Top 10 Battery techniques by www.batteryfast.co.uk

Top 10 Battery techniques by http://www.batteryfast.co.uk/

Battery Tips – http://www.batteryfast.co.uk/

The gadgets you love don’t always love you back—at least when it comes to battery life. But you can get more from your laptop, your iPod, your phone, and other devices with these 10 techniques.

 

      

 

10. Turn C batteries into Ds with quarters

Only a few things ever need D batteries, but who has them handy when you need those things? If you’ve got some slightly more handy C batteries around, you only need a few quarters to turn them into makeshift Ds. You won’t get the same longevity, and you’ll have to part with up to $1.50 for a bit, but it works, and it might just turn you into the family hero when you rescue that seemingly useless big-lens flashlight.
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9. Keep your iPod “held” and updated

If you haven’t hit the “Update” button since you got your iPod, old or new, fire up iTunes and do so—the newest firmware, in many cases, can boost your battery life. Once you’ve done that, run through Playlist Magazine’s battery saving tips, which include keeping backlighting, the equalizer, and Sound Check features off when they’re not needed. Also, keeping the “Hold” switch in place when you’re not actively using it saves you from accidentally playing your whole collection, and wasting another charge cycle.

 

8. Get serious rechargeable batteries (and a charger)

It’s a help to the environment, and your checking account, to use rechargeable batteries instead of letting your Wii remotes and other gadgets eat through AAs. But the grocery store brands and accessories often don’t seem worth the hassle. Blogger Jeff Atwood does know what works, though, and he details the circuit science and recommends the good stuff in the post linked above. If you’re stuck with Energizer and Duracell choices, though, here’s Gizmodo’s faceoff of the big brands.
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7. Turn off your digital camera’s screen

Having a view of the whole scene you’re shooting is one of the digital camera’s big advantages over film-based models, but powering that tiny little LCD takes quite the toll on your little batteries. If you’re running low, or know you’re going to be without a recharge for some time, turn the screen off and shoot through the optical viewfinder. You’ll save battery time, and might find a new perspective on focus and framing.

 

6. Watch movies from hard drives, not DVDs

Simple, sure, but not always obvious. On many planes and trains, laptops serve as little more than portable DVD players with bigger screens, but forcing your laptop to spin the discs and read from them eats up more power than reading a file off a hard disk—or, perhaps even better, a USB drive. How to get there? We recommend HandBrake for most any system, though Adam’s got a pretty good thing going with his (Windows-based) one-click DVD ripping solution.

 

5. Extend your not-so-hot iPhone life

A lot of lists out there offer to help extend your iPhone’s battery life. This one’s a lot like them, except it’s written by our sibling site Gizmodo and based on extensive testing done during the run-up to the iPhone’s launch. And it goes so far as to suggest what the others don’t—playing games with 3D and vibrate, for example, is a power killer, both in actual juice and in how long you’ll end up playing without realizing you’ve been sucked in. And if you’re just checking weather, emailing, and making calls, keep your 3G switched off until it’s needed.
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4. Stash your gadgets out of your pockets

It’s the most natural place in the world for your cellphone or iPod, but the heat your pocket picks up from, well, your hips can decrease the overall life of lithium-ion batteries. Not so much that you absolutely have to get one of those I’m An Important Person belt clips, but if you’ve got a coat, purse, or other place to put a battery-powered gizmo, consider offering it a little more ventilation than your body-warmed cotton wraps. While you’re thinking cool, try stashing your batteries (just your batteries, mind you) in the freezer if you’re trying to conserve every last drop while you’re away from your charger. Photo by hsiqueira.

 

3. Get long-term battery life

An inquiring reader asked how to keep his batteries delivering on-the-go power for the long haul, rather than watch his investment be eaten away by age. As is so often the case, our readers came right back with answers. A MetaFilter thread linked by one helpful reader suggests using the battery fully if you’re going to use it, then re-charge when it runs down. A Battery University link offers more tips, and Apple’s guide to batteries suggests a few tips on what to do with unused or spare batteries—store them in a cool place at about 50 percent charge, for instance.
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2. Make your system smarter about power
Windows and Mac OS X both know when you’re using a laptop, and presumably want to help you save power. Except, in the case of the Mac, sleeping and hibernating isn’t done with remaining battery power in mind, and on Vista, well, all those Aero effects and background processes suck up power too quickly. Enter Vista Battery Saver, which kills the Aero effects, sidebar widgets, and other power sinks, and SmartSleep (OS X), which gradually transitions from sleep, to sleep-and-hibernate, to full-on, session-saving hibernate as you start winding down from 20 percent charge. Both are nearly necessary downloads for road warriors lugging either OS around.

