Battery F.A.Q

Here are frequently asked battery questions by our client.
(Some Battery Terms, see the Battery Glossary )

1. What is a battery?
2. How do I identify my battery?
3. What is the difference between Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, and Li-ion?
4. How long will the new main battery power the laptop?
5. How to maximize and battery performance?
6. How long do batteries last?
7. How can batteries be connected?
8. The rating for battery
9. How do I charge my batteries?
10. What is "Memory Effect"?
11. What is a battery cycle?
12. Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator?
13. Can I use my older Ni-Cd battery charger to charge my Ni-MH batteries?
14. My new laptop and/or camcorder battery is not working at all! What's up?
15. Where can I find more information on charging batteries for my notebook computer, digital camera camcorder or others?
16. How to extend your PDA's battery life?
17. How to choose your next cell phone in 5 easy steps?
18. How to pick the right laptop ac adapters?
19. How to choose two-way radios?
    

1. What is a battery?
   Battery can be any device that stores energy for later use. The word battery is limited to an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy into electricity, by use of a galvanic cell. A galvanic cell is a fairly simple device consisting of two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) and an electrolyte solution. Batteries consist of one or more galvanic cells.
   A battery is an electrical storage device. Batteries do not make electricity, they store it. As chemicals in the battery change, electrical energy is stored or released. In rechargeable batteries, this process can be repeated many times. Batteries are not 100% efficient - some energy is lost as there are heat and chemical reactions when charging and discharging. If you use 1000 watts from a battery, it might take 1200 watts or more to fully recharge it. Slower charging and discharging rates are more efficient. A battery rated at 180 amp-hours over 6 hours might be rated at 220 AH at the 20-hour rate, and 260 AH at the 48-hour rate. Typical efficiency in a lead-acid battery is 85-95%; in alkaline and Ni-Cd battery, it is about 65%.

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2. How do I identify my battery?
   The first information to provide would be the make and model of the equipment that you require the battery for, e.g. Toshiba Satellite Pro 400, or Compaq Presario 1283. There is also usually a label on the battery, and some of the information on the label will help our sales team to identify your battery quickly.
   
   This information includes the voltage of the battery pack (note: this is not the same as the voltage on the power supply), the capacity of the battery pack and the chemical construction of the battery pack, e.g. Li-ion , Ni-MH or Ni-Cd . This information can be used to ensure the information you have provided matches the information we have about your battery. Many battery packs also have part numbers on the label; this can sometimes be used to help identify the battery. We would suggest that it is best to have all this information written down or close to hand before you call our sales team. This will help us deal with your call in an efficient manner.

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3. 3. What is the difference between Ni-Cd, Ni-MH and Li-ion?
   Li-ion (Lithium Ion). This is one of the newest cell types available. It is also the lightest battery type currently available on a commercial basis and can provide more power than the other main cell types. There are no known problems of memory effect with this battery type and it is the easiest battery type to care for. The downside of this battery is that it has the highest engineering costs and therefore the price is usually considerably higher than other cell types.

   Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride). This cell type is the most common cell type currently available for laptop computers (although Li-ion is rapidly becoming the most popular) This battery type is relatively cheap to manufacture and therefore tends to be cheaper than Li-ion. This cell type is prone to memory effect, so it is important to take good care of your Ni-MH battery to ensure that you obtain the best runtimes.

   Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium). This is one of the oldest cell types and is generally only found in older laptops. The main pro for this cell type is its ability to handle higher loads, and therefore is more commonly found in portable power tools or devices that need a lot of power to work efficiently. The main downside of this cell type is that it is notorious for suffering from memory effect, so good care must be taken with this battery type to ensure most effective use of battery.

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4. How long will the new main battery power the laptop?
   Battery run-time on a laptop is difficult to determine. Actual battery running time depends upon the power demands made by the equipment. The use of the screen, the hard drive and other accessories also results in an additional drain upon the battery, effectively reducing its running time. The total run-time of the battery is also dependent upon the design of the equipment. Generally, a new Hi-Capacity battery will run 30% to 50% longer than the old battery did when it was new.

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5. How to maximize and battery performance?
   It is recommended to condition (fully charge and discharge) the new battery few times to allow it to reach its maximum rated capacity .
   
   Condition the Ni-MH and Ni-Cd battery at least once a month. It will reduce the memory effect.
   
   Use the battery at least once a month even it was kept in a dry and cool storage. Clean the metal connector (the contact to the notebook, usually in color of gold or silver) by alcohol or Electronics Cleaner Degreaser. It will maintain the good conductivity, which improves the power conduction from battery to Notebook.
   
