How to increase the life of your laptop battery. Laptop battery life Optimal laptop battery operation

Laptop owners have to constantly deal with choosing the optimal battery consumption and charging mode and, in fact, what is called a “power plan” in Windows OS. Actually, this article is devoted to the questions of how to properly charge a laptop battery, to what level it can be safely discharged, and how to configure your favorite operating system to keep your laptop running for as long as possible.

Historically, laptop batteries have evolved much slower than the laptops themselves. However, progress is being made here too. If a few years ago only premium laptops could boast 3 hours battery life, then today almost any ultrabook with Core processor Series I and a regular battery can easily last 4 hours without recharging. And with an increased capacity battery, some models are able to work independently for as long as 24 hours.

However, despite such significant improvements, the laptop's limited battery life remains one of its most significant drawbacks. And we all know that battery charge, like money, is never enough. In this connection, we remind the dear reader of the existence of several simple rules, how to preserve your laptop battery charge and, accordingly, how to extend its battery life.

Rule 1: Correctly charging your laptop battery

You need to charge your laptop battery correctly. Moreover, it is necessary to charge it correctly from the very beginning, i.e. from the very first time you connect a brand new laptop or an old laptop with a new battery to AC power.

A new laptop battery is never 100% charged. As a rule, the battery of a new laptop should ensure the operation of the machine for a period of time sufficient to turn it on for the first time, boot operating system, checking the functionality of the PC itself and identifying possible defects and malfunctions. If the laptop turned on without problems and during express testing no deviations from the parameters declared by the manufacturer were identified, the device should be turned off and charged for the next 7-8 hours. And although the indicators on the desktop of most laptops will report that the battery is fully charged after 3-4 hours, the first time the battery needs to be charged a little longer than the indicator “counts”. But this only applies to the initial charge. In the future, it is recommended to not fully charge the battery.

By the way, some laptops (for example, my Samsung) have a special option for selecting the battery charge level, thanks to which the user can select a mode to extend battery life. In this case, the battery will only be charged to 80%. Manufacturers claim that with regular partial charging, the life of a modern lithium-ion (or lithium-polymer) battery also increases significantly. A 50% battery charge is enough to use a laptop at home or in the office, and 80% is just the golden mean between battery life and overall battery life. For Samsung, the utility for selecting a mode to extend battery life is called BatteryLifeExtender. You can download it from the official Samsung website.

And one more thing: do not forget to disconnect/remove the battery if you do not plan to use the laptop for a long time.

Technique 2: setting up the laptop power system

It is clear that when the processor and video card are working “to the fullest” and at the same time the display brightness level is also at maximum, then there is no longer any need to talk about a long battery life of the laptop. However, not every user still knows that every laptop has a Power Saving System specially developed by the manufacturer, with which you can always extend the PC’s operating time without recharging without significantly limiting its performance. In most cases this system works in automatic mode, which is activated when the operating system is started for the first time, and its activity usually boils down to turning off the display after several minutes of idleness of the laptop. Sometimes the display turns off at a very inopportune moment, during the presentation of important graphs or presentations at the next business meeting.

If you are already tired of such amateur screensaver activity, then Power Saving can be configured manually through the Control Panel of your laptop. And at the same time you can specify the shutdown time hard drive, the display brightness level when the PC is running on battery power, or the period of time after which the operating system will go into hibernation mode and minimal battery consumption will occur. In addition, you will probably be pleased with the fact that the manufacturer, for its part, also tried and provided several modes of operation of the Energy Saving System, so that you most likely will not even need to count the minutes, but will just need to choose the most suitable of the proposed options.

Trick 3: promptly turn off bright screensavers and wireless modules

Do you think the Aero interface is modern? Windows systems so beautiful that it's worth wasting your battery power? If not, then in the case when the outlet is far away, simply turn off the dynamic Aero for a while and use the basic themes of Windows 7, which are also no less colorful, but more economical in terms of energy consumption.

Also, if you do not use WiFi, Bluetooth or 3G communications, then specified modules You can also turn it off. To do this, most modern laptops have a special switch on their body that can be used to deactivate all wireless connections. And the most advanced laptops even have the option to disable USB and Ethernet ports, which can also save money in favor of extending the operating time of the PC without recharging.

Trick 4: Use Hibernation Instead of Standby (Sleep)

Despite the strange name, this mode is provided for a reason and is probably the most optimal for a work laptop that has to be turned on and off frequently. Hibernation involves saving the current state of the operating system and applications on the hard drive, while in standby mode (Stan By) all current data is saved by using RAM, which means they require more energy consumption. And although the system takes a little longer to boot from hibernation mode, battery power is consumed much more slowly in this mode. In fact, if you have a fast SSD drive, the difference will be minimal, and your laptop battery will last longer.