 

1. Recalibrate a laptop battery to regain life

It’s a shame, but laptop batteries can lie to you about how much juice they have, or can really hold. The New York Times explains in a Q & A (look halfway down the page) the most straight-forward means of getting the real truth. Turn off all your interrupting apps, like screensavers and the like, put your computer to sleep, and plug it in until you know it’s good and charged. Then turn it back on, make sure your power settings are such that the system won’t try to sleep or hibernate, then run your computer all the way down on battery power. Charge it back up one more time, and you’ll know whether you really need to start shopping at Laptop Battery Express, Laptops for Less, or check with your manufacturer to get a new lithium stick.
Cloudtags: Battery techniques , Battery tips , Battery Hacks , Tricks ,Hp pavilion dv6000 battery , Dell latitude e6400 battery , Hp pavilion dm3 battery , Sony vgp-bps2a battery , Dell inspiron e1505 battery
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How to maximize your laptop battery life - laptop battery tips by quality battery shop: batteryfast.co.uk

Mobile computing has got better with lighter components, better chips and faster processors. But the Achilles heel of a laptop has remained its battery. So here are we are going to look at ways to increase laptop battery life.

Modern graphic intensive operating systems and resource hungry applications are cutting down the life of your laptop’s battery every day. The average battery life per continuous use still stands at a maximum of three to four hours. So, a fast depleting battery could very swiftly put the crutches on your ‘mobile’ road trip.

Falling just short of carrying an extra pack of batteries in the back-pack, are several ways to keep the juice flowing through the batteries.

1. Ship shape with a defrag

Regular defragmentation helps to arrange data more efficiently thus making the hard drive work less to access the data. The quicker the moving hard drive works lesser is the load placed on the battery. Thus, your batter can last longer. The effect is minimal, but this efficiency goes hand in glove with hard drive maintenance.

2. Kill the resource gobblers

End the background processes that are not vital. Monitor the resource usage through a ‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’ which brings up the Windows Task Manager (in Windows). If you’re not on the internet, it is safe to shut down the immediate non-essential programs running in the taskbar like the antivirus and the firewall. Weed out unnecessary programs running as start-ups by launching the System Configuration Utility from Run – Msconfig – Tab: Startup. Uncheck the programs which you don’t want to launch and reboot the computer once.

3. Pause the scheduled tasks

It may be a defrag or a virus scan, but make sure it is scheduled for a time when you are near a power outlet. If not then nix them for the moment.

4. Unplug external devices

USB devices are the biggest drainers of battery power. Unplug all external devices like an external mouse, PC cards, Wi-Fi, external speakers, Bluetooth and even an attached iPod.

5. Empty the CD/DVD Drives

Even if you don’t intend to use it, don’t leave any CD/DVDs as leftovers in the drives. A spinning drive sucks battery power like a sponge.

6. Go local

Desist using the DVD/external drives while running on batteries. Shift the content to the hard drive or run using (free) virtual drives like Pismo File Mount or even Microsoft’s Virtual CD ROM Control Panel.

7. Lower the lights

The LCD screen of a laptop is another huge power sink. Calibrate the brightness to the lowest level you can tolerate using the Function key toggles or using the Display Settings applet in the Control Panel.

8. Kill the sounds

Mute the speakers and try avoiding the use of multimedia software to maximize the battery life. Installed sound schemes also drain a battery perceptibly.

9. Rid the screensaver

To maximize battery life by a little, switch off the screensaver.

10. Visit Power Options

Get familiar with power management through the ‘Power Options’ applet in the Control Panel. Both XP and Vista come with advanced power management features which shut off components like the monitor and/or the hard drive after specified intervals. This again depends on the chosen ‘Power Schemes’ (for XP) in the same applet. For instance in XP, ‘Max Battery’ under Power Schemes can be selected for maximum battery optimization.