   Fully optimize the Power Management features provided in system BIOS, and Operating System will also improve the battery performance. Consult the user's manual to fully understand the usage of these features.

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6. How long do batteries last?
   The life span of a Notebook battery is about 1.5 to 3 years under normal conditions. As the rechargeable battery begins to die, the user will notice a decline in the running time of the battery.

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7. How can batteries be connected?
   Note: When interconnecting batteries (cells) , they must be identical in voltage and amp rating!
   • Batteries may be connected in series. The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery; the positive terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third, and so on. The voltage of the assembled battery is the sum of the individual batteries. The batteries are connected: + to - to + to - to + to -, etc. The capacity of the battery is unchanged.
   • Batteries may also be connected in parallel. The positive terminal of the first battery is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery, the positive terminal of the second is connected to the positive of the third; the negative terminal of the first battery is connected to the negative terminal of the second battery, the negative terminal of the second is connected to the negative of the third and so on. The batteries are connected: + to + to + and - to - to -. In this configuration, the capacity is the sum of the individual batteries and voltage is unchanged.
   For example, (5) 6V 10AH batteries connected in series produces a battery array that is 30 Volts and 10AH. Connecting the batteries in parallel produces a battery array that is 6 Volts and 50AH. Ordinary auto batteries are designed in the same fashion. Six 2-volt cells are arranged in series to produce a 12v battery. Many Ni-Cd batteries are arranged in the same way.

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8. The rating for battery
   V (lots): The voltage of the new battery should always match the voltage of the original.
   Mash: It standards for mille-Amp hours (1 mash=0.001Ah), High amp-hour rating means a longer run-time and will not cause incompatibilities.

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9. How do I charge my batteries?
   Our Ni-MH chargers are fully automatic. Plug your charger into an A/C (or D/C power source for the Powered MH-C204F-DC) and place your batteries into the charger in matched pairs of two or four batteries to begin charging. Red lights indicate charging in progress. The lights will turn green when charging is complete and the charger will automatically switch to a trickle charge. The trickle charge will keep your batteries fully charged and ready for use. Refer to our Charger Manuals page for more detailed operating instructions for your model charger.

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10. What is "Memory Effect"?
    Ni-Cd batteries, and to a lesser extent Ni-MH batteries, suffer from what's called the "memory effect". What this means is that if a battery is repeatedly only partially discharged before recharging, the battery "forgets" that it has the capacity to further discharge all the way down. To illustrate: If you, on a regular basis, fully charge your battery and then use only 50% of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the battery will become unaware of its extra 50% capacity which has remained unused. The battery will remain functional, but only at 50% of its original capacity. The way to avoid the dreaded "memory effect" is to fully cycle (fully charge and then fully discharge) the battery at least once every two to three weeks. Batteries can be discharged by unplugging the device's AC adapter and letting the device run on the battery until it ceases to function. This will insure your battery remains healthy.

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11. What is a battery cycle?
    Cycle life is measured by the amount of times a battery may be charged and discharged. Every time a battery is charged and discharged, it uses one cycle. Cycle life is very important in battery applications such as laptop batteries and emergency light batteries. A Ni-Cd battery has a cycle life of 500-1000 or more cycles.

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12. Does it really help to store batteries in the refrigerator?
    Yes, but only if they can be kept dry as well. The higher the temperature, the more the free flow of ions or self-discharge from the battery. Storing primary batteries (D's, C's, AA's, AAA's, 9 volt, etc.) in a cooler environment slows down this rate of discharge that all batteries experience even when not in use, hence a longer shelf life. However, if this is done, it is important that the batteries be kept as dry as possible by keeping them in an airtight container in the driest part of the refrigerator, the door side for example. Long time exposure to moisture inside the refrigerator can cause internal corrosion to the battery. When removing batteries from the refrigerator, allow them to warm up to room temperature before using them in your device.

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13. Can I use my old version Ni-Cd battery charger to charge my Ni-MH batteries?
    No, you can use a new Ni-MH charger to charge your old Ni-Cd batteries but you should not try to charge Ni-MH batteries with a Ni-Cd charger. Here's why: Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries are chemically very similar and when both are fully charged the battery voltage will start to drop. The Ni-MH voltage drop is much more subtle and more difficult to detect. Ni-MH chargers usually have an over temperature sensor and shutoff to prevent overcharge as well as a more sensitive voltage drop detector where Ni-Cd chargers usually only use the voltage drop to determine when to stop charging. If you charge Ni-MH batteries in a Ni-Cd charger it will probably miss the voltage drop and keep right on charging causing the batteries to overheat. Overcharge and overheating Ni-MH batteries can damage them internally and reduce battery life.

