August 13th 2013 

How ia your batteries? Is your laptop or other portable device always in need of a charge?Battery technology has improved over years, but batteries don't hold an infinite charge.

  Every charge and discharge cycle shortens the battery's capacity. As the battery ages you will notice the time of service decreases. Initially, a new battery might have 5 hours of operation, the next charge and discharge cycle might only deliver 5 hours or less. After a large number of charge and discharge cycles, you will notice that the battery will not power your portable device for an acceptable period of time.

Maximizing battery life is a common problem. Consider it from two approaches. You need a good battery and you also need to conserve the rate of discharge. The major power drain on a laptop or other portable device is the screen. Turn down the light level and you will notice an increase in battery time. Put the device to sleep or shut it off when not in use to maximize battery time.

When you purchase a battery, make sure you buy it from a reputable source. If you have watched the news, you noticed numerous headlines about defective, low-quality items from China. A few years ago, batteries manufactured in China were the cause of laptops overheating. A few fires caused by defective batteries were documented.

Don't assume all Chinese products are defective and poorly engineered. Apple products are built in China. Check out an iPhone. Not everyone is an iPhone fan, but not many can dispute it has the appearance and feel of a well-engineered product.

When defective batteries were examined, it was determined substandard materials were used to build the batteries. Assembly workers who take pride in their work can't be blamed for substandard materials. How did substandard materials get into the supply chain to build batteries? Did someone provide a substandard material?

When traveling, use caution when you charge your portable device. Plugging in your charger to a wall outlet is usually safe, but you may want to use a surge protector. Don't connect to any "open" USB port in a public area. There have been cases where cell phones have been hacked by altered USB ports. USB ports send and receive information besides charging your portable device. A hacked cell phone could also download malware to your computer.

Batteries store large amounts of energy and need to be treated with respect. If you keep a spare battery for your portable device, make sure that you cover the terminals with tape. Any loose metallic item could provide a short circuit and overheat the battery.