Battery Observations

[Charles Broderick]

Hi,

I was about to share a battery observation, when another 'Lister asked 
for help. If anyone knows of good websites on battery technology, let 
me know as well.

My observation was that after owning my iBook 800 for about six weeks, 
and regularly getting about four hours of battery life or more, one day 
I got less than three hours. Quite a difference. (I know because I 
obsessively record my time on battery!) I reset the power manager 
(Shift-Ctrl-option and Power) and now my four hour battery life has 
returned.

My 2 cents on Li-ion batteries. I know there is not supposed to be a 
memory effect, but I still run my batteries all the way down and then 
charge them all the way up. I bought a year old Lombard in early 2001, 
and the battery was completely shot--only got 10 minutes from it! I 
figure the life cycle of a Li-ion battery is supposed to be about 500 
charges (if I remember correctly), so the only thing I could think of 
was the previous owner had charged and recharged it without ever fully 
draining it.

Oh yeah--I think the instructions on new batteries tell you to fully 
discharge it, and then fully recharge it at least the first time you 
get it.

FWIW IHTH,
Charles

On Saturday, March 1, 2003, at 12:00 AM, iBook List wrote:

>
>> Can someone direct me to a good info source on batteries? I have an
>> iBook 600 and don't know how to take care of the battery for long 
>> life.
>> A good source for general maintenance would be nice too.
>