Maximizing Battery Runtime

Battery runtime is greatly affected by how you use your computer. Activities like playing/burning DVDs and CDs, 3D games, graphics, and programs requiring high processor speed are all applications that cause your computer to work harder, resulting in reduced runtime. External devices such as USB and PC cards can drain battery life as well. The harder your computer has to work, the more energy is being used.

It is important to ensure your battery is kept cool. When your notebook is on soft surfaces such as carpet or a bed, the air vents can be blocked, causing your computer to use more power. This can cause excessive heat and may be unsafe for your computer. Go to your system preferences or your power management settings to learn about energy saving features, such as dimming the screen, turning off wireless features and closing unnecessary programs when not in use. These are all ways in to maximize your runtime.

The Importance of Initialization and Calibration

As soon as you receive your battery, you should initialize it. Initialization is the first time you calibrate your battery. It is the process of fully charging a battery, then fully discharging the battery, then fully charging the battery again. What you are doing is allowing the computer to recognize the battery and provide an accurate reading of the fuel gauge.

The fuel gauge tells you how much runtime is left in your battery. It is important to realize that with a smart battery, the fuel gauge measures many components related to power management, cycles, etc. This enables your computer to communicate with your battery and let you know exactly how much runtime is left. To be accurate, it must be initialized properly, and then regularly re-calibrated to insure they are in sync.

For the normal user, a battery must be calibrated every few months, especially if it is plugged into an AC adapter day after day. This will keep the fuel gauge accurate and it will also help you know when it is time for a new battery. In this case, diagnostics are key in providing the resources you need to be well educated about your battery. On the other hand, if your computer is taken from place to place and used until the battery runs out, then recharged, calibration is never needed. You are calibrating it all the time.

Ongoing Calibration

Lithium ion batteries do not require maintenance for increased performance, unlike other batteries that require conditioning—some as often as every 30 days. Instead, we simply recommend calibration to provide an accurate reading of the fuel gauge without affecting the life of the battery. It can be very frustrating when you are using your computer and the fuel gauge shows 50 percent battery life left, and then suddenly shuts off without warning. Other times you may really have 30 more minutes of runtime left, but your computer goes to sleep. Calibration eliminates this problem.