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14. My new laptop and/or camcorder battery is not working at all! What’s up?
    New batteries are shipped in a discharged condition and must BE charged before use. We generally recommend an overnight charge (approximately twelve hours) for Ni-Cd batteries and a 24-hour charge for Nickel Metal Hydride. Refer to your computer manual for charging instructions. Rechargeable batteries should be cycled - fully charged and then fully discharged - 2 to 4 times initially to allow them to reach their full capacity. (Note: it is perfectly normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging).

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15. Where can I find more information on charging batteries for my Notebook Computer, Digital Camera Camcorder or others?
    Try these links for a more detailed batteries selection laptop, Digital Camera, Camcorder and battery chargers.
    We Website Provides Discount Laptop Batteries, Camcorder Batteries, Camera Batteries, Power Tools Batteries, Laptop AC Adapters, Laptop Auto (DC) Adapters And Battery Chargers for your Laptops, Camcorders. www.battery-plaza.ca
    We are an online retailer of Replacement laptop batteries, camcorder batteries, digital camera batteries, power tools batteries and laptop AC/Auto Adapters, at lowest prices in the USA www.omni-batteries.com
    For the best digital camera battery Try www.omni-batteries.com
    For the most modes of batteries Try www.camera-battery.net
    For high quality of power tools battery Try www.power-depot.com
    

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16. How To Extend My PDA's Battery Life?
    

    Your PDA is a valuable tool for mobile work. When the battery begins to fail or has failed, mobile users can be stuck. Take steps to protect and extend your PDA's battery life.

    Here's How:
    1. Use the AC adapter whenever you can. This not only charges the battery but extends the battery life.
    2. Set your PDA to power down after a set period of inactivity.
    3. Adjust the brightness of the screen. You don't need it to be 100% bright and it will consume less power.
    4. Set the backlighting to turn off after a certain period of time.
    5. Set your PDA on the lowest setting possible when not in use.
    6. Remove any unused devices such as Compact Flash and PC cards.
    7. Use alkaline batteries rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries may not be read correctly and the device may shut down without warning.
    8. Don't over clock your PDA. This will drain the battery faster and may even void your warranty.

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17. How to choose your next cell phone in 5 easy steps?
    

    You want to buy a cell phone but it seems so complicated? I can ease the process: just follow the 5 steps below to make sure you will be choosing the right phone and service plan:

    Difficulty: Average
    Time Required: 15

    Here's How:
    

    1. Answer the basic questions: Prepaid or monthly billed? by-the-second billing? Wireless Internet? Read my 6 questions and answers on buying a cell phone and service plan.
    Q1: Analog or Digital?
    Q2: Is by the second billing really better?
    Q3: Prepaid or Monthly Bill?
    Q4: Cell phone as unique number?
    Q5: Wireless Internet Access?
    Q6: Where to buy?

    2. Select your 5 best matching phones: Choosing a cell phone is about choosing its features, but what do you need exactly? Take my cool test that unveils your top 5 ideal cell phones.
    
    Q1: How important is a phone's size and weight to you?
    Q2: Do you want your phone to be a flip-cover model?
    Q3: Do you want to take pictures on the road?
    Q4: Will you use your phone in your car or in situations where you need to use your two hands?
    Q5: Need a color display?
    Q6: Do you need a phone that includes a PDA or Palm computer (usually bulkier)?
    Q7: In terms of budget, how far are you willing to go?
    Q8: Does your computer have Infrared or Blue tooth connectivity (or do you plan to upgrade it)?
    Q9: Will you travel and want to use your phone overseas?
    Q10: Will you use your phone to exchange text messages?
    Q11: Do you think you will want to access web sites on your cell phone?
    Q12: Will you need to use your phone as a wireless modem, to connect your laptop to the Internet? (Requires either an infrared connection or a data cable and may require a special service plan)
    Q13: What best describes your mobile lifestyle?
    Q14: Would you like to use your cell phone as a walkie-talkie (Push-to-talk feature)?
    Q15: Do you have more than a hundred friends and contacts?
    Q16: Are you the kind of person who would personalize your phone with programmable ringbones?
    Q17: Any interest in changing your phone's appearance by using Snap-On faceplates to match your personality or change everyday to match your clothes?
    Q18: Would you like your phone to have built-in games?
    Q19: Would you use your phone to listen to music?
    Q20: Will you record voice memos?
    
    * Why select the phones before choosing a service plan? Thinking of your phone will help you better determine the features that you want and may have an impact on the service plan you'll choose but you may do just the inverse if you prefer.