Trick 5: Proper Laptop Battery Storage

If you're going on a long vacation or business trip and leaving your work laptop at home for weeks or months, then remember that a fully charged or fully discharged battery cannot be stored for a long time. In this case, a 40 percent charge would be most appropriate. In addition, the battery should be left in a cool and dry place, and then it will serve faithfully for a long time and you will not have to buy a new one.

Batteries in devices such as laptops, smartphones, cameras and others do not have a very large capacity, as a result of which this is not always enough even for a day. With increased work, the discharge increases even more. Today's laptops last on average 4-6 hours, so they have to be charged all the time. The same applies to smartphones. So, how to increase the life of your laptop battery?

Modern laptops are undoubtedly better than their predecessors, which means the user does not have to plug in the power supply more often than before. There are now ultraportable devices that last up to 14 hours or more.

Nevertheless, the battery loses its capacity over time, but how long it will take and how intensively it will lose it depends on the quality of production of these batteries. In addition to the user's use of the laptop, the following key factors affect the duration of operation:

• Power parameters settings;
• Number of applications running in the background;
• Room temperature.

The good news is that we don't have to work hard to figure out the above factors. Configuring power consumption modes is very simple, close background programs Same. To keep the room cool, just check it.

Be that as it may, let's understand this on Windows 10 devices.

Use performance adjustments in Windows 10

The first step in increasing battery life is to make special power settings. Everyone has known them since the days of Windows 7. There are several power modes, if we consider the old ones Windows versions These are power management circuits. There is a balanced mode, energy saving and high performance. In any version of this system you can make your own power supply scheme.

In Windows 10 you can do the same thing, but there are easier settings. Click on the battery icon on the taskbar. A window with parameters and a slider will pop up. Here we have 4 operating modes available - Battery Saving, Improved battery, Optimal performance, Maximum performance.

You just need to set the slider to the desired position.

Disable unnecessary features and enable airplane mode

When writing an article, you may not need notifications at the moment, which usually appear when some message arrives from social networks or by mail. To prevent these factors from distracting the user, it is necessary to completely close these applications. A good habit is to use only one application.

So, use only one or two programs. For example, you write articles, listen to music from the browser, while working in Photoshop. When you write some text, for example, an article, then in most cases the Internet may not be needed. In this case, we turn off Wi-Fi and even Bluetooth.

In addition to the steps described above, one more thing will help eliminate unnecessary battery drain - turning on airplane mode.

Close programs that waste a lot of battery

I already said above that you should close applications that are not in use. But there are many who work in the background. They run every time the computer is turned on if the user has not configured autorun properly.

To find out which programs in Windows 10 take the most battery power, do the following:

1. Click on the battery icon and go to Battery Settings.
   
2. A window will open showing information about charge consumption and the amount of time until the end of work. We need to go to the option “See which applications affect your battery life.”
   
   
3. The next window will already show information about specific programs.
   
   

There are options for displaying by time period. By default, applications with consumption for the last 24 hours are installed. If there is software that is currently running, but you do not use it, feel free to close it.

Now, regarding autoloading. The parameter can be configured from the task manager, but not all processes are shown there, which means we will use third-party programs.

You can use CCleaner, but I use Uninstall Tool– uninstaller for removing programs. There is a "Startup" section there. Where possible. This way you can limit background apps and save a little more battery power.

You can also close unnecessary processes, even system ones, but you need to know which ones to disable, as this will affect the operation of the system.

Changing graphics settings

The laptop has a graphics module from NVIDIA and less often from AMD, and there is also an integrated graphics Intel processor– more economical. I'm leading to the fact that you can configure what graphics to run this or that program with.

Powerful programs and games can be assigned to the high-performance NVIDIA processor, and all other small things can be assigned to the integrated processor.

Battery status check and support

Most laptops are now equipped with lithium polymer batteries (), which do not require much maintenance, unlike in the past. Thanks to the built-in software, there is now no need to do activities such as calibration and no need to fear that a full discharge or charge will damage the battery.

However, you need to be careful about the heat of the device. Heating always has a negative impact not only on internal components, but also on the battery. Dust and dirt are the main cause of overheating, so you need to carefully disassemble the laptop and clean out all the dust. We especially clean the ventilation grille and coolers. You can use a brush and a vacuum cleaner, but be careful. If you have a can of compressed air, use it.

One more thing - never place your laptop on a warm surface or pillow and blanket. This often prevents the system from cooling. Therefore, we place the device only on a hard surface, and if there is a cooling board, even better.

However, sooner or later the battery will lose its charge more and more, and you will notice this when the operating time is less than an hour. In this case, you have two options - keep the power supply plugged in forever, or replace the battery with a new one.

Purchase a backup power option

This point comes from the previous one. If your battery is still more or less alive, but the charge is not enough for your needs, then purchase additional power.

