The batteries in Lenovo notebooks are becoming more powerful and give more autonomy to users. Almost all of us know various tricks with which to maximize battery life when the laptop is unplugged, such as deactivating WIFI or Bluetooth, lowering the brightness or closing programs that we are not using at the time..
But the autonomy of the battery not only depends on reducing energy consumption while using the laptop, it also has a lot to do with how we charge the battery . In this section we usually have doubts and many questions. All of these answers are equally valid if your Lenovo laptop has a lithium ion or lithium polymer battery.
Do I have to charge the battery 100%?
Li-ion batteries do not need to be 100% charged, in fact they work best at medium charge. So the ideal would be to keep the battery between 60% and 40% of full charge..
Should I unplug the laptop when the battery has reached its maximum?
As we have just commented, it is better not to reach 100% of the charge, but if we need the laptop to full capacity, it is better to disconnect it from the power once we reach the maximum charge, since lithium batteries are very sensitive to temperature and continuing to load may overheat it.
What are the ideal charging conditions?
If we can choose the charging conditions, it would be best to charge the laptop when it is off , with a moderate temperature - never charge the laptop with sub-zero temperatures - and not wait until the battery is exhausted for it..
Does the laptop battery have to be calibrated? Why?
Li-ion batteries should be calibrated approximately every 2-3 months . Calibration is necessary even if you follow all the recommendations to take care of the battery due to multiple factors such as use or temperature.
If we don't allow the battery to go uninterrupted from 100% to 0% occasionally, the battery meter doesn't know how to recognize the exact amount of charge in the battery. So it will give us incorrect information about the amount of battery we have left. Basically, it serves to prevent the battery from suddenly going from 100% to 80% for no apparent reason.
How can I calibrate my laptop battery?
The calibration process is not difficult , although it is methodical and must be followed to the letter.
First, you should charge the laptop 100%, and keep it plugged in for two hours more than 100%. Then you have to unplug the charger from the laptop and use the computer until the battery runs out. Ignore the prompts your computer may give you to reconnect the charger, don't plug it in. Once it turns off, leave it off for about 5 hours.
After that time, connect your laptop and charge it 100%. After this full charge is complete, the battery is calibrated again.
Taking care of your laptop battery is basic , since it is an essential element to be able to enjoy all the characteristics and properties of a computer, but without having to have a plug permanently nearby.