    3. Select a service plan: Once you're done, check out the phones offered by the carrier you selected and match them, or similar models, with those you found at step #2.
    * If you are not living in the United States, check out the GSM World association network operators list.

    4. At this point, you should have identified 2 to 3 phones that you would like to use. The next step: take advantage of professional reviews and other people's experiences that should let you avoid buying a bad phone.

    5. Buy it: Wonder where? Here is a discussion of the best options available to a cell phone shopper.

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18. How to pick the right laptop ac adapters?
    

    All new laptops come with AC Adapters. Adapters are used for charging laptop batteries and also used to supply power directly. There are occasions, which we require to buy an ac adapter. Most laptop users travel, for that travel to Europe or US they require ac adapters that take 100-240 voltages input and output 16 voltages or 19 voltages.

    Let us present 3 easy steps to pick the right laptop ac adapters.

    1. Finding the right "tips" - Different laptops has different connectors. You need the right tip for your laptop. This is very simply to find. Basically, laptop ac adapters comprise of 2 ends. One end is male power outlet. You use this end to plug into wall power outlet. The other end is called "TIP" which you will plug this tip into the "DC IN" in your laptop.

    Your laptop won't work on the wrong tip. You can only use the " matching Tips"

    Warning: DO NOT try to force it in.

    2. Finding the right "output voltage" - Different laptops were designed to consume power varied by equipments such as CD-Rom, LCD size, CPU maker and CPU speed. You require using the "matching voltage”. Only use the laptop ac adapters output the matching voltage of your laptops. You can easily locate your laptop voltage. Mostly, voltage is printed on your laptops. You also can check your laptop manual.

    3. Find the right "input voltage" - for those users who will travel abroad especially to Europe and Asia. You would need laptop ac adapters that compatible with 220-240 voltage also. So it would be wise...and yes...you are!!.... Always look for ac adapters accept 100~240 voltages. 100~240 voltages ac adapters will go with you worldwide. You do not need to carry 2 adapters anymore!

    That's easy!!! You now know the basic knowledge to find your laptop ac adapters.

    Better yet!!! Ac adapter manufacturers are now promoting " universal ac adapters ".

    These emerging adapters can be used with multiple devices. They can accept 100~240 input voltages and also adjust the output voltage to match device automatically.

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19. How to choose two-way radios?
    

    About Two-way Radio Battery:

    Typical two-way radio units utilize standard AA or AAA batteries. Some models come with their own rechargeable battery packs. Most two-way radio units will operate for a full day of solid use on one set of new or fully charged batteries.

    Many two-way radio users power their radios with rechargeable Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) or Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) batteries. These batteries present a highly economical option, as they can be recharged hundreds of times using affordable chargers that plug in to standard household outlets.

    In general, the higher a radio's power output, the more quickly it will drain batteries. Some radio models have a feature that sends them into a low power; battery-saver mode after a certain amount of time has elapsed between broadcasts.

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Battery Glossary

• Batter : Two or more cells connected together
  
• Cell: An electrochemical system that converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
  
• Capacity: This is amount of energy a battery cell or battery pack actually provides. The higher the capacity the longer the equipment will run on battery power. Usually measured in Amp hours (Ah) or Milliamp hours (mAh).
  
• Battery Charge : This is the process of passing electricity into the battery pack so the pack can be used to provide power when the user is away from mains power
  
• Li-ion: Lithium Ion. This is one the newest battery types available. It can offer the same power as a Ni-MH battery in a smaller & lighter package. This type does not suffer from 'Memory Effect' but it is expensive to manufacture.
  
• Ni-Cd: Nickel Cadmium. This is one of the oldest battery technologies that are still in use. Usually found only in older equipment or applications that require a high power drain. Very prone to 'Memory Effect'.
  
• Ni-MH: Nickel Metal Hydride. This battery type has virtually replaced the Ni-Cd batteries. This type offers higher capacities, around 30% more than a Ni-Cd cell of the same physical size. This type is also reported to suffer less from 'Memory Effect'.
  
• Battery Float Voltage: A unit for measuring electrical pressure. All batteries provide DC (Direct Current) electricity. It is important to ensure that the equipment you are powering is being provided with the correct volt or else damage may occur.

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For Notebook and Laptop Users

To get maximum performance from the battery, fully optimize the notebooks 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. The notebook users guide will provide information relating to specific power management features.

We will be happy to try and answer your lead-acid battery and charging questions. Over 80% of the questions I receive are already answered in the information posted on this Web site, so please check first. Please enclose a "reply to" e-mail address in your message. For comments, criticisms, suggestions or questions, please E-mail us.   Many thanks.