Of course, this is suitable for a person who is constantly on the move and has nothing to charge the device with. That's why we order online new battery. Best from the manufacturer.

By the way, if you have problems with recharging, you can always purchase an external portable battery (PowerBank). Power banks are not only for smartphones. On the Internet you can also find for laptops with a capacity of up to 50,000 mAh. The kit includes attachments for different battery sockets. They are also suitable for smartphones and tablets.

How to increase battery life through other means

There are a couple more ways to increase battery life and now a short list will be given:

1. Shutdown network adapter, ports, lowering screen brightness.
2. Increasing the amount of RAM - the more RAM, the less the system will access the hard drive, which in turn increases efficiency.
3. Change batteries every two years, or even more often.
4. Sometimes you can work on a laptop from the mains by removing the battery.
5. Do not charge the battery more than 80% or discharge it less than 20%.
6. For Apple batteries, they like to work a lot, which means point 4 is definitely useless here.
7. Do not keep the device in direct sunlight as this will cause overheating.
8. In winter, try not to keep the device in the cold, as batteries do not like it.
9. Use hibernation mode or turn off the laptop completely. *Standby mode – in this mode the laptop works, although minimum costs charge. However, the charge is still consumed, and why if you are not currently using the device.
10. When turned off, disconnect the device from the network. For what? After all, recharging turns off at 100%, but there is an opinion that in reality the battery is still being charged, which gradually wears it out.

And several more additional options can be found.

If you have an opinion on how to increase battery life or any other theories about their operation, write about it in the comments.

The average laptop battery life ranges from 500 to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles, depending on the manufacturer. Almost always, original batteries last longer than copies and compatible analogues, but their price is higher. The service life of a battery is significantly reduced if it is not used correctly: the process of a reversible chemical reaction is disrupted, and the battery eventually ceases to hold a charge, after which it has to be replaced.

Any laptop battery consists of a metal plate placed in an acid or alkali solution. Under the influence of electromechanical processes, they give up part of their substance and then take it back. Over time, the intensity of the chemical reaction weakens, after which it stops completely. The battery life with proper use is 3-5 years, but it can be significantly reduced under the influence of the following factors:

• Long-term storage in a discharged state is fatal to the battery. In this case, the battery plates deteriorate, after which recharging is impossible.
• Intense shaking, impacts and others mechanical damage lead to the short circuit of the plates, as a result of which the normal charging process is disrupted.
• Lithium-ion batteries, which are the most common today, do not like to operate at sub-zero temperatures. At the same time, the capacity decreases, that is, the battery begins to lose its ability to release accumulated energy.
• The service life is also shortened due to overheating. Direct sunlight and location near heaters have a negative impact.

How to extend battery life?

Extending the life of a laptop battery requires compliance with the charging regime. The optimal level is 50-70%, so it is not recommended to keep the device constantly connected to the mains. If the laptop is used at home as desktop computer, it is recommended to separate the battery during operation and then connect it again. However, it should not lie unloaded for a long time. At least twice a month it must be fully charged and discharged so that the capacity does not decrease.

How to extend the life of your laptop battery and increase battery life? You need to follow a few simple rules:

• The laptop must be placed on a hard surface and the cooling vents must not be blocked. Special stands with a built-in cooler will help to avoid battery overheating.
• It is not advisable to allow the battery to completely discharge. If the charge level approaches 10-20%, stop working and look for an opportunity to recharge from the network.
• To increase battery life, you must turn off all extraneous and additional features. It is worth reducing the number of programs in startup, disabling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules if they are not needed right now. If work needs to be interrupted, the device must be put into sleep mode to save battery.

A special program for increasing the life of a laptop battery, for example, Battery Optimizer, will show which functions can be temporarily disabled to save money, in addition, it shows the degree of battery wear.

Any battery is a consumable item and cannot be used indefinitely. However, following simple recommendations will significantly increase its service life and achieve long-term battery life. If you decide to change the battery, in our store you will find high-quality components for any laptop model.

Manufacturers equate the laptop battery to consumables, A average term their service life is 2 years (from 300 to 800 charge/discharge cycles), which is much less than the service life of the laptop computer. We discuss below what can affect the battery life and how you can extend its service life.

What to do to make your laptop battery last longer

All modern laptops use two main types of batteries:

• Li-Ion (lithium-ion);
• Li-Pol (lithium polymer).

Modern laptops use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries

Both types of batteries have the same storage principle electric charge- there is a cathode installed on an aluminum substrate, an anode on a copper one, and between them there is a porous separator impregnated with electrolyte. Lithium polymer batteries use a gel-like electrolyte, which slows down the breakdown of lithium, which increases their average operating life.

