery make it last longer?

A: No, doing this does not prolong the life of a battery in a laptop, they are designed to take this kind of abuse. Laptop batteries will eventually die or quit holding a charge in time.

Q: I notice that when I plug my laptop into the wall sometimes it charges and sometimes it doesn't, why?

A: If the battery has a full charge, then it is going to just run off of AC (electric)power. If you notice the battery isn't charging there could be a further problem such as a bad DC jack inside the laptop, or not enough voltage being supplied to the laptop to both power the laptop and charge the battery at the same time. Jacks can be repaired most of the time by a trained professional or if you know how to do some soldering.

Q: Are batteries user replaceable parts?

A: Yes, you can purchase them at any online retailer, again I do recommend only replacing them with the same brand and model as the manufacturer of the laptop.

Q: If I have more than one battery and I want to keep in storage, is there a proper way to do this?

A: Yes, laptop batteries are not intended to be kept in storage for long periods time in a charger or any other power source other than your laptop. Batteries should be optimally stored between 32F & 95F Max. They can be stored in or outside of a laptop. Always charge them before putting into storage with a charging time of not more than an hour or between 80% and 100% full charge. A new battery will likely loose its charge by 15% over a four month period (if battery is new) while sitting idle.

Q: What are the regulations for airplane travel with lithium ion batteries?

A: Please visit the Transportation Security Administration's website to completely understand all rules and regulations of batteries allowed to be carried onto any airplane.

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