Lithium-ion batteries naturally age over time, which affects their performance. One of the main signs of aging is an increase in internal resistance. During charging, the voltage across the battery rises more quickly, causing the charging circuit to perceive the battery as fully charged earlier than it actually is. This leads to a perceived reduction in battery capacity. Additionally, during discharge, the voltage drops rapidly due to the high internal resistance, which can cause the system to incorrectly assume that the battery has run out of power, even when there's still usable energy left.
This aging process creates a negative cycle. Once you notice that your battery’s runtime is decreasing significantly, it’s important to take action. Regular use and proper charging habits can help slow down the degradation. If ignored, the battery will eventually become unusable.
Another common issue with lithium-ion batteries is the failure of individual cells within the battery pack. This is often referred to as "one bad apple spoils the barrel." Since each cell may have slightly different characteristics, some may degrade faster than others. As a result, one weak cell can negatively impact the entire battery pack, especially during discharge. The faulty cell may charge and discharge faster, leading to imbalances that can damage the whole system. Overcharging or overdischarging a single cell can also cause the monitoring circuit to misinterpret the overall battery status, potentially leading to safety issues.
If you're interested in repairing or replacing damaged cells, you can refer to articles like "Laptop Battery DIY" from *China Computer Education News*, which provides practical guidance on identifying and replacing faulty cells. Using a multimeter, you can detect abnormal voltages and replace the damaged cells with ones that match the original specifications, if possible.
When charging a lithium-ion battery, it typically goes through two stages: constant current (CC) followed by constant voltage (CV). Laptops usually don’t have strict CC charging systems, so the charging current depends on the available power from the AC adapter. When the system is under heavy load, such as running resource-intensive applications, the charging current may be too low to meet the battery’s requirements. For example, while running Super π, I noticed the charging current fluctuated between 0.70A and 1.70A, which might not be sufficient for optimal charging. This raised concerns about potential battery damage. IBM’s manual advises against using the laptop while it’s charging, likely for this very reason.
To prolong battery life, avoid using fast charging modes unless necessary. Also, reduce the system’s power consumption when the battery is low by limiting CPU usage or enabling power-saving features. If your laptop supports SpeedStep technology, install the appropriate driver to allow dynamic performance adjustments. The SpeedStep icon looks like a blue flag, and right-clicking it gives you performance options. In Windows XP, you may need to adjust BIOS settings or use manufacturer-specific tools, such as those provided by IBM, for better control.
Discharging a lithium-ion battery should be done carefully. It’s best to let it drain naturally rather than using physical methods like resistors, which can be dangerous. If the internal protection circuit fails, the battery could be completely disabled, and in rare cases, even explode. While such incidents are uncommon, they highlight the importance of using quality batteries from reputable manufacturers. Some companies have recalled batteries due to potential risks, and incidents of phone battery explosions are occasionally reported.
As a tip, the protection circuit in laptop batteries usually includes components like a voltage regulator, control chip, fuse, and temperature sensor. The temperature protector is often a one-time-use device with an internal fuse that activates at around 130°C. If the charging or discharging process becomes unstable, the fuse may blow, cutting off the circuit. Repairing just the temperature protector is difficult since these parts are hard to find on the market.
For a safe discharge, minimize current draw by slowing down the CPU, turning off the hard disk, dimming or closing the screen, and avoiding any unnecessary programs until the laptop automatically shuts down. This helps prevent the system from detecting low voltage prematurely, ensuring a more accurate and safer discharge process.
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