Answer:
The working life of a battery pack usually exceeds 500 to 600 complete charge/discharge cycles. If you run your laptop using a mix of AC and battery power, the battery will typically last up to three years—maybe longer. Always refer to the laptop’s documentation for specific battery life and replacement recommendations.
As a rechargeable battery wears out, its charge time decreases. For example, the new battery that used to be able to power your laptop for six hours may now only provide three to four hours of running time. Many modern laptops provide a battery monitor applet that runs in your System Tray, reporting on the amount of charge time remaining. If you notice short charge times while using a fully charged battery, the battery itself may be wearing out.
You can extend the working life of your battery pack by reducing the number of charge cycles. For example, run the laptop from its AC adapter when you use it at home or at the office. When you use the battery, utilize all of the laptop’s power-saving features to get the most time from every charge and run the battery until it’s almost exhausted before recharging it. |