Replacement Laptop Batteries

Posts Tagged ‘replacement laptop batteries’

Replacement laptop batteries, like OEM laptop batteries, work the same way that any other rechargeable battery work. You may currently use rechargeable batteries in your digital camera, CD players, radios or even your power tools. The big difference is that replacement laptop batteries come in a large variety of shapes and sizes, have specific and unique connectors between the battery and the computer and employ electronic safety and charging circuits. The purpose of this electronic circuit is to manage the power flow into the battery while it is charging and the discharge of power from the replacement laptop batteries while they discharge. These circuits may be found in other electronic devices, but they are not contained within the battery or battery housing itself. 

Located within the housing of the replacement laptop batteries are the battery cells. Each battery cell is usually one and a half volts each, and the total voltage of the replacement laptop battery is a sum of the voltage of the individual cells that are connected in series. The voltage of the battery pack is the critical specification in considering a replacement laptop battery. The milli-amp hours are indicative of the operating time that a given battery will provide and are not a critical consideration, but replacement laptop batteries with larger milli-amp hour ratings will operate a laptop computer for a longer period of time that a battery pack with a lower milli-amp rating.

The electronic board regulates the laptop battery charging and discharging power, and is unique to replacement laptop batteries. This electronic circuit regulates the charge in to and out of each of the internal cells in the replacement laptop battery pack and ensures that the individual cells each have an equal charge at all times. This results in prolonging the battery life and ensures that overcharging of the cells does not occur.

On a more basic level of battery function, the plates of each cell react with the electrolyte that results in the flow of electrons (electricity) from the negative to positive terminal in the battery. The electrolyte is generally comprised of a chemical compound and is usually an acid. The battery is discharged when the electrolyte loses its acidity. The process of charging a replacement laptop battery restores the charged ions and the electrolyte regains its acidity. This process is true for all rechargeable batteries.

The charging and discharging process of replacement laptop batteries is controlled by hardware circuits built into the laptop computer. This circuitry provides for the proper operation of the individual battery cells in the replacement laptop battery pack. It works in conjunction with your laptop's power management software and provides a graphical indicator of the battery's power level.  This indicator is usually displayed in the system tray of most Windows laptop computers.

Although laptop batteries are rechargeable, they do have a limited operating life. Proper battery care attention to the charging and discharging cycles of replacement laptop batteries will result in maximizing the useful life of the battery. A laptop battery will normally last anywhere from 500 to 750 cycles, and some newer batteries are being formulated with increased cycling abilities. Once the battery has been depleted it will need to be replaced with another replacement laptop battery. Although the number of charge cycles of the battery will depend on the usage of the laptop, it is a good idea to fully discharge your laptop computer before you recharge the battery to minimize the charge cycles performed on the battery pack.

KelvinM asked:

I have a new Sony laptop computer that I use a lot and I need to swap out the OEM battery with one of the replacement laptop batteries that I have. I mostly use my computer for surfing the web, word processing and playing music and video files. Can anybody give me some ideas on how to prolong the battery's operating time so I don't need to keep swapping the replacement laptop batteries in my computer?

Emnem asked:

I write many articles a week, maybe sixty a week and up to 10 articles a day. These articles have a minimum of two thousand characters. I am looking for a laptop with a good word processor, a strong keyboard and a reliable WiFi connection. I'd also like a laptop with a long operating life either with the standard battery or using replacement laptop batteries.

What's a good laptop for the price? Where's the best place to get generic replacement laptop batteries?

Replacement laptop batteries and OEM laptop batteries provide the electrical energy that powers your laptop or notebook computer. Laptop battery use a combination of cells that are electrochemically active and provide an electromotive force by the movement of electrons from one battery terminal to the other.

NiCad batteries are one of the oldest technologies used for OEM and replacement laptop batteries. However, although this technology is used in rechargeable devices for mechanical devides, it is not used in today's replacement laptop batteries. NiCad batteries are heavy compared to todays laptop and notebook batteries and have a poor power to weight ratio. NiCad laptop batteries are also subject to memory effect. The NiCad batteries also are manufactured with heavy metals, and are difficult to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries succeeded NiCad batteries in laptop computer use. They are less prone to memory effects and the offer a better power to weight ratio than NiCad batteries. However, NiMH battery technology has, for the most part, been discontinued for the manufacture of replacement laptop batteries.

Today, most OEM and replacement laptop battery manufacturers employ Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) technology. Since they are relatively light compared to their power, they are also commonly found in cell phones and digital cameras and camcorders. Li-Ion batteries do not suffer from the memory effect phenomenom and are easier to dispose of than the older technologies. However, these batteries tend to lose their power charge quickly when then are near the end of their useful life, so consider this a warning that a replacement laptop battery will soon be required if you find that your laptop battery will not hold its charge.

Your laptop computer battery's life will vary depending on how your laptop comuter is configured and used. Operating time can be expanded by adjusting the screen's brightness to a lower level, disabling unused peripheral devices and exiting any unused software applications. Most laptop computer's have a software utility to adjust the computer's laptop battery power options. Today's laptop batteries will generally power a laptop computer for anywhere from two to five hours depending on the charge capacity of the OEM or replacement laptop battery and the computer's power requirements.

When buying a replacement laptop battery for your computer, you will likely find several options availabe from both the original equipment manufacturer and the secondary manufacturers. Although you will need to purchase the same battery technology and voltage rating as the original battery, consider upgrading your computer's operating life by purchasing a replacement laptop battery with a higher amperage rating.