>Here's an article someone posted to another list which I thought might >be good to read since your players have these batteries in them. The >article is from 2007, so some aspects may have changed within that >time. I personally let my player run down to 10% or below and then >charge it overnight and have had several instances of it draining >completely with no ill effects. > >Laz > >The care and feeding of Li-Ion batteries > > * Date: November 2nd, 2007 > * Author: William Jones > * > http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/helpdesk/?p > 4 > >Lithium-Ion - or Li-Ion - batteries are in everything, and while they >may not last forever, they'll benefit from a little tender loving >care. This time, five strategies that will help your users get the >most out of the rechargeable batteries in their laptops and portable >devices. > >Device manufacturers categorize batteries as "consumables." They're >expected to wear out; it's how they do what they do. The warranties >provided by computer companies usually have different coverage terms >for a laptop's battery than for the computer's other components. Even >if you take the best possible care of your battery, its performance >will degrade over time, and I've found that batteries older than two >or three years aren't good for much runtime at all. > >Accept the fact that your battery won't last forever, no matter what. > >Oxidation in the cells can prevent an old battery from discharging >properly, so even when left on a shelf, a battery's lifespan shortens >with time. That doesn't mean that there aren't some steps that you can >take to ensure the Li-Ion batteries in your laptop or cell phone last >as long as possible. > >Batteries are made to be used, so use them. > >Just like couch potatoes, batteries need exercise. The chemicals in >Lithium-Ion batteries respond best to regular recharging. So if you >have a laptop, don't keep it plugged in all the time; go ahead and let >it drain to about 40 or 50 percent of capacity, and then recharge your >computer. > >The life of a Lithium-Ion battery can be measured in charge cycles. A >charge cycle occurs when 100% of a battery's capacity is used. Let's >say you use 50% of your laptop's battery one day, charge it overnight, >and then you use 50% of the battery again the next day. Even after >charging it back up again, you'll have only had one charge cycle >occur. Most laptop batteries are rated for a useful life of at least >300-500 charge cycles, but high-quality, properly maintained batteries >can retain up to 80% of their original life, even after 300 cycles. > >Periodically calibrate your battery. > >Most batteries that have a "fuel gauge", like those in laptops, should >be periodically discharged to zero. This can be accomplished simply by >letting your computer run until it reports a low-battery state and >suspends itself. (Do not let your computer deep discharge, as I'll >explain in the next item.) > >The gauge that measures the remaining power in your laptop is based on >circuitry integrated into the battery that approximates the >effectiveness of the battery's chemical compounds. Over time, a >discrepancy can develop between the capacity that the internal >circuitry expects the battery to have and what the battery can >actually provide. Letting your computer run down to zero every month >or so can recalibrate the battery's circuitry, and keep your >computer's estimates of its remaining life accurate. > >Don't practice so-called deep discharges. > >Most laptops will suspend operation if the battery drains too low. >Even if your computer goes to sleep, though, most batteries that are >in good working order will still have a reserve charge available. This >reserve will hold the computer's working memory in state for a little >while. A deep discharge has occurred when even that percentage of >reserve power is used up. The computer will have turned off >completely, and sometimes you'll notice that it will have lost track >of the correct date and time. Deep discharges will strain your >batteries, so try to charge them frequently. > >Avoid exposing your battery to heat (when possible). > >Heat can overexcite the chemicals in your battery, shortening its >overall lifespan. In fact, it's been speculated that the biggest cause >of early battery expiration is the heat that batteries can be exposed >to when they're stored in computers that are running off AC power. >Laptops - especially modern multi-core machines - can get very hot >when they're plugged in, easily over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That's >hot enough that extended exposure will negatively affect your battery. >If you want to be really protective, there's nothing saying that you >can't pop the battery out of your laptop if you're going to be within >reach of a power outlet for a while. > >There may be times that you can't help but expose your laptop battery >to heat; you may live in a warm climate, for instance. You can, >however, try and avoid exacerbating the issue. Make sure your laptop >is well ventilated and that you're not operating it on a surface that >retains heat, even when you're not plugged into mains power. > >Store your batteries properly. > >If your laptop or portable device isn't going to be used for a while, >you should remove its Lithium-Ion battery, if possible. Even if the >battery can't be separated from the device, it should be stored in a >cool environment at about one-half charge. Cool temperature is >recommended by experts because that can slow the natural discharge >that batteries will undergo even when they're disconnected from their >device. > >I've seen some people go even further and recommend that spare >batteries be stored in the refrigerator. I don't think this is a very >good idea; I'm concerned about condensation that might build up. Don't >put your batteries on ice, but keep them out of the sun. > >Ultimately, I believe that buying spare Li-Ion batteries is a losing >game, because the batteries start degrading as soon as they're >manufactured. Usually those spare batteries spend most of their time >sitting in a charger, losing useful life. If you need to be really >mobile, you're better off purchasing an adapter cable you can use with >the power sources available in planes, trains, or autos. And, of >course, by taking good care of the battery you already have. > >The care and feeding of Li-Ion batteries > > * Date: November 2nd, 2007 > * Author: William Jones > * > http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/helpdesk/?p > 4 > >Lithium-Ion - or Li-Ion - batteries are in everything, and while they >may not last forever, they'll benefit from a little tender loving >care. This time, five strategies that will help your users get the >most out of the rechargeable batteries in their laptops