Similar settings can be found under ‘Mobile PC’ in the Control Panel of Vista.

11. Turn off the looks

Today’s OS’s like Windows Vista come with features like ‘Aero Glass’ which are resource guzzlers. One can turn it off and go for the ‘Classic’ appearance which consumes less power. In Vista, click on Desktop – Preferences – View Colour – Appearance – Classic Appearance and Windows Basic graphical interface. In XP it’s – Display Properties – Theme – Windows Classic.

Linux and even Macintosh are better optimized for longer battery life.

12. Hibernate is better than Sleep

In the Stand By mode (or sleep mode), the computer turns of the hard drive and the display but memory remains active while the CPU slows down. This draws on the battery. In contrast, hibernation mode is better because the computer saves the current state and shuts itself down completely thus saving power.

13. Get the most…work on the least

Working on too many programs while on the battery is a sure fire power drainer. Keep use of graphic intensive applications to a minimum. Working on a spreadsheet consumes much less than playing your favourite game. To increase the life of the battery open just one or two programs concurrently.

14. Ram in more RAM

Adequate RAM reduces the load on Virtual memory which by default resides on the hard drive. Though every extra bit of RAM uses up more power, it increases overall savings by short cutting access to the power hungry hard drive.

15. Keep it clean

A laptop with blocked air vents will generate more heat thus reducing the life of the battery. Clean the air vents regularly to keep operating temperatures low. Allow for open space around the vents for air to circulate freely. Keep the area around the laptop clean to avoid entry of dust.

16. Temperature is a silent killer

Undue heat kills off a battery slowly but surely. Avoid leaving the laptop under direct sunlight or inside a closed car.

17. Avoid the memory effect

A problem more for the older Ni-MH batteries than for Li-Ion batteries on which most modern laptops run. Memory effect relates to the loss of battery charge when they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. It can be prevented by discharging the battery fully and then completely recharging it. Li-Ion batteries on the other hand have no problems with partial discharges and re-charges and complete discharge is never recommended for this type.

18. Update software and drivers

This sounds a bit incongruous but then newer drivers and software are often designed to be more efficient (and hopefully less resource hungry).

19. Use the right adapter

Ensure that the adapter you use to charge the laptop battery is an original one or one with the correct specifications. A mismatch in the wattage could cause an overload thus damaging the laptop and the battery.

20. Pack it up

If you don’t plan to use the laptop on batteries for quite some time, ensure that the charge is nearly 40 percent – remove the batteries and store it in a cool place.

A typical lithium ion battery has an overall average life of 2-3 years. With some care and caution, its mortality can be delayed.

Have you found your own way to increase battery life of your laptop? Share the ‘life giving’ tips with us in the comments.

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Q	How long does a Dell laptop battery last? When should I consider replacing mine?

A

All rechargeable batteries wear out with time and usage. As time and cumulative use increase, the performance will degrade. For the typical user, noticeable reduction in run time generally will be observed after 18 to 24 months. For a power user, reduction in run time generally may be experienced prior to 18 months. We recommend buying a new Dell laptop battery when the run time does not meet your needs.

Q	How should I choose between two batteries with different Watt hours (Whr) available on one system?

A	Higher Watt hours (Whr) on the same system under the same operating conditions will generally deliver longer battery run time. For example, if you compare the same system, running the same applications, the 53Whr battery would provide approximately 65% more run time than the 32Whr battery.

Q	How long am I able to use my Dell laptop on a fully charged battery?

A

Many factors affect the amount of time that a portable computer battery can deliver power before it must be recharged. These factors include the configuration (processor, memory, etc.), types of applications being run and display brightness.Dell uses industry standard benchmarks for battery run time claims. For more information on battery run times and benchmarks, the white paper, "Understanding Battery Life in Portable Computers" is available at: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/vectors/en/2005_batterylife?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

Q	How do I charge my Dell laptop battery?

A	The battery charges in the laptop when the laptop is connected to an AC power source via the AC adapter.

Q	How long does it take for a Dell laptop battery to fully recharge?

A	The charge time varies depending on the system. If the system supports ExpressChargeTM , the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging, and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.

Q	What is ExpressChargeTM ?

A	For a system advertised as having the ExpressChargeTM feature, the battery typically will have greater than 80% charge after about an hour of charging and fully charge in about 2 hours with the system off.

