Battery care practices

After reading the information presented in this paper, users should be aware of conditions that negatively impact battery run time and lifespan. In summary:

•Li-Ion battery cells suffer gradual, irreversible capacity loss with each discharge-charge cycle. Such aging occurs more rapidly as temperature and discharge loads increase.

•The self-discharge rate of a Li-Ion battery is higher if the battery is left in an unpowered notebook.

•During prolonged storage or non-use, the battery charge will decrease below its recommended low-voltage level. Leaving the battery in a depleted condition for an extended period will accelerate the decrease in FCC.

•Leaving the battery at a high level of charge in a high-temperature environment for extended periods (for example, running a notebook computer in a docking station under a heavy load) will also accelerate the loss of capacity.

•Running high-end applications using the battery accelerates the loss of capacity. For example, playing 3D games will lower FCC faster than using word processing applications.

Recommendations for battery use and storage are covered in the HP User Guides for each model. Additional battery care practices are as follows:

•Store Li-Ion batteries between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F) with 30% to 50% charge.

•Do not leave batteries exposed to high temperatures for extended periods. Prolonged exposure to heat (for example, inside a hot car) will accelerate the deterioration of Li-Ion cells.

•Remove the battery if the notebook will be stored (turned off and not plugged into AC power) for more than 2 weeks.

•Remove the battery from the notebook if the notebook will be plugged into AC power continuously (via a wall adapter or docking station) for more than 2 weeks.

•Use the type of battery with the highest capacity (Ah) rating if the notebook will run high-end applications on battery power.

•Periodically calibrate the battery based on the usage model. Under normal usage, batteries should be calibrated a minimum of once every 3 months; however, a battery that is rarely discharged fully should be calibrated about once a month.