and portable >devices. > >Device manufacturers categorize batteries as "consumables." They're >expected to wear out; it's how they do what they do. The warranties >provided by computer companies usually have different coverage terms >for a laptop's battery than for the computer's other components. Even >if you take the best possible care of your battery, its performance >will degrade over time, and I've found that batteries older than two >or three years aren't good for much runtime at all. > >Accept the fact that your battery won't last forever, no matter what. > >Oxidation in the cells can prevent an old battery from discharging >properly, so even when left on a shelf, a battery's lifespan shortens >with time. That doesn't mean that there aren't some steps that you can >take to ensure the Li-Ion batteries in your laptop or cell phone last >as long as possible. > >Batteries are made to be used, so use them. > >Just like couch potatoes, batteries need exercise. The chemicals in >Lithium-Ion batteries respond best to regular recharging. So if you >have a laptop, don't keep it plugged in all the time; go ahead and let >it drain to about 40 or 50 percent of capacity, and then recharge your >computer. > >The life of a Lithium-Ion battery can be measured in charge cycles. A >charge cycle occurs when 100% of a battery's capacity is used. Let's >say you use 50% of your laptop's battery one day, charge it overnight, >and then you use 50% of the battery again the next day. Even after >charging it back up again, you'll have only had one charge cycle >occur. Most laptop batteries are rated for a useful life of at least >300-500 charge cycles, but high-quality, properly maintained batteries >can retain up to 80% of their original life, even after 300 cycles. > >Periodically calibrate your battery. > >Most batteries that have a "fuel gauge", like those in laptops, should >be periodically discharged to zero. This can be accomplished simply by >letting your computer run until it reports a low-battery state and >suspends itself. (Do not let your computer deep discharge, as I'll >explain in the next item.) > >The gauge that measures the remaining power in your laptop is based on >circuitry integrated into the battery that approximates the >effectiveness of the battery's chemical compounds. Over time, a >discrepancy can develop between the capacity that the internal >circuitry expects the battery to have and what the battery can >actually provide. Letting your computer run down to zero every month >or so can recalibrate the battery's circuitry, and keep your >computer's estimates of its remaining life accurate. > >Don't practice so-called deep discharges. > >Most laptops will suspend operation if the battery drains too low. >Even if your computer goes to sleep, though, most batteries that are >in good working order will still have a reserve charge available. This >reserve will hold the computer's working memory in state for a little >while. A deep discharge has occurred when even that percentage of >reserve power is used up. The computer will have turned off >completely, and sometimes you'll notice that it will have lost track >of the correct date and time. Deep discharges will strain your >batteries, so try to charge them frequently. > >Avoid exposing your battery to heat (when possible). > >Heat can overexcite the chemicals in your battery, shortening its >overall lifespan. In fact, it's been speculated that the biggest cause >of early battery expiration is the heat that batteries can be exposed >to when they're stored in computers that are running off AC power. >Laptops - especially modern multi-core machines - can get very hot >when they're plugged in, easily over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That's >hot enough that extended exposure will negatively affect your battery. >If you want to be really protective, there's nothing saying that you >can't pop the battery out of your laptop if you're going to be within >reach of a power outlet for a while. > >There may be times that you can't help but expose your laptop battery >to heat; you may live in a warm climate, for instance. You can, >however, try and avoid exacerbating the issue. Make sure your laptop >is well ventilated and that you're not operating it on a surface that >retains heat, even when you're not plugged into mains power. > >Store your batteries properly. > >If your laptop or portable device isn't going to be used for a while, >you should remove its Lithium-Ion battery, if possible. Even if the >battery can't be separated from the device, it should be stored in a >cool environment at about one-half charge. Cool temperature is >recommended by experts because that can slow the natural discharge >that batteries will undergo even when they're disconnected from their >device. > >I've seen some people go even further and recommend that spare >batteries be stored in the refrigerator. I don't think this is a very >good idea; I'm concerned about condensation that might build up. Don't >put your batteries on ice, but keep them out of the sun. > >Ultimately, I believe that buying spare Li-Ion batteries is a losing >game, because the batteries start degrading as soon as they're >manufactured. Usually those spare batteries spend most of their time >sitting in a charger, losing useful life. If you need to be really >mobile, you're better off purchasing an adapter cable you can use with >the power sources available in planes, trains, or autos. And, of >course, by taking good care of the battery you already have. > >-- >Talking MP3 players! Accessible & affordable! Great features >including: FM radio, voice recording, expandable memory, great book >marking capabilities, very user configurable, and a lot more! Play >MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, and more! All our players are >less than $100, plus free shipping & handling to anywhere in the US! > >Join our mailing list by sending a blank email to: > rockboxedsansatalkingmp3players-subscr...@yahoogroups.com > >To hear what our talking MP3 players sound like, download the demo from here: > http://www.talkingmp3players.com/demo.html > >Visit our home page: > http://www.talkingmp3players.com/ > >Contact information: >Email: > accessibleelectron...@gmail.com >Phone: 727 498-0121 Skype >name: lazmesa >__._,_.___ > >The care and feeding of Li-Ion batteries>Reply >to sender | > >The care and feeding of Li-Ion batteries>Reply >to group | > Reply >via web post | > Start >a New Topic > Messages >in this topic (1) >Recent Activity: > * > New > Members 2 > Visit >Your Group >MARKETPLACE > > Stay
Voice your thoughts in the blog to discuss the Rights of persons with disability bill at: http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/blog.htm To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