Q	Should I totally discharge, then recharge my Dell laptop battery occasionally to make it last longer?

A	No, discharging and charging does not increase the life of a Lithium Ion technology battery.

Q	Can a Dell laptop battery be "overcharged"?

A	No, the battery is designed to stop using the charger when it reaches full charge.

Q	When docked or AC adapter is plugged into a wall outlet, am I using my battery charge?

A

No.

Q	Does Dell sell external battery chargers?

A	Dell offers a Datamation battery charger for large institution customers. The charger has 16 charge bays to charge batteries for Latitude D500/D505/D510/D520/D600/D610 laptop systems. The product can be found at Dell.com here:

Q	Is it easy to install a battery?

A	Yes, very easy. First, make sure all open files are saved. Next, either attach the AC adapter directly to the laptop or set the system to "hibernate" mode or shut off. Release the latch on the current battery, and simply install the replacement battery.

Q	What is a modular bay battery?

A	In some laptop systems Dell offers a battery that can be used in the optical drive media bay (DVD/CD drive bay). This enables the use of two batteries, potentially extending the available run time.

Q	If I install a modular bay battery, are my primary and modular bay batteries working at the same time to power my laptop computer?

A	No, the modular bay battery is used first, then the system automatically switches to the primary battery. This is a deliberate design to allow the most amount of run time to remain in the primary battery in case the modular bay battery is removed and replaced with an optical drive.

Q	For what use is the strip of LED lights on my battery?

A

Most Dell batteries have an LED indicator that allows users to see how much run time and how much overall battery life are available at the touch of a button. To check battery charge, press the button and the number of lights that appear will tell you charge status. If all lights appear, you have a fully charged battery. Each light that appears accounts for approximately 20% charge. To check the battery health, press and hold the status button on the battery charge gauge for at least 3 seconds. If no lights appear, the battery is in good condition and approximately more than 80 percent of its original charge capacity remains. Each light represents incremental degradation. If five lights appear, approximately less than 60 percent of the charge capacity remains, and you should consider replacing the battery.

Q	What does Dell recommend for battery storage for a long period of time?

A

When storing for more than 4 days these guidelines can better preserve the life of your battery: Do not store batteries for long periods plugged into or attached to any power source. This includes AC adapters and laptop security carts plugged into an outlet. Laptop batteries, including those stored in laptop systems, should maintain an Operational Storage Temperature of 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F). Batteries may be stored in the laptop or outside of the laptop. Charge batteries before storing. The recommended charging time should not exceed 1 hour. Typically, this should charge the battery to between 80% and 100%. (Some discharge will take place over time. Stored batteries are expected to discharge 10-15% over a four month period, for your information.)

Q	Are there restriction with taking lithium-ion batteries on planes?

A

Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage. For more information: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm

Q	How should I choose the right battery for my new system?

A

When choosing a battery, the main quality that you need to consider is the amount of energy that can be stored in a battery. This is measured in Watt- Hours (Wh). For longer runtime per charge, choose a battery with a greater Wh rating If you want. Choose. Trade off. Longer runtime Higher capacity . Higher cost . Heavier weight Lighter weight Lower capacity Lower runtime Lower cost Lower capacity Lower runtime Note: When used under the same conditions, a lower capacity battery will wear out faster than a higher capacity battery because it has to be charged more often.

Q	What is a battery slice?

A	Some Dell laptops have a battery that attaches to the bottom of the system, providing additional runtime for the laptop.

Q	Does Dell recommend the use of a non-Dell replacement battery?

A

Dell recommends that you replace your battery with a genuine Dell battery obtained from Dell. When using a genuine Dell battery, you can be assured that you have a battery that has been designed, qualified and manufactured to strict Dell quality standards. For safety and performance always use a genuine Dell battery purchased from Dell. Dell does not evaluate the design or check the quality of non-Dell replacement battery packs. The quality and safety is unknown when using such batteries.

Tags: Dell laptop batteries, Laptop Battery FAQ, Dell Inspiron 6400 battery, Dell Inspiron 9400 battery, Dell Inspiron 6000 battery, Dell Inspiron 1300 battery, Dell GD761 laptop battery, Discount Laptop Battery.

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