Laptop battery management - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: orbanp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2020, 01:23:51 pm
content: Hello Everyone,I have a "newish" laptop, an Acer Aspire 5 laptop with SSD and with a built in (non removable) battery pack.When the battery is fully charged it runs the laptop for 4 - 6 hours or so.What is the preferred way of using the laptop?Do I keep the charger plugged in all the time and use the laptop like that, or charge up the battery, use the laptop without the charger, and plug it in again when the battery is run down to 40% - 60%?Any explanation for either type of use?Thanks, Peter

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2020, 11:49:18 pm
content: See if there's an option to hold the battery at about 80%. Many Lenovos have that, but it's not common for other brands.https://linrunner.de/tlp/settings/battery.html

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2020, 02:07:21 am
content: I wish there was an application and an external device (remote relay?) for maintaining a battery at whatever % charge you set...

author: orbanp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2020, 01:27:19 pm
content: Thanks for the replies!I also vaguely remembered the "preferred" 80% charge rate...Looking into the settings, there are all sorts of "power settings" for the laptop, but nothing like maintaining a set battery charge state.Thanks again, Peter

author: Miyuki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2020, 02:25:28 pm
content: Some(most?) manufacturers want your battery dead in a reasonable short time to sell you a new laptopAnd replace tend to be expensive

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2020, 02:57:11 pm
content: Quote from: Miyuki on November 24, 2020, 02:25:28 pmIn fairness, most users expect their batteries to be full after a charge... you are an "advanced user" if you know that you shouldn't fill them to the brim!

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2020, 09:40:40 pm
content: What do you mean with "non replacable"?Just use it for a few more years, then cut out the bottom and throw in a bunch of 18650's.

author: orbanp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2020, 12:41:36 pm
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on November 25, 2020, 09:40:40 pmWell, of course you can replace it!However, it is not like your "traditional", detachable battery pack with 18650 cells.To replace it you need to take the computer apart, and it looks like the battery pack has two of those flat LiPo cells, like the smart phones:Regards, Peter

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2020, 01:43:28 pm
content: I have an Acer netbook with similar batteries and replacements are widely available. You just need to know the type number, printed on the battery itself and in my case also reported by the OS.That being said, there is no need to replace mine so far and it stayed fully charged most of the time for a few years.The ability to automatically keep the battery at 80% appears to be unique to Thinkpads. And doing it manually, meh...