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| Customer Service Homepage |
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| General frequently asked questions about battery and electronic parts |
| 1.How do I identify my battery? |
| 2.The Do's and Don'ts of Battery Use |
| 3.What is the difference between Ni-Cd,Ni-MH,and Li-ion?
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| 4.How long does batteries last? |
| 5.How can I maximize the performance of my battery? |
| 6.How long will my new battery run? |
| 7.What is the "Memory Effect"? |
| 8.The rating for battery |
| 9.How can batteries be connected? |
| 10.What is a battery cycle? |
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1. 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.(Return to Top)
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2. The Do's and Don'ts of Battery Use
Battery Do's:
Fully charge/discharge battery up to 4 cycles before achieving full capacity of a new battery.
Fully discharge and then fully charge the battery every two to three weeks for battery conditions.
Run the 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 the user's manual.
Remove from the device and stored in a cool, dry, clean place if the battery will not be in use for a month or longer, Recharge the battery after a storage period
Ensure maximum performance of the battery by optimizing the device's power management features. Refer to the manual for further instructions.
Battery Don'ts:
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 battery away from fire or other sources of extreme heat. Do not incinerate. Exposure of battery to extreme heat may result in an explosion.
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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 so it is important to take good care of your Ni-MH battery to ensure that you obtain the best runtimes.
Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium).
This is one of the older 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.(Return to Top)
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4. How long does batteries last?
The life of a Notebook battery is about 1.5 to 3 years operating under normal conditions.As the rechargeable battery begins to die,the user will notice a decline in the running time of the battery.(Return to Top)
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5. How can I maximize the performance of my battery?
There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your battery:
Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect.
Keep the Batteries Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab andalcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.
Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break in procedure described above.
Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries before use.
Sealed Lead Acid - (SLA) batteries must be kept at full charge during storage. This is usually achieved by using special trickle chargers. If you do not have a trickle charger, do not attempt to store SLA batteries for more than three months.(Return to Top)
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6. How long will my new battery run?
Battery run-time on 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.(Return to Top)
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7. What is "Memory Effect"?
Memory effect, can also be known as lazy battery effect, is an effect in some rechargeable batteries that causes them to hold less charge over time. In its original meaning it describes one very specific situation in which certain NiCd batteries gradually lose their maximum energy capacity if they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. This battery chemistry should be fully discharged before attempting to recharge the battery.
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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),Hight amp-hour ratings means a longer run-time and will not cause incompatibilities.
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9. The rating for battery
Note: When interconnecting batteries (cells), they must be identical in voltage and amp rating!
Batteries may be connected in series. The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery; the positive terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third, and so on. The voltage of the assembled battery is the sum of the individual batteries. The batteries are connected: + to - to + to - to + to -, etc. The capacity of the battery is unchanged.
Batteries may also be connected in parallel. The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery, the positive terminal of the second is connected to the positive of the third; the negative terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery, the negative terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third and so on. The batteries are connected: + to + to + and - to - to -. In this configuration, the capacity is the sum of the individual batteries and voltage is unchanged.
For example, (5) 6V 10AH batteries connected in series produces a battery array that is 30 Volts and 10AH. Connecting the batteries in parallel produces a battery array that is 6 Volts and 50AH. Ordinary auto batteries are designed in the same fashion. Six 2-volt cells are arranged in series to produce a 12v battery. Many Ni-Cd batteries are arranged in the same way.
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10. What is a battery cycle?
Cycle life is measured by the amount of times a battery may be charged and discharged. Every time a battery is charged and discharged, it uses one cycle. Cycle life is very important in battery applications such as laptop batteries and emergency light batteries. A Ni-Cd battery has a cycle life of 500-1000 or more cycles.
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