Manufacturers recommend to trickle charge a nickel-based DELL laptop battery for 24 hours when new and after long storage. This service brings all cells to equal charge level and redistributes the electrolyte to remedy dry spots on the separator brought on by gravitation of the electrolyte. It is advisable to verify the capacity with a battery analyzer before use. This is especially important in critical applications dell Inspiron 630m battery , dell Inspiron 6400 battery .
Cycling (priming) is recommended to regain lost capacity after a nickel-based laptop battery has been stored for 6 months or longer. A slow charge followed by one or several discharge/charge cycles will do this. The recovery rate is governed by the condition under which the battery was stored. The longer and warmer the storage temperature, the more cycles will be required. The Prime program of the Cadex battery analyzers automatically applies the number of cycles needed to regain full capacity.
Nickel-based batteries are not always fully formed when leaving the factory. Applying several charge/ discharge cycles through normal use or with a battery analyzer completes the forming. The number of cycles needed to attain full capacity differs between cell manufacturers. Quality cells perform to specification after 5-7 cycles. Those lacking formation may need 50 or more cycles to reach acceptable capacity levels dell Inspiron 700m battery ,dell Inspiron 710m battery. laptop battery performance. Excessive cycling should be avoided because of wear-down effect.
What is the difference between priming and forming? For the user, both symptoms manifest themselves as insufficient capacity. The difference may be explained in that forming needs to be done only once when the battery is new, while priming must be repeated after each prolonged storage.
Lithium-ion batteries deliver full power after the initial charge. Manufacturers of lithium-ion cells insist that no priming is required. However, priming is beneficial as an initial start and to verify
The internal protection circuit of lithium-ion batteries is known to cause some problems after a long storage. If the battery is left discharged after use, the self-discharge will further drain the pack and eventually drip the protection circuit at about 2.5 volts per cell. At this point, the charger will no longer recognize the battery and the pack appears dead. Advanced battery analyzers (Cadex) feature the Boost program that activates the protection circuit to enable a recharge. If the cell voltage has fallen below 1.5V/cell and has remained in that state for a few days, a recharge should be avoided for safety reasons.
To reduce the self-discharge on newly manufactured batteries, advanced lithium-ion packs feature a sleep mode that keeps the protection circuit off until activated by a brief charge. Once engaged, the battery remains operational and the advantage of the sleep mode no longer applies dell Inspiron 8500 battery, dell Inspiron 8600 battery .
Lead-acid batteries should be primed by applying a full charge, followed by a discharge and recharge. Verifying the capacity through a discharge is important, especially if the battery is engaged in critical applications such as powering medical devices. Priming is also recommended after storing a battery for six months and longer. Battery analyzers provide the priming service automatically.
It is believed that a partial or full discharge applied once every six months or so enhances the performance of lead-acid batteries. Avoid too many full discharges, as this would wear down the battery unnecessarily.
While capacity loss during a battery’s life cannot be eliminated, simple guidelines minimize the effect:
Keep batteries in a cool and dry storage area. Refrigeration is recommended but freezers should be avoided. When refrigerated, the battery should be placed in a plastic bag to protect against condensation
Do not fully charge lithium and nickel-based batteries before storage. Keep them partially charged and apply a full charge before use. Store lithium-ion at about 40% state-of-charge (3.75-3.80V/cell open terminal). Lead-acid batteries must be stored fully charged.
Do not store lithium-ion fully depleted. If empty, charge for about 30 minutes before storage. Self-discharge on a depleted battery may cause the protection circuit to trip, preventing a recharge.
Do not stockpile laptop batteries ; avoid buying dated stock, even if offered at a reduced price. Observe the manufacturing date, if available.
Never leave a nickel-based battery sitting on a charger for more than a few days. Prolonged trickle charge causes crystalline formation (memory).
Always store a lead acid battery in full-charge condition. Observe the open terminal voltage and recharge the battery every 6 months or as recommended by the manufacturer dell Inspiron 6400 battery , dell Inspiron 9400 battery .
