Solved Battery Life?

[Alexey2912]

My old Dell XPS 1710 new battery lasts hardly 30 mins on full charge, what should I do to increase it time?

Thanks.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Alexey mate the obvious thing that occurs to me is the battery is past it's use by date. You can do something in the power options in the Control Panel (see pic) and some of the tips in this will help
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[Alexey2912]

Thanks ICIT2LOL, shall give these suggestions a try.

Is there a method to recalibrate these Lithium batteries?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I don't think so Alexey if you mean something like the special chargers that refresh those Ni-MH batteries (I have one at home that does all sorts of things to batteries from charging to refreshing (charge / discharge cycling) to initializing them for first use even though they come charged it extends their life and gets rid of any "memory which people think doesn't happen with Ni-MH ones but it does to a degree.

Lithium batteries do have a shelf life and it starts from the day they are manufactured. I think I am correct is saying that running them flat does shorten their lives too. You can read that at the bottom of this article
Lithium-ion battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia sorry mate but take heart they are not as expensive as they used to be. For example the batteries for my and friends Toshibas has fallen from around $150 to say about $35. They might not be genuine but I have never had a problem with replacements.

 

[Alexey2912]

Thanks again ICIT2LOL for the indepth reply. Do you think that I should do full cycles like discharge till 8% and than fully charge?

Can the lap be used while battery is being charged?

Its not the question of money just for knowledge.

I use high performance even on battery but 30 mins is too less don't you think?

Another thing if am using VPN it discharges even faster or while watching a movie.

Best Regards!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Absolutely Alexey the battery should give you at least 2 hours and even that is a bit weak.

You could try that with the battery but if that fails mate then just get another new one and save yourself the grief.

Yes mate the thing will discharge faster with a lot of graphical stuff a they do with cell phones for example I keep my display at the lowest level that is comfortable. In those power options say use three quarter brightness for the battery.
As matter of fact I rarely use my laptops without being plugged into a mains point but if you use it on the move well half and hour is pitiful.

Let us know how you go.
John

 

[Alexey2912]

Thanks John for the detailed explanation.

Being a med doc with lots of travelling I use the battery quite often.

I have the brightness set at max due to aging, have to answer a lot online to my patients around the globe.

Plus like watching movies on it when ever I get some time and Cricket specially World cup coming up.

Thanks again.

Kind Regards!

 

[Alexey2912]

For your expert views!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I understand Alexey I am getting on myself and an RN and like a brighter screen otherwise I cannot read the text that well.
Now if you go to Power options in Control Panel and click on "Create a power plan (4th option down) you will get a screen like the pic you just use it to set the high power set up like mine. You just set it the way the other plans are set that is to what you want.

Oh and yes cannot miss the cricket eh? LOL!!

By the by this is a very good tutorial for enhancing the performance of your machine and don't be worried about asking questions in it Brink is a really the nicest of fellows.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[Alexey2912]

Thanks John for explaining in depth again. I shall create one.

Speaking of Cricket my pick for Champs are Australia, S. Africa, NZ.

Best Regards!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No probs Alexey the Optimise you will really like if you don't mind losing stuff lie transparency (I can't see the point of it apart from bling value).

The cricket well my mob - England can't seem to take a rick right now

 

[Alexey2912]

Thanks John for replying.

Best Regards!