Re: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries

On Thu, Apr 07, 2011 at 01:25:50PM -0500, Jeff Yamada wrote:
> http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries/comment
> 
> There's a 'Battery Life Extension Cycle' setting in my netbook's BIOS
> that caps recharging to 80%. I've always been curious about just why
> this will help extend the life of the battery.

Lith cells have an actual wearout mechanism that proceeds more quickly
when they are fully charged (or too deeply discharged).  The tradeoff
is, of course, that by keeping the battery only 80% charged, you get
only 80% of the run time now in exchange for a slower decline in the
100% capacity (which seems to decline gradually and then falls off a
cliff - typically after three years, give or take, for laptop batteries
kept at full charge when not operating offline).

If the battery is to be stored, unused, for an extended time, you might
try to get it to about 50% charge, which is supposed to be optimum. 
But keeping it cool is at least equally important...

-- 
One discharges fancy homunculi from one's scheme
by organizing armies of idiots to do the work.  -- Dennett

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