Is battery cycling still needed

[SAHER21]

Just bought a N550JK which I am having fun with :)

Question - is it still a good idea to regularly cycle the battery from full power to system shutdown, or can I leave the laptop on mains power for extended periods with no degradation of battery life?

[Markwinstanley]

Re: Is battery cycling still needed

Just bought a N550JK which I am having fun with :)

Question - is it still a good idea to regularly cycle the battery from full power to system shutdown, or can I leave the laptop on mains power for extended periods with no degradation of battery life?

1 Don't charge more than 85%.
2 cycle the battery from full power to system shutdown once a month
3 Don't use laptop while charging

[SAHER21]

Re: Is battery cycling still needed

1 Don't charge more than 85%.
2 cycle the battery from full power to system shutdown once a month
3 Don't use laptop while charging

Thanks but that gives me a problem. 85% charge gives me around 3 hours use, but I am using the laptop for 6-8 hours at work - how can I then NOT use it while charging? Why do you recommend not using it while charging - what impact does this have?

[Markwinstanley]

Re: Is battery cycling still needed

Using laptop while charging can decrease battery backup and life span. correct me if i am wrong.

[profJim]

Re: Is battery cycling still needed

A web search using: maximum notebook battery life will provide useful links, such as

• Lithium-ion battery - Wikipedia
• Batteries in a Portable World. A handbook on rechargeable batteries for non-engineers

Skip the technical jargon and concentrate on the sections that deal with optimal charging techniques.

Many battery sites provide useful information and battery faqs for each type of portable battery that they sell.
The optimal usage and battery charging techniques vary with Nicad, NIMH, and Li-Ion batteries.

[parsec]

Re: Is battery cycling still needed

1 Don't charge more than 85%.
2 cycle the battery from full power to system shutdown once a month
3 Don't use laptop while charging

No comment on whether or not that is right or wrong, but how many laptop users don't use it while "charging", meaning plugged into the charger while in use?

IMO, the answer is ~1% or less, with the caveat, that is if AC outlets are available. Can any laptops be operated with the battery removed?

Assuming that using a laptop while it charges ruins the battery long term, then that is what I see everyone do from the moment they start using it. At least some of these people must know this, but just ignore it. They know the performance when connected to AC is better than battery alone. The battery manufactures must love it, as well as anyone that sells these batteries.

The major PC processor manufacture's products have evolved to use less and less power, more effort is put into that than increasing performance. Those same technologies on desk top processors like Haswell idle at less that one watt power usage.

Meanwhile, battery or charging technology is stagnant or at a technological wall? Hard to believe this battery "issue" hasn't been addressed by a manufacture yet. Perhaps they don't want to.