Does Leaving Your Laptop Plugged In Ruin The Battery- Introduction And Storage

Laptop when they were first introduced, brought about a technological innovation. People that were glued to their desks, and we're always living in the fear of power shortage, finally got a portable device that could be carried anywhere, and would work without a direct power source.

However, this ease led to some other questions. People would usually leave their laptops on charge and forget about them, leaving the battery to be overcharged; or they were just lazy enough to leave it there; or perhaps, weren’t aware if it was the right thing to do.

Caring for your batteries is essential for your laptop’s life. We shall, in this article, explore if leaving your battery in charge is dangerous or not, and understand better how we should deal with our laptop batteries better, in order to ensure a healthy and smooth lifetime of the laptop (and its battery).

Does it matter if your laptop is always plugged in?

The answer to this question would depend on the type of battery you are using. For some batteries it would indeed be dangerous, but for most others it is okay. We shall understand it in a little detail. What you have to consider is the “memory effect”.

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What is a Memory Effect?

Some batteries have a “memory” of their own. That means, once the battery has charged for the first time, it will become the battery’s memory. Afterwards, whenever you charge it, it will charge up till that “memory” level and then stop indefinitely. This is known as the memory effect.

Memory effect has its advantages and disadvantages. If the initial charge of the battery is low, it will be capped in its memory and regardless of how much you charge it, it will not go above that. This can be a problem within the manufacturing industry. In fact, even bulks of batteries could go to waste due to it. However, it has an upside to (discussed ahead).

Batteries with Memory Effect

If a battery is one with the memory effect, you just have to see how much it charges initially. When you put your laptop on charge, it will start charging and reach up to the point of its “memory”, and then stop charging, regardless of how long you leave the battery plugged in.

This is especially beneficial because even if you forget to plug out the battery, it would be alright and it would not damage your system. Furthermore, the company will ensure beforehand if the battery’s memory is at the right place or not, and then ship it to the dealers. Though, just in case, you should ensure it too if your battery overheats or not. If not, it means your battery’s memory is at the right place.

Batteries without Memory Effect

If your battery does not have the memory effect, you will have to be extremely careful. If you leave your battery on charge and forget about it; or are too lazy to check on it, it will charge up to its normal limit, and continue charging. It will reach a point it will overcharge, and that will make the battery swell, heat up, and may damage your laptop.

The good news is most laptops come with batteries that have the memory effect. Though it would be a good practice to ask your dealer about it.

Important Consideration

Lastly, do make sure to not leave the battery plugged for extended periods of time, especially when you need to keep your laptop on for long. It will constantly transition from charging to stable that will shorten its lifespan.

Should you take out your laptop battery when it is plugged in?

To answer this question, we have to look at our purpose of taking the battery out, and the state of the laptop.

Is the laptop turned on or off?

If the laptop is turned on, do not take its battery off. Laptop being turned on does not just mean the screen is on, even the sleep and hibernation modes of the laptop is typically the laptop “turned on”. If you have to remove the battery, then shut it down.

Charging Purposes

Some people prefer to take the battery out before they charge it. It has one advantage and one disadvantage.

Advantage

Charging the battery can heat it up, and heat up the laptop in the process. If you take it out to charge it, the laptop will be safe from heat and will reap you with benefits.

Disadvantage

Taking the battery in and out every time you need to charge it, can be a very tedious task: you need to open and close the screws, fitting it in or taking it out is not as easy either. It also comes with risks. For instance, if you take it out while the laptop is on (by mistake), you can destroy the system.

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How do you store your laptop battery properly?

Here are some tips that you can benefit from, in order to properly store off your battery and significantly increase its life:

• Do not store it when the charge is low or full.

• Store it away from moist or potentially moist environments.
  

• Check it regularly in order to ensure it is in optimal conditions and optimal health.
  

• Let the battery cool down before you store it off properly.
  

• Do not insert it within the laptop without heating it up first a little.
  

• In the storage process, the battery is meant to be stored, do not use it too much.
  

We usually store off the battery if we do not need it for extended periods of time, or if we need to keep the laptop on for weeks. Having the battery up in that case can shorten its lifetime. Ensure these precautions and your battery will be alright.

Conclusion

Taking care of your battery is equivalent to taking care of your laptop, since it is a fundamental component of it.