Re:It's not bad to leave your laptop plugged in
by noonespecial on Friday February 26, 2010 @03:27PM
(#1154033)
I don't know if its still true or not, but the chemistry in a lithium battery breaks down over time, reducing its capacity to store charge (even when not in use). This is greatly accelerated by both heat and charge state of the battery.
The best bet for long term storage was "40/40". Discharge the battery to 40% and store it at 40 degs F. You could go as high as 60 before getting into the steep part of the deterioration curve.
The bottom of a running laptop seems the exact opposite of this ideal environment. Your laptop is going to hold it at 100% charge and heat it to 90-100 degs. If you're going to leave your laptop plugged in for a long time, it might be best to remove the battery and place it on a shelf nearby.
The best bet for long term storage was "40/40". Discharge the battery to 40% and store it at 40 degs F. You could go as high as 60 before getting into the steep part of the deterioration curve.
The bottom of a running laptop seems the exact opposite of this ideal environment. Your laptop is going to hold it at 100% charge and heat it to 90-100 degs. If you're going to leave your laptop plugged in for a long time, it might be best to remove the battery and place it on a shelf nearby.