As I’ve mentioned in the past, the number one question I get from clients is this: “Should I shut my computer down at night?” If you’re among that group and have been wondering, read “Should I Turn My Computer Off at Night” for my answer. It doesn’t actually happen this way “in the wild”, but the second most asked question I get should be this: “Should I leave my laptop plugged in all the time?” It makes sense that you would leave the computer plugged in all the time so you don’t wind up with a drained battery at an inopportune time, but just because something makes sense doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right answer. Any of you who have been around technology for any length of time know that to be the case more often than not! To plug or not to plug, that is the question.
Like I said earlier, I should get asked about leaving laptops plugged in more often than I do. Laptop users tend to fall into two camps: those who use their computer regularly at the same location, and those who take it “on the road”. People who leave their laptop in one place tend to leave the laptop plugged in constantly, while more mobile users do not. That’s not always the case, but a generalization. I’ll let you decide which lifestyle you identify with (laptop-use-wise…don’t send me pictures). Back to the point, the short answer to “Should I leave my laptop plugged in all the time?” is no. Older technology required you to “train” the battery. If the computer was plugged in all the time, the battery wouldn’t hold its charge as long as one that had repeatedly been through cycles of charging and then draining of the battery. Training isn’t as big a deal with today’s lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries, though, as they can’t be overcharged. The biggest issue associated with battery degradation today is heat, and leaving a computer plugged in when it doesn’t have to be helps raise the internal temperature.
Heat is the number one enemy of laptop batteries. Feel like you’re going to pass out on those 95 degree summer days? Your battery can relate. The quickest way to shorten a battery’s life is by overheating. Because of this, always make sure that your laptop has proper airflow. Consider purchasing a can of compressed air to blow dust and debris out of vents and fans on your computer. Once again, it makes sense that a laptop should be placed on your lap. Once again, don’t believe everything you read when it comes to technology! Always use your laptop on a table or desk to keep your computer running as cool as possible. A lapdesk with a fan is a viable alternative as well, so you can use your laptop as intended.
If your computer is a little bit older, it probably has a nickel metal hydride battery on board. These batteries achieve an optimal lifespan if you keep your computer’s battery at between 40 and 80 percent charged. In other words, don’t let the battery completely drain, but don’t leave it fully charged either. A fully charged battery can complete 300-500 full charge/discharge cycles before needing to be replaced. A battery kept in the optimal 40-80% range can enjoy three to four times as many charging cycles. Laptop charging is a little like crash dieting – the battery doesn’t have to work as hard if you keep it nice and steady! Bet I’m the first person to equate laptop batteries and dieting. Anyway, while most “new” batteries don’t benefit from the 80% rule, it’s still not a bad practice to follow.
“Should I leave my laptop plugged in all the time?” Two letters: N-O. Your computer won’t benefit, and neither will your electric bill. Plan ahead, and you can expect solid performance from your battery for years to come.