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UK Laptop Battery Store >> Battery F.A.Q.s

Frequently Asked Questions--Battery F.A.Q.s

We sell brand new compatible/replacement batteries that are manufactured to meet the specifications of the original brand manufacturer.

Some battery terms, see the battery glossary

Battery Glossary

Battery: Two or more cells connected together

Cell: An electrochemical system that converts chemical energy into electrical energy.

Capacity: This is amount of energy a battery cell or battery pack actually provides. The higher the capacity the longer the equipment will run on battery power. Usually measured in Amp hours (Ah) or Milliamp hours (mAh).

Battery Charge: This is the process of passing electricity into the battery pack so the pack can be used to provide power when the user is away from mains power

Li-ion : Lithium Ion. This is one the newest battery types available. It can offer the same power as a Ni-MH battery in a smaller & lighter package. This type does not suffer from 'Memory Effect' but it is expensive to manufacture.

Ni-Cd: Nickel Cadmium. This is one of the oldest battery technologies that are still in use. Usually found only in older equipment or applications that require a high power drain. Very prone to 'Memory Effect'.

Ni-MH : Nickel Metal Hydride. This battery type has virtually replaced the Ni-Cd batteries. This type offers higher capacities, around 30% more than a Ni-Cd cell of the same physical size. This type is also reported to suffer less from 'Memory Effect'.

Battery Float Voltage: A unit for measuring electrical pressure. All batteries provide DC (Direct Current) electricity. It is important to ensure that the equipment you are powering is being provided with the correct volt or else damage may occur.

  1. What is a battery?
  2. How do I identify my battery?
  3. What is the difference between Ni-Cd, NiMH, and Li-ion?
  4. How long will the new main battery power the laptop?
  5. How to maximize battery performance?
  6. How long does Battery last?
  7. How can batteries be connected?
  8. The rating of battery
  9. How do I charge my batteries?
  10. What is "Memory Effect"?
  11. What is a battery cycle?
  12. Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator?
  13. Can I use my older Ni-Cd battery charger to charge my NiMH batteries?

2.How do I identify my battery?

The first information to provide would be the make and model of the equipment that you require the battery for e.g. Toshiba Satellite Pro 400, or Compaq Presario 1283. There is also usually a label on the battery, and some of this information on the label will help our sales team to identify your battery quickly.

This information includes the voltage of the battery pack (note: this is not the same as the voltage on the power supply), the capacity of the battery pack and the chemical construction of the battery pack e.g. Li-ion, Ni-MH or Ni-Cd. This information can be used to ensure the information you have provided matches the information we have about your battery. Many battery packs also have part numbers on the label; this can sometimes be used to help identify the battery. We would suggest that it is best to have all this information written down or close to hand before you call our sales team. This will help us deal with your call in an efficient manner.

3.What is the difference between Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, and Li-ion?

Li-ion (Lithium Ion). This is one of the newest cell types available. It is also the lightest battery type currently available on a commercial basis and can provide more power than the other main cell types. There are no known problems of memory effect with this battery type and it is the easiest battery type to care for. The downside of this battery is that it has the highest engineering costs and therefore the price is usually considerably higher than other cell types. Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride). This cell type is the most common cell type currently available for laptop computers, (although Li-ion is rapidly becoming the most popular). This battery type is relatively cheap to manufacture and therefore tends to be cheaper than Li-ion. This cell type is prone to ??memory effect??A so it is important to take good care of your NiMH battery to ensure that you obtain the best runtimes.

Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium). This is one of the oldest cell types and is generally only found in older laptops. The main pro for this cell type is its ability to handle higher loads, and therefore is more commonly found in portable power tools or devices that need a lot of power to work efficiently. The main downside of this cell type is that it is notorious for suffering with memory effect so good care must be taken with this battery to ensure most effective use of battery.

4.How long will the new main battery power the laptop?

Battery run-time of a laptop is difficult to determine. Actual battery running time depends upon the power demands made by the equipment. The use of the screen, the hard drive and other accessories results in an additional drain upon the battery, effectively reducing its running time. The total run-time of the battery is also dependent upon the design of the equipment. Generally, a new Hi-Capacity battery will run 30% to 50% longer than the old battery did when it was new.

5.How to maximize and battery performance?

It is recommended to condition(fully charge and discharge) the new battery few times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity.

Condition the Ni-MH and Ni-Cd battery at least once a month.It will reduce the memory effect.

Use the battery at least once a month even it was kept in a dry and cool storage.

Clean the metal connector (the contact to the notebook, usually in color of gold or silver) by alcohol or Electronics Cleaner Degreaser. It will maintain the good conductivity. Which improves the power conduction from battery to Notebook.

Fully optimize the power management features provides in system BIOS and Operating System will also improve the battery performance. Consult the user's manual to fully understand the usage of these features.

6.How long does batteries last?

The life span of a Notebook battery is about 1.5 to 3 years operating under normal conditions. As rechargeable battery begins to die,the user will notice a decline in the running time of the battery.

8.The Rating for Battery

V(olts): The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of the original. mAh:It standards for milli-Amp hours (1 mAh=0.001Ah), High amp-hour ratings means a longer run-time and will not cause incompatibilities.