From: STeve Andre' (andres_at_msu.edu)
Date: Mon Feb 26 2001 - 23:58:41 EST
Right, I agree that they have a finite number of cycles, which is why I
suggest doing a full recharge cycle instead of lots of smaller ones.
Every time you charge a battery, full or partial, you're heating it up.
I can't see how multiple partial charges are better for it than one
longer charge, hence my thought about using it up fully.
You're right, there are a finite number of charge cycles, and I will
bet that after 350+ cycles the battery is going to start to go.
--STeve Andre'
At 11:50 PM 2/26/01 -0500, Bruce Markowitz wrote:
>Uh Oh, I disagree
>Li-Ion batts seem to have a finite number of charge cycles, I suspect you
>are better off just plugging it in when possible, using it off battery when
>needed. I don't think there are any memory effects to be concerned about.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: STeve Andre' <andres_at_msu.edu>
>To: Thinkpad Mailing List <thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
>Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 11:28 PM
>Subject: Re: What would you do? (T20 Battery Use)
>
>
> > I am assuming that the T20 uses a Li-Ion battery and not a NiMH.
> >
> > If you had a NiMH battery I'd say you want to keep it out of the
> > unit when at home, because every single NiMH ThinkPad battery
> > I have used or that my users have used has died from over charging.
> > NiMH's are not robust in this fashion.
> >
> > Li-Ion batteries are far FAR better in this regard; they don't die as fast
> > as the NiMH's ones did (do). With this chemistry you ought to be able
> > to do small recharges's just fine, BUT I would still run the battery down
> > before recharging it, if I were you. I know of no battery chemistry which
> > likes partial recharges better than full ones, so I would use the battery
> > up before charging.
> >
> > Having said that, once you've become to your newfound mobility, I'll bet
> > that you will find some two or three places where you park yourself
>mostly,
> > and you might want to think about ac adaptors at those places. If you
> > do really go through a complete cycle each day, then you're going to
> > need to replace that battery every year, I'll bet.
> >
> > Li-Ion batteries definitely better than their predecessors, but I've
>still
> > seen
> > problems with partial charging them, in spite of what the manufacturers
> > say. They are more robust however, and thats a good step in the right
> > direction.
> >
> > When you get some time tell the list of about the wireless system you're
> > using.
> >
> > --STeve Andre'
> >
> > At 11:04 PM 2/26/01 -0600, Mitchell Leben wrote:
> > >I know this has been asked a zillion times...
> > >
> > >Recently I put an SMC Wireless router in my home office, and an SMC PC
> > >card in my T20. This stuff is fantastic! To the point though:
> > >
> > >I used to keep the T20 on AC most of the time, sitting in the office. If
>I
> > >went downstairs or outside I would run it down to 5% or so, then charge
>up
> > >again.
> > >
> > >Now though, I have no need to keep it upstairs at all. I find myself
>using
> > >it all over, then carrying it back to where the AC adapter is. So, if the
> > >battery is 3/4 full, and sitting right next to the AC adapter, should I
> > >plug it in or let it run down?
> > >
> > >I do this every day, so I can either:
> > >
> > >1. Go through one or two full battery cycles each day
> > >
> > >or
> > >
> > >2. Do several (3 or 4) small charges each day, perhaps pulling from AC
> > >before 100% is reached.
> > >
> > >Which is better for the battery? I am not really concerned about running
> > >out of battery, because I can always grab the adapter and charge up.
> > >
> > >Thanks. If anyone is curious about the wireless setup I'd be happy to
> > >share my experience.
> > >
> > >--
> > >-Mitch
> >
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