Laptop battery only lasting 20 min. YIKES! - Blu-ray Forum

Crimson King · 03-04-2010, 01:12 PM

I don't know whats going on here, my laptop battery used to last almost two hours. Now it's lucky to make half of an hour (it's usually about 20 min or so, ON A FULL CHARGE!). I've not even had this laptop (a Toshiba) for 2 years. Any idea whats going on? My 80GB Ipod Classicalso do't play as long, had that almost three years.

JasonR · 03-04-2010, 01:14 PM

You need a new battery, you should be able to find one from a third party for fairly cheap. Pretty common issue for laptops.

Crimson King · 03-04-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonR

You need a new battery, you should be able to find one from a third party for fairly cheap. Pretty common issue for laptops.

Thanks, so two years is like the average life for one?

quirkmanly · 03-04-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyJack

Thanks, so two years is like the average life for one?

I recall reading on the Dell website that you could expect to see a noticeable drop in battery performance after 18-24 months (obviously depending on the amount of usage the laptop gets).

As Jason said, scout around online and find a well regarded third party replacement.

Blu-Benny · 03-04-2010, 01:37 PM

my wife's laptop battery was doing the same thing after 1 1/2 years. pretty typical w/those kinds of batteries.

Moefiz · 03-04-2010, 01:38 PM

Exactly what Jason said..you need a new battery.

Could be that the battery was overcharge over the yr of use and thats usually the killer...

Crimson King · 03-04-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

I recall reading on the Dell website that you could expect to see a noticeable drop in battery performance after 18-24 months (obviously depending on the amount of usage the laptop gets).

As Jason said, scout around online and find a well regarded third party replacement.

Thanks, I'll shop Amazon today. I use my laptop daily, so I guess it got quite a workout! I'm gonna shop around and try to find the best one, the cheapest might not be the best. I would rather spend more and get a better quality product.

fatediesel · 03-04-2010, 01:49 PM

Both my Gateway and HP laptops batteries were noticeably worse after about 1 1/2 years so I think this is the norm for most companies.

b0bby · 03-04-2010, 02:27 PM

OP, nothing is wrong, this is considered "working as intended". if you have your battery in your laptop fully charged and have the ac adapter plugged in it will diminish the life of your battery. in general if you don't need to be mobile (battery usage) then take the battery out if its plugged in. i did this with my last laptop and got 3+ years of good battery life out of it. my sister on the other hand had her battery in since day one and keeps it plugged in 24/7 and one day when she needed to be mobile the battery lasted 5 minutes.

Crimson King · 03-04-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0bby

OP, nothing is wrong, this is considered "working as intended". if you have your battery in your laptop fully charged and have the ac adapter plugged in it will diminish the life of your battery. in general if you don't need to be mobile (battery usage) then take the battery out if its plugged in. i did this with my last laptop and got 3+ years of good battery life out of it. my sister on the other hand had her battery in since day one and keeps it plugged in 24/7 and one day when she needed to be mobile the battery lasted 5 minutes.

I wonder if this is the same thing happening to my IPOD battery

, I always have it on the charge dock when not using it.

Steve · 03-04-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyJack

I wonder if this is the same thing happening to my IPOD battery

, I always have it on the charge dock when not using it.

Most likely yes. Any rechargeable battery should be charged, used until it's dead (or really, really close), and then recharged again. Charging a battery that doesn't need it is bad for it and shortens its life.

MaCruz · 03-04-2010, 03:32 PM

My Sony that's probably about 6-7 years old runs out in a matter of minutes. I just keep it plugged in the whole time I use it. I don't plan to buy another battery for it.

I also have a Toshiba, and the battery on that thing is pretty bad too.

mikejet · 03-04-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaCruz

My Sony that's probably about 6-7 years old runs out in a matter of minutes. I just keep it plugged in the whole time I use it. I don't plan to buy another battery for it.

I also have a Toshiba, and the battery on that thing is pretty bad too.

LOL me too. I have a laptop but rarely take it anywhere really. It's just a second computer for the home.

MaCruz · 03-04-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejet

LOL me too. I have a laptop but rarely take it anywhere really. It's just a second computer for the home.

Exactly. It's on my desk and I just sit there. I just use my iphone if I need mobile internet.

fatediesel · 03-04-2010, 03:55 PM

I can confirm not keeping the computer plugged in helps. My newer HP laptop battery is still going strong after 20 months, while my old HP battery went bad in about 18 months. The difference is that now I only charge the HP laptop when it needs charging and never leave it plugged in, whereas I always left my old laptops plugged in.

mikejet · 03-04-2010, 04:14 PM

It really depends on the battery type. Newer Lithium Ion's don't have memory problems like the old Nicads and don't need to be fully discharged before recharging.

Most of the time there's no battery in my laptop anyway

sfmarine · 03-04-2010, 09:14 PM

My HP battery died after about 2 years. It's very common in laptop's.

Mikejet- I love the new av!

nycomet · 03-04-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfmarine

My HP battery died after about 2 years. It's very common in laptop's.

Not that I have one, but the same thing happens with a delldoe, but I don't think an electric one is safe. At least Duracells are fairly cheap.

For my iTouch I purchased a Mophie juicepack. It provides external power that lasts quite a long time.

Propellarhead9 · 03-04-2010, 11:17 PM

It also happens a lot more in the lower end spectrum of laptops. I know there are so companies that have charging mechanisms that cut off the juice flow to the battery when it's fully charged. I know Sony and Microsoft put things like that into their controllers as well.

ManUtd · 03-05-2010, 12:11 AM

I have bought a few 3rd party battery replacements from ebay for my older laptops, so far so good. OTOH, I'm loving my 10-hour netbook especially when I'm browsing the forums.

03-04-2010, 01:12 PM	#1
Crimson King Blu-ray Prince Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray reviews: 19 Trading Score:683	Laptop battery only lasting 20 min. YIKES! I don't know whats going on here, my laptop battery used to last almost two hours. Now it's lucky to make half of an hour (it's usually about 20 min or so, ON A FULL CHARGE!). I've not even had this laptop (a Toshiba) for 2 years. Any idea whats going on? My 80GB Ipod Classicalso do't play as long, had that almost three years.

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03-04-2010, 01:14 PM	#2
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	You need a new battery, you should be able to find one from a third party for fairly cheap. Pretty common issue for laptops.

03-04-2010, 01:37 PM	#5
Blu-Benny Michael Bay's #1 Fan Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Wisconsin Home Theater Gallery:39 Blu-ray collection:552 DVD collection:108 Trading Score:138	my wife's laptop battery was doing the same thing after 1 1/2 years. pretty typical w/those kinds of batteries.

03-04-2010, 01:38 PM	#6
Moefiz Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:288 DVD collection:20 Blu-ray reviews: 15 Trading Score:70	Exactly what Jason said..you need a new battery. Could be that the battery was overcharge over the yr of use and thats usually the killer...

03-04-2010, 01:49 PM	#8
fatediesel Blu-ray Count Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Iowa Blu-ray collection:410 Trading Score:47	Both my Gateway and HP laptops batteries were noticeably worse after about 1 1/2 years so I think this is the norm for most companies.

03-04-2010, 02:27 PM	#9
b0bby Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2008 Location:North Carolina Blu-ray collection:153	OP, nothing is wrong, this is considered "working as intended". if you have your battery in your laptop fully charged and have the ac adapter plugged in it will diminish the life of your battery. in general if you don't need to be mobile (battery usage) then take the battery out if its plugged in. i did this with my last laptop and got 3+ years of good battery life out of it. my sister on the other hand had her battery in since day one and keeps it plugged in 24/7 and one day when she needed to be mobile the battery lasted 5 minutes.

03-04-2010, 03:32 PM	#12
MaCruz Community Gaming Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Mar 2009 Location:Jacksonville, FL Home Theater Gallery:160 4K collection:104 Blu-ray collection:958 DVD collection:18 MA collection:394 Digital collection:570 iTunes collection:527 Prime collection:192 Blu-ray reviews: 23 Trading Score:139	My Sony that's probably about 6-7 years old runs out in a matter of minutes. I just keep it plugged in the whole time I use it. I don't plan to buy another battery for it. I also have a Toshiba, and the battery on that thing is pretty bad too.

03-04-2010, 03:55 PM	#15
fatediesel Blu-ray Count Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Iowa Blu-ray collection:410 Trading Score:47	I can confirm not keeping the computer plugged in helps. My newer HP laptop battery is still going strong after 20 months, while my old HP battery went bad in about 18 months. The difference is that now I only charge the HP laptop when it needs charging and never leave it plugged in, whereas I always left my old laptops plugged in.

03-04-2010, 04:14 PM	#16
mikejet Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Los Angeles, CA Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:29	It really depends on the battery type. Newer Lithium Ion's don't have memory problems like the old Nicads and don't need to be fully discharged before recharging. Most of the time there's no battery in my laptop anyway

03-04-2010, 09:14 PM	#17
sfmarine Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Swan Station aDdIcTeD 2 LOST PSN:U5MC51473 Home Theater Gallery:18 4K collection:930 Blu-ray collection:2311 DVD collection:276 MA collection:461 Digital collection:492 iTunes collection:534 Blu-ray reviews: 7 Trading Score:43	My HP battery died after about 2 years. It's very common in laptop's. Mikejet- I love the new av!

03-04-2010, 11:17 PM	#19
Propellarhead9 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Clarksville, Indiana 4K collection:498 Blu-ray collection:1721 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:9	It also happens a lot more in the lower end spectrum of laptops. I know there are so companies that have charging mechanisms that cut off the juice flow to the battery when it's fully charged. I know Sony and Microsoft put things like that into their controllers as well.

03-05-2010, 12:11 AM	#20
ManUtd Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:In my HT Home Theater Gallery:1 4K collection:15 Blu-ray collection:829 Blu-ray reviews: 5 Trading Score:5	I have bought a few 3rd party battery replacements from ebay for my older laptops, so far so good. OTOH, I'