I just read an Incredibly interesting article at the Battery University (tnx to Bert for the link)
Its tough to keep up with the battery tech, the whole “memory” thing & when to best recharge our Numerous devices.. The “How to prolong lithium-based batteries” text answers that question for li-ion based batteries!
And for those not interested in the whole thing, there are some Simple Guidelines at the end of it all
Simple Guidelines
- Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.
- Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.
- Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.
- Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)
- Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.
- If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.
Its great to have some Final answers (for the current batteries that is) on this issue 🙂
Edit: and there s even a more consumer oriented primer Charging Li-Ion batteries..
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