Many people have their laptops permanently connected to the power supply while working with them at home or in the office. Does this damage the battery? We explain how to use your battery to enjoy the Slotsgem fully.
Laptops are designed to allow you to work flexibly and without a power socket nearby. Nevertheless, many people have their laptops permanently connected to the power supply. “This damages the battery” is a common opinion. But is this true?
In this article, we explain what is true about this statement.
Laptops are permanently connected to the power supply; it depends on the battery type.
There is no general answer for all laptop models as to whether it damages the battery if it is permanently connected to the mains adapter.
In particular, there is a difference between the battery types that can be installed in laptops:
Nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hybrid batteries: obsolete batteries are no longer installed in new laptops. However, they may still be present in old laptops. If you have an old device with such a battery, you should not have the computer permanently connected to the mains adapter. Constant charging can overload the battery and damage it.
Lithium-ion batteries: This battery technology corresponds to the current state of the art and is installed as standard in new laptops. Without worrying, You can leave laptops with a lithium-ion battery connected to the mains adapter.
Laptop with lithium-ion battery permanently connected to the mains adapter: usually not a problem
In principle, you can have your laptop permanently connected to the mains adapter without damaging the battery – if you take a few things into account. If you have your computer permanently connected to the mains adapter, this does not generally damage the battery. Thanks to protective software, modern laptops prevent the battery from being overcharged and thus damaged. When your battery is 100% charged, the current flowing through it is consumed directly.
Only when the charge level of the laptop battery falls below a specific value is it recharged. In this way, the battery is not burdened by continuous charging.
What still damages your laptop battery
However, there are a few things that can significantly shorten the life of your laptop battery:
Voltage that is too high or too low: batteries age more quickly, especially at high and low voltages. In the range in between, however, battery wear is minimal. For lithium batteries, this range is between 30 and 70 percent of the maximum charge. If you have your laptop permanently connected to the mains adapter and it is set so that the battery is always fully charged, the risk of wear is higher.
Too high temperatures: Batteries do not like it too warm; they feel most comfortable between zero and 35 degrees Celsius. Charging the battery produces heat, which is usually not a problem. However, the comfortable temperature can quickly be exceeded if you use your laptop in a warm place, for example, outside in summer.
How to make your laptop battery last longer.
Ensure the battery charge level is between 30 and 70 percent of the maximum charge. Even if it doesn’t generally harm the battery if your laptop is permanently connected to the power supply, there are a few things you can do to make your laptop battery last longer:
If you use your laptop on the power adapter, you can remove a removable battery when the charge level reaches 70 percent. However, this is usually not so easy with newer laptops. Moreover, if the power goes out while you’re working on your laptop, your computer will shut down immediately, and at least some of your work will be lost.
Does your laptop have a function to manage the maximum battery charge? Use this function to charge the battery only to 80 percent of the maximum charge. This reduces wear and tear and prevents the battery from being overcharged.
If you use your laptop without a power adapter, only charge the battery when it is only 30 percent full.
Avoid high temperatures: Do not work with your laptop in the sun; only use it on smooth surfaces where the air can circulate well. For example, if you work in bed, the heat can build up in the comforter, and your laptop battery will get too warm.
What if the battery breaks?
What all batteries have in common is that they are not made to last forever. No matter how much you look after your battery, it will break at some point. When this happens, it is important that you dispose of it properly: you can simply return the broken battery to the retailer where you bought your device, for example. If you bought your device online, you can also dispose of the old battery at the nearest recycling center.