The main disadvantage of such batteries is that they are subject to “aging” and gradually lose their capacity. This process is accelerated:

• battery overheating (temperatures above 60 ºC are critical);
• deep discharge (in batteries consisting of a bunch of 18650 type cans, critical low voltage is 2.5 V and below);
• overcharge;
• freezing of the electrolyte (when its temperature drops below minus).

As for charge/discharge cycles, experts recommend not allowing the battery to completely discharge, that is, recharging the laptop when the battery charge indicator shows 20–30%. This will allow approximately 1.5 times to increase the number of charge/discharge cycles, after which the battery will begin to lose its capacity.

Also, to increase the resource, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. If the laptop is used primarily in stationary mode, then the battery should be charged to 75-80%, disconnected and stored separately at room temperature (10-20 ºC is ideal).
2. After the battery is completely discharged, charge it as soon as possible. Long-term storage of a discharged battery significantly reduces its capacity, and in some cases even leads to blocking of the controller - in this case, the battery will completely fail.
3. At least once every 3–5 months, you should completely discharge the battery and immediately charge it to 100% - this is necessary to calibrate the controller board.
4. When charging the battery, do not run resource-intensive applications to avoid exposing the battery to overheating.
5. Do not charge the battery at low ambient temperatures - when moving to a warm room, the voltage on a fully charged battery will increase by about 5–20%, which is overcharging.

But with all this, each battery has a built-in controller. Its task is to prevent a decrease or increase in voltage to critical levels, adjust the charge current (to prevent overheating), and calibrate the “cans”. So you shouldn’t worry too much about the above rules - many of the nuances have already been provided by the laptop manufacturers themselves, so that the use of such equipment is as simple as possible for the consumer.

Following a few simple rules can significantly extend the life of your battery and laptop as a whole.

Very common problem When a user’s laptop freezes, the first thing he does is press the “Reset” button or remove the battery. This is absolutely not the right approach to solving the problem and can cause colossal harm to any laptop. If this happens systematically, then you risk losing all your data. Of course, recovering your files will most likely not be a problem, but why take the risk?

To close frozen programs, it is first wiser to use the “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” button combination and terminate the task of programs that are not responding. Programs are programs, but let’s better look at the technical part and talk about batteries, and I’ll probably leave that for the next article.

Like everything that surrounds us, there is an expiration date. Battery is no exception, but if not handled carefully, it shrinks several times. Depending on the manufacturer and price category, the average service life is about 3 years. On inexpensive laptops this is about 1000 discharge and charge cycles; on good ones this figure reaches 4 thousand.

Signs of a bad laptop battery:

• Discharges quickly or does not retain charge at all.
• An error when starting the laptop indicates this.

When using the tips below, first you need to make sure what kind of battery you have. U different types batteries have their own norms and standards.

Ni-Cd, Ni-MH (nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride) – to prevent a drop in charge capacity, it is recommended to discharge to 0% before charging. Otherwise, the elements that carry the charge become larger, which leads to a drop in the total capacity of the battery. At the moment it is used in a very small number of devices.
For long-term storage, it is recommended to completely discharge.

Li-Ion, Li-Pol (lithium-ion and lithium-polymer) is a new generation of batteries that are designed completely differently. These batteries do not tolerate deep discharge (0%) and may simply fail altogether. If you have noticed, all new devices are sold already half charged (50%), this is done specifically so as not to damage the battery.
For long-term storage, it is recommended to charge up to 70%.

- Surge protection

Like any other equipment, batteries are afraid of the main thing - problems with power supply. For anyone who constantly uses a laptop at home, I recommend purchasing surge protector or better yet a UPS (source uninterruptible power supply), which will significantly protect against power surges

- Disconnect the battery

If your laptop is used from the network 90% of the time or you do not plan to use it for a long time, then it is recommended to disconnect the battery from the device. If you are using a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, then connect the battery from time to time, every few weeks, to maintain its charge. And in the case of nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries, completely discharge them before storage.

When working with heavy programs, a lot of heat is generated, which does not have a good effect on the battery during long-term operation. Which once again proves that if you want to increase the battery life, it is better to avoid high temperatures and simply disconnect it.

- Avoid deep discharge

This applies to lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, which are installed in all modern devices.

- Reduce screen brightness and speaker volume

The most important consumer is the screen. A lot of energy goes into lighting. Simply turn down the brightness and you can significantly extend your battery life.

The speakers are not a significant energy consumer compared to the screen. But by lowering the volume, you can buy some time.

- System and program updates

From time to time, the manufacturer releases updates, drivers, and new programs for the system. Among which may be useful updates on power supply and energy saving. It is recommended to visit the manufacturer's website once a quarter and check for new update versions for your device.

- Disable unused options

Disable all unnecessary processes (programs), services and external devices. All this loads the system and it requires more energy to process all processes.

As I already said at the very beginning of the article, everything has its expiration date. These recommendations and tips allow you to maintain the battery in good condition throughout its shelf life.