Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Entwood on 14 November 2010, 17:36:33

Title: Laptop battery
Post by: Entwood on 14 November 2010, 17:36:33
Lent my laptop out for a few weeks back. ... in preparation for the forthcoming trip I asked for it back .... It has been returned but the "friend" (??) said he was sorry "he hadn't had a chance to recharge it" .... :(

Seems it has sat fully discharged for about 3 weeks   :(  Battery life is now pants ... only about 20 minutes from fully charged .. :(   (used to be an hour)

I've had it on charge for 24 hours .. no difference,   charged and discharged it 6 times .. no difference

It is a Li-Ion battery pack, is there any way of "rejuvenating" one of these .. or is it just hope the ordered replacement arrives in time ??

:(
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: TheBoy on 14 November 2010, 17:39:01
To be honest, they are only good for around 300-500 charges, tend to fail very quickly. Not noticed any issues with leaving very flat for extended periods...
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: unclelicklug on 14 November 2010, 17:40:38
That's annoying, you've done everything I'd have tried with a few deep charge cycles so I think you'll have to bite the bullet and hope the new pack gets to you quickly.
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Entwood on 14 November 2010, 17:46:09
Thanks for the quick answers .. it gets used on mains most of the time .. just hope I don't need to do some "on-line" banking when no electrics are available ...... :)

I assume there's no problem with using it on mains with a FUBARed battery in place ??

:)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Banjax on 14 November 2010, 17:56:39
you only got an hour?? switch off the HD porn movies, see if that helps  :y
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: pscocoa on 14 November 2010, 18:39:32
I do try and use mine off mains as much as possible so that the battery is charged and discharged regularly. Left discharged for a while does not seem to be a problem.

Using on mains you can take battery out if you want of course - even if left in there should be no problem.

Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Entwood on 14 November 2010, 19:08:14
Quote
you only got an hour?? switch off the HD porn movies, see if that helps  :y


It's a reasonably old lappy .. never did more than an hour on the battery .. which I found out the first time I tried to watch a DVD in a tent !!!!  :)  I was going to buy a second battery.. the plan being to change the battery and watch the rest of the movie ... until I saw the size of the screws that hold the battery cover !!!! 

Undoing those in a tent, wearing gloves, in the dark ..... nah .. never would have happened .... :)

I was able to make up a modified lead so I could use it when sat down the back of the Herc.... it didn't seem to mind 115 V 400 Hz ....   many a passenger wondered what the cable going to the galley did !!

:)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: pscocoa on 14 November 2010, 19:32:25
For most stuff now when travelling I use a Samsung N110 (or is it NC10?) - 8 hours battery life - is great little machine and even after having been left a while it retains its charge - had it for over a year now.
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 14 November 2010, 21:56:34
Quote
Thanks for the quick answers .. it gets used on mains most of the time .. just hope I don't need to do some "on-line" banking when no electrics are available ...... :)

I assume there's no problem with using it on mains with a FUBARed battery in place ??

:)

That's how i managed to knacker my last lappy.....left it plugged in 24/7 on mains power....altho not on all the time, but still on charge.....battery life when i wanted it....got to about 10mins max!

With this one....i try to let it fully discharge every few weeks or so....and i disconnect it from mains when im not using it at home.....its now over a year old and so far battery power is holding out  :y

And there shouldnt be a problem using your lappy on mains with a knackered battery....tho if you have doubts, just remove the battery....it'll still work on mains  :y
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Vamps on 14 November 2010, 22:13:00
Quote
Quote
Thanks for the quick answers .. it gets used on mains most of the time .. just hope I don't need to do some "on-line" banking when no electrics are available ...... :)

I assume there's no problem with using it on mains with a FUBARed battery in place ??

:)

That's how i managed to knacker my last lappy.....left it plugged in 24/7 on mains power....altho not on all the time, but still on charge.....battery life when i wanted it....got to about 10mins max!

With this one....i try to let it fully discharge every few weeks or so....and i disconnect it from mains when im not using it at home.....its now over a year old and so far battery power is holding out  :y

And there shouldnt be a problem using your lappy on mains with a knackered battery....tho if you have doubts, just remove the battery....it'll still work on mains  :y

Exactly the same here, now I let the battery go flat and then plug it in again...... :y
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Seth on 14 November 2010, 22:28:30
Get yourself one of these Nige: http://store.apple.com/uk/compare/mac?mco=MTkyMTUxMjA&page=macbook-air

You'll not look back mate - trust me! :y

Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Andy B on 14 November 2010, 22:51:18
Quote
Get yourself one of these Nige: http://store.apple.com/uk/compare/mac?mco=MTkyMTUxMjA&page=macbook-air

You'll not look back mate - trust me! :y


that's like answering all question for help with their Omega by answering .....
should've bought a Toyota. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Banjax on 14 November 2010, 22:53:39
Quote
Get yourself one of these Nige: http://store.apple.com/uk/compare/mac?mco=MTkyMTUxMjA&page=macbook-air

You'll not look back mate - trust me! :y


totally agree - altho you dont need the air, just a regular macbook will do (the air can be a bit compromised due to the obsession with weight loss and thinness)
 :y
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Entwood on 14 November 2010, 23:02:35
Quote
Quote
Get yourself one of these Nige: http://store.apple.com/uk/compare/mac?mco=MTkyMTUxMjA&page=macbook-air

You'll not look back mate - trust me! :y


that's like answering all question for help with their Omega by answering .....
should've bought a Toyota. ;D ;D ;D


Agreed Andy .. and with just over a week to go before we leave I don't have time to purchase a new system and get it all sorted before we go .. it's this one .. working battery or not !!!

But thanks for the advice from others anyway .. :)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Martin_1962 on 14 November 2010, 23:13:57
Will it run on 12v - eg a car adaptor - if so - leisure battery
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: CaptainZok on 14 November 2010, 23:23:10
Should be fine running on mains with a knackered battery Nige, or you can pull the batt and just run on mains.
If mains leccy may be a problem will you have 12v available and run off something like this.
Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80W-DC-12V-Car-Power-Supply-Adapter-Charger-Laptop-/170558189025?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item27b60f6de1)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Vamps on 14 November 2010, 23:27:26
Quote
Should be fine running on mains with a knackered battery Nige, or you can pull the batt and just run on mains.
If mains leccy may be a problem will you have 12v available and run off something like this.
Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80W-DC-12V-Car-Power-Supply-Adapter-Charger-Laptop-/170558189025?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item27b60f6de1)

Good idea, but do not buy too cheap. We did once before and it did not have the capacity to run the video camera, now have a bigger one and has been used for Miss Vamps Computer till we got her a new charger...... ::)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: CaptainZok on 14 November 2010, 23:30:01
Quote
Quote
Should be fine running on mains with a knackered battery Nige, or you can pull the batt and just run on mains.
If mains leccy may be a problem will you have 12v available and run off something like this.
Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80W-DC-12V-Car-Power-Supply-Adapter-Charger-Laptop-/170558189025?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item27b60f6de1)

Good idea, but do not buy too cheap. We did once before and it did not have the capacity to run the video camera, now have a bigger one and has been used for Miss Vamps Computer till we got her a new charger...... ::)
Obviously you need to match the output to the device you're going to run. I've had one for years and it's run a few different lappys from the car socket when necessary.
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Vamps on 14 November 2010, 23:37:14
Quote
Quote
Quote
Should be fine running on mains with a knackered battery Nige, or you can pull the batt and just run on mains.
If mains leccy may be a problem will you have 12v available and run off something like this.
Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80W-DC-12V-Car-Power-Supply-Adapter-Charger-Laptop-/170558189025?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item27b60f6de1)

Good idea, but do not buy too cheap. We did once before and it did not have the capacity to run the video camera, now have a bigger one and has been used for Miss Vamps Computer till we got her a new charger...... ::)
Obviously you need to match the output to the device you're going to run. I've had one for years and it's run a few different lappys from the car socket when necessary.

Indeed, we have a big one, for a while we had the 'booster pack' coming out to plug it in to the 12v outlet for Miss Vamps notebook computer, till i got her a new mains charger..... ::) ::)
Title: Re: Laptop battery
Post by: Entwood on 15 November 2010, 20:30:58
Thanks for all the ideas ... I have a good inverter I use in the 'van ... but the weight limits for the trip probably preclude packing that ... but the problem of lack of electrics might not be as bad as first thought.... more on that later I hope ...  :)