How to Preserve Notebook Battery Life

Notebook battery life is an issue faced by many. The integrity of the battery is vital and important particularly because one primary reason people buy notebooks in the first place is for mobility. If a battery becomes damaged, it must be replaced which is often costly. The other option is to use your AC adapter, but you won’t be able to move around. A few simple tricks can preserve your notebook’s battery life.

• Keep your notebook as cool. Your notebook performs better if it is cool. Heat is damaging to a battery. Keep your air vents clean and free of dust by using a cloth or spraying with keyboard spray. Hot air cannot flow out if the vents are blocked by dust. Also, try not to leave your notebook in a hot vehicle and limit direct sunlight.


• Keep the contacts on your battery clean. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the contacts or a pencil eraser. This should be done every so often. If the contacts on your battery are not clean, your system has to work harder.


• Discharge your battery once a month. More than once a month can damage the battery. The only exception to more than once a month would be in the event that your notebook needs to be serviced or if there is an emergency. Discharging is intended for older batteries that have memory effects.


• Allow your notebook to run off the battery alone some of the time. For instance, if you generally use your notebook at your desk, you may be more prone to keep it connected to the power cord. This can be detrimental to the life of your battery. Simply unplug it sometimes and let the unit run only off the battery.


• Shut-down or hibernate your notebook when not in use. The longer a system runs, the harder it has to work. The result is working against the battery and could cause overheating. Hibernating preserves your work, so you can always pickup where you left off.