Battery life...

tres · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:37

What's the deal with battery life - on a netbook?

I bought one about 5 months ago, and noticed a 50% drop in it's capacity already, despite following instructions re. good practice charging/discharging.

Would the manufacturer listen? Is there warranties on batteries?

MowyTone · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:39

Not sure tbh as they could well be classed as consumables

mrk · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:39

What netbook?

My NC10 gets 5hours with wifi turned on permanently - it has a 6cell battery.

Other netbooks use 3 cell which lasts 3~ hours.

tres · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:40

It's an NC10 - it's down to just over 3 hours on a 100% charge, whereas i'd get about 6 using the same settings a few months ago

antijoke · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:42

You noticed a 50% in it's capacity?

tres · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:45

anticonscience said:
You noticed a 50% in it's capacity?

drop, a 50% drop in capactiy. You know what I meant.

mrk · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:54

In the BIOS run an intelligent battery calibration after fully charging the battery and see how it fares after that.

FrostedNipple · 2 Jun 2009 at 14:55

trescodrucey said:
despite following BAD instructions re. good practice charging/discharging.

Modern day battery's hate to be fully discharged.

Kreeeee · 2 Jun 2009 at 15:00

FrostedNipple said:
Modern day battery's hate to be fully discharged.

Yep, trickle charging frequently is far better than doing regular full discharge/recharge cycles.

Greebo · 2 Jun 2009 at 15:06

FrostedNipple said:
Modern day battery's hate to be fully discharged.

Agreed. Samsung's advice is to try and not let your battery go lower than 40% before recharging.

Have you downloaded the battery wear program which a lot of nc10 have used?

http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=4995&file=11&evp=83145a477f8e37e4da1e0aa3287e7cff

Also Samsung warranties the batteries for 12 months and some people have had them replaced under warranty with just a 15% drop (if in a short time)

Greebo · 2 Jun 2009 at 15:07

mrk said:
In the BIOS run an intelligent battery calibration after fully charging the battery and see how it fares after that.

I thought Samsung says only run the itteligent battery calibration with 50% or less battery charge, not full?

deadite · 2 Jun 2009 at 15:07

Most batteries would be considered consumable items but should still have a limited warranty on them, for example the company I work for would provide a 3 year warranty on the laptop but the battery would only have a 1 year warranty as its classed as a consumable.

If you can prove a 50% drop in performance compared to 5/6 months ago then it would be worth mentioning. Most modern BIOS have a battery health/status section that may even have an end of life error message in, will be worth checking and calling manufacturer.

tres · 2 Jun 2009 at 21:01

Greebo said:
Agreed. Samsung's advice is to try and not let your battery go lower than 40% before recharging.

Have you downloaded the battery wear program which a lot of nc10 have used?

http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=4995&file=11&evp=83145a477f8e37e4da1e0aa3287e7cff

Also Samsung warranties the batteries for 12 months and some people have had them replaced under warranty with just a 15% drop (if in a short time)

Thanks for that, and all advice

It's showing only a 19% drop.
Worth contacting them?