[svlug] question - my laptop won't charge to 100% even though plugged in and using AC power

[Karen Shaeffer]

On Sun, May 03, 2009 at 10:52:03PM -0700, Chris Miller wrote:
> On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 9:56 PM, Brian J. Tarricone <bjt23 at cornell.edu> wrote:
> > On Sun, 03 May 2009 18:47:08 -0700 Alan Denney wrote:
> >> "Need"?  Maybe not, but it's a darn good thing to have in place  if
> >> the power goes out in the middle of an unsaved session, even if just
> >> becomes some idjit kicked the plug out or stepped on the power switch
> >> for the power strip.
> >
> > True, but leaving Li ion batteries plugged in all the time is one of
> > the main things that reduces their life (it's basically the increased
> > temperature that does it).
> >
> >> It's probably at least partially salvageable by repeated drawing
> >> downs and full recharges.
> >
> > Nope, not in the least.  That may have been true of NiCad and possibly
> > NiMH batteries, but you'll get the exact opposite out of Li ion
> > batteries.  Repeated full discharges + full charges are also what
> > reduces their life.  Li ion batteries don't have the "memory" that
> > other types do that can sometimes be fixed by "refreshing" them in this
> > manner.  Doing full discharge/charge cycles will actually make the
> > battery worse.
> 
> I'd love to believe you, but personal experience with Li Ion batteries
> would suggest otherwise... Unless I'm getting stiffed and they're
> giving me NiCad while telling me it's Li Ion.

Hi,
You folks might want to read up on the subject. A good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery

Thanks,
Karen
-- 
 Karen Shaeffer
 Neuralscape, Palo Alto, Ca. 94306
 shaeffer at neuralscape.com  http://www.neuralscape.com