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By Bobby George
The following practices will ensure maximum
battery performance:
• Breaking In New Batteries -
new batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged
before use. It is recommended that you fully charge and discharge your
new battery two to four times to allow it to reach its maximum rated
capacity.
• Preventing the Memory Effect -
Keep your 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 Your Batteries Clean -
It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and
rubbing alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the
battery and your portable device.
• Exercise Your Battery - Do not
leave your 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, we recommend storing 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 break them in 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.
• For
Notebook
Battery Users - To get
maximum performance from your battery, fully optimize the notebook's
power management features prior to use. Power management is a trade off:
better power conservation in exchange for lesser computer performance.
The power management system conserves battery power by setting the
processor to run at a slower speed, dimming the screen, spinning down
the hard drive when it's not in use and causing the machine to go into
sleep mode when inactive. Your notebook user's guide will provide
information relating to specific power management features.
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