Is the laptop always charging properly? Here's the answer to whether to plug in or not - TPS Technology

Many friends still encounter many doubts during the use of laptops after purchasing them, especially the battery usage issues of lightweight laptops.

The misconceptions about using laptop batteries mainly stem from traditional concepts and refer to the usage habits of mobile phones, but these may not be applicable to the new laptops in 2022.

If the standardized use of laptop batteries is ignored, it will not only lead to accelerated degradation of battery life, and even prevent the machine from turning on without plugging in the power. Moreover, replacing unhealthy batteries at will can also bring safety hazards, and caution should be taken.

As an old man who often disassembles laptops, I have seen many cases of battery bulges and inability to charge, partly due to receiving incorrect battery maintenance methods, and mostly due to neglecting laptop batteries. Therefore, accelerated battery scrapping is inevitable.

Based on my years of personal computer experience and theoretical data, I will share my usage suggestions in this area one by one to ensure that there is no moisture. (QA form)

Do new laptops need to run out of battery before charging?

No need.

1) The battery of a new laptop has a certain amount of factory power, which varies depending on the duration of the test run, the length of time the machine is stored in the merchant's warehouse, and natural losses. Normally, the battery of the new laptop is not fully charged, ranging from 60% to 90%.

2) New laptops now use lithium batteries. Unlike the nickel hydrogen or nickel cadmium batteries used in older laptops, lithium batteries have almost no memory effect and can be safely plugged in and used when turned on. Some students may need to check their machines and run scores. It is recommended to directly plug in the power adapter for operation.

Note: The so-called memory effect refers to the fact that the battery seems to remember the user's daily charging and discharging amplitude and mode, and the initial non-standard charging and discharging habits of the battery will be remembered, and cannot be subjected to significant charging or discharging, as is the case with older computers and mobile phones equipped with nickel hydrogen or nickel cadmium batteries. The lithium battery used in the new machine does not have this memory effect.

Does the battery of the new laptop need to be fully charged before it can be used?

No need.

As mentioned above, the new laptop battery is not fully charged at the factory, but it does not need to be fully charged before use. It has already been activated before leaving the factory, and users do not need to charge or discharge it for a long time to activate it on the first boot. After all, it's 2022 and these operators have long considered that a ready to use laptop is a good product.

Do laptops need to be plugged in all the time?

It depends on the situation.

1) If the computer is not turned on for a long time (more than 7 days), it is recommended to unplug the power.

Lithium batteries from legitimate manufacturers all have a charging protection function, and when the battery is fully charged, it automatically shuts off, which has little impact on the battery. Considering the different lightning protection measures in different regions, sudden lightning high voltage may damage the power adapter or laptop, especially when the computer is left at home and people are not at home.

2) If the computer is running software, it is recommended to always plug in the power supply.

Regular manufacturers of lithium batteries have well-established battery management systems that intelligently control overcharging and over discharge issues. As long as the battery reaches the set maximum threshold, it will no longer charge to fully protect the lithium battery. Once the power adapter is plugged in, the computer automatically cuts off the power source of the battery and only uses external power to operate.

Many laptops (especially game books), if they need to run games or software with high intensity under battery power, the energy-saving mode will cause the CPU, graphics card, and other devices to actively reduce frequency, greatly reducing performance. For example, when playing games with batteries, the brightness will decrease, and the card will become a PPT. However, using high-performance mode will greatly increase power consumption. Additionally, because batteries have a lifespan, each charge and discharge will reduce their lifespan. Why not use an external power source?

3) If the computer is in a sleep state, it is recommended to keep it plugged in.

The sleep mode of a computer refers to the interruption of power to all devices on the computer, except for memory, which means it is in standby mode. Since the memory still needs to maintain power, the power has not been cut off.

Can laptops be charged while playing?

Yes, we strongly recommend doing so.

1) This can reduce the number of times the battery is charged and discharged, not only does it not damage the battery, but also the heat dissipation equipment of the machine can work efficiently, which actually prolongs the battery life.

2) In the state of external power supply, various devices of the computer (CPU, graphics card, hard disk, etc.) can run at maximum performance, greatly improving the user experience.

Should the laptop be unplugged when idle?

It depends on the situation.

Following the explanation from the third question above, whether to unplug the power depends on how long you have been idle. If you haven't touched the computer for more than a week, there's no need to keep it plugged in.

In areas with stable voltage and frequent use of computers, they can be plugged in all the time (except for occasional discharge and charging to maintain the battery); In areas with unstable voltage such as thunderstorms, rural areas, and seaside areas, it is best to use it up and unplug it as soon as possible.

Do laptops need to be turned on and off frequently?

Depending on personal needs, as for the claim that hardware is often damaged by switching on and off, the damage is minimal and can be completely ignored.

1) If there is software running in the background, such as running data or downloading materials, it is best to plug in the power adapter and do not shut down to ensure that data is not lost.

2) If you are halfway through your work, such as editing text, writing programs, editing videos, etc., and the data sources temporarily stored in memory are quite complex, it is recommended to cover the computer (default to sleep mode) and open it the next day to continue working. It is best to also plug in the power supply in sleep mode.

3) If there are no running programs or tasks, and the time interval between the second use of the computer is long, it is recommended to directly use the Windows shutdown function to avoid wasting power, although it is not necessary.