Facts
Battery No-No’s
What are the different types of Chemistry/Technologies ?
What is the “Memory Effect”?
Is it possible to upgrade my device’s battery to a newer chemistry ?
My battery won’t charge.
How are batteries rated ?
How long do batteries last ?
Should I replace my old battery ? How ?
What are Main Batteries ?
What are CMOS or Clock Batteries ?
What are RAM or RESUME Batteries ?
How long will the new battery power my device ?
What is a “ Smart Battery “?
Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator ?





Battery Facts

Your new battery comes in a discharged state and must be charged before use.(refer to your owner’s manual). Upon initial use the battery may require three to four charge/discharge cycles before achieving maximum capacity.

When charging the battery for the first time your computer may indicate that the charging is complete after 10 or 15 minutes. This is a normal phenomena with rechargeable batteries. Simply remove the battery from the computer and repeat the procedure.

It is important to condition ( fully discharge and fully charge ) the battery every 2-3 Weeks.Failure to do so may significantly shorten the battery’s life, this does not apply to Li-Ion batteries, which do not require conditioning ). To discharge, simply run your device under the battery’s power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as instructed in your owner’s manual.

If the battery will not be in use for a month or longer, it is recommended that it be removed from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place.

It is normal for a battery to become warm during charging and discharging.

A charged battery will eventually lose its charge if unused. It may therefore be necessary to recharge the battery after a storage period.

Battery No-No’s

Do not short-circuit. A short-circuit may cause severe damage to the battery.

Do not drop, hit or otherwise abuse the battery as this may result in the exposure of the cell contents which are corrosive.

Do not expose the battery to moisture or rain.

Keep batteries away from fires or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.

What are the different types of rechargeable battery Chemistries/Technologies ?

Batteries in portable consumer devices are principally made using either Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (Nimh) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) technologies. Each type of rechargeable battery technology has its own unique characteristics:

• NiCad and Nimh: The main difference between the two is the fact that Nimh batteries ( the newer of the two technologies) offer higher energy densities than NiCads. In other words, pound for pound, Nimh delivers approximately 100% more capacity than its NiCad counterpart. What this translates into is increased run-time from the battery with no additional bulk to weigh down your portable device.Nimh also offers another major advantage: NiCad batteries tend to suffer from what is called the “memory effect”. Nimh batteries are less prone to develop this dreaded affliction and thus require less maintenance and care. Nimh batteries are also more environmentally friendly than their NiCad counterparts, since they do not contain heavy metals (which present serious landfill problems).
• Li-Ion has quickly become the emerging standard for portable power in consumer devices. Li-Ion batteries produce the same energy as Nimh batteries but weigh about 35% less. This is crucial in applications such as camcorders or notebook computers, where the battery makes up a significant portion of the device’s weight. Another reason Li-Ion batteries have become so popular is that they do not suffer from the memory effect at all. They are also better for the environment because they don’t contain toxic materials such as Cadmium or Mercury.

What is the “Memory Effect” ?

NiCad batteries, and to a lesser extent Nimh batteries, suffer from what’s called the “memory effect”. What this means is that if a battery is continually only partially discharged before recharging, the battery “forgets” that it has the capacity to further discharge all the way down. To illustrate: If you, on a regular basis, fully charge your battery and then use only 50% of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the battery will become unaware of its extra 50% of its original capacity. The way to avoid the dreaded “memory effect” is to fully cycle your battery at least once every 2-3 weeks. Batteries can be discharged by unplugging the device’s AC adapter and letting the device run on the battery until it ceases to function. This will insure your battery remains healthy.

Is it possible to upgrade my device’s battery to a newer chemistry ?

NiCad, Nimh and Li-Ion are all fundamentally different from one another and cannot be substituted unless the device has been pre-configured from the factory to accept more than one type of rechargeable battery. The difference between them stems from the fact that each type requires a different charging pattern to be properly recharged. Therefore, the portable device’s charger must be properly configured to handle a given type of rechargeable battery.

Refer to your owner’s manual to find out which rechargeable battery types your particular device supports.

Why isn’t my new battery charging ?

New batteries are shipped in a discharged condition and must be charged before use. We generally recommend an overnight charge( about 12 hours). Refer to your user’s manual for charging instructions. Rechargeable batteries should be cycled - fully charged and then fully discharged - 2-4 times initially to allow them to reach full capacity.( It is normal for a battery to become warm to touch during charging and discharging.)

How are batteries rated ?

There are two ratings to every battery: volts and amp-hours (AH). The AH rating may also be given as milliamp(mAH), which are one-thousandth of an amp-hour. The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of the original.Some of our batteries will have higher amp-hour ratings than the original battery found in your device. This is indicative of a longer run-time and will not cause any incompatibilities.

How long do batteries last ?

The life of a rechargeable battery operating under normal conditions is generally between 500-800 charge - discharge cycles. This translates into one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. As your rechargeable battery begins to die, you will notice a decline in the running time of the battery. When your 2 hour battery is only supplying you with an hour’s worth of use, it’s time for a new one.

Should I recycle my old battery ? How ?

NiCad, Nimh and Li-Ion batteries should be recycled. Be environmentally conscious - DO NOT throw these batteries in the trash.

If you don’t know where your local recycling facility is, call The Portable Rechargeable Battery Association at 1-800-822-8837. They will provide you with the address of the recycling center nearest you.

What are main batteries?

The main battery (also called the power battery) is the battery pack which allows a laptop or notebook to operate independently of an AC power source. These rechargeable batteries are designed to operate for a certain amount of time(generally 1-4 hours).

What are CMOS or Clock Batteries ?

CMOS and Clock Backup batteries perform the same function in desktop and laptop computers: When the computer is turned off, the battery maintains the time and date, insuring their accuracy when the system is once again restarted. More importantly, the battery saves the computer’s CMOS setup configuration, which allows the system to efficiently reboot once it is restarted. The computer knows what type of hard drive it is dealing with, etc. Not surprisingly, these batteries are known alternatively as CMOS batteries, Real Time Clock (RTC) batteries, or simply internal batteries.

The most common CMOS battery chemistries are Lithium, Nickel Cadmium(NiCad) and alkaline. They are usually somewhere in the 3 to 7.2 volt range and either solder onto the motherboard or simply plug in via a snap-in connector.

In most cases, replacement of the CMOS battery is an easy task. It is simply a matter of locating the battery on the computer’s motherboard, removing it, and plugging in a new one. As a rule, internal batteries should be replaced by the same type of battery which was originally used in the machine, or according to manufacturers specifications. The major exception to this rule are older IBM compatible computers which come with a NiCad battery soldered onto the motherboard. These computers usually have a three or four male pin plug, with two of the pins connected via a jumper. The plug gives you the option of leaving the soldered battery in place and replacing it with a plug-in type battery.Removing the jumper tells the computer to ignore the battery soldered onto the motherboard and to look to the pins for its power source. Important Note: NiCad batteries are rechargeable, whereas Lithium and alkaline batteries are not.

CMOS batteries generally last for 2-3 years, although some have been known to last much longer. Ironically, the less you use your computer, the faster the CMOS battery will run out. This is because when your computer is turned of the battery begins to function. It is recommend to replace the CMOS battery approximately once a year, or when servicing the computer. If your computer has been idle for an extended length of time it is a good idea to change the battery. Changing the battery is a relatively easy and inexpensive task, especially compared to trying to reconfigure a computer which has lost its CMOS settings.

What are RAM and Resume batteries ?

Some notebook computers are designed with a dedicated battery for backing up RAM functions when the machine is temporarily shut off. This feature allows users to change the main battery pack without losing the current applications and settings residing in RAM(Random Access Memory). This called a “battery hot swap” - switching the main battery pack without having to turn off the computer.

These types of batteries are alternately known as bridge batteries, RAM batteries,or resume batteries.

Most RAM batteries are rechargeable NiCad and will last around 2-3 years.It is recommended that you replace your notebook’s RAM battery when replacing the CMOS battery.

How long will the new battery power my laptop?

That is difficult to determine. Actual battery running time depends upon the power demands made by the equipment. The use of the monitor, the hard drive and other accessories results in an additional drain upon the battery, effectively reducing its running time. The total running time of the battery is also dependent upon the design of the equipment.

What is a “smart” battery ?

Smart batteries have internal circuit boards with smart chips which allow them to communicate with the notebook and thus better monitor battery performance, output voltage and temperture.Smart batteries will generally run 15% longer due to their increased efficiency and also give the computer much more accurate”fuel gauge” capabilities to determine how much battery running time is left before the next recharge is required.

Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator ?

Yes, but only if they can be kept dry as well. The higher the temperature, the more the free flow of ions or self-discharge from the battery. Storing primary batteries( D’s, C’s, AA’s, AAA’s, 9volt, etc.) in a cooler environment slows down the rate of discharge that all batteries experience even when not in use., hence a longer shelflife. However, if this is done, it is important that the batteries are kept as dry as possible by keeping them in an airtight container in the driest part of the refrigerator, the door for example. Long term exposure to moisture inside the refrigerator can cause internal corrosion to the battery. When removing batteries from the refrigerator, allow them to warm up to room temperature before using them in your device.

Disclaimer: Any statements and data in this file are for general information purposes. They represent the latest technical status at the time of publishing. We reserve the right to change the data in this file without prior notice. The technical information is given in a descriptive way and does not guarantee any properties or enlarge any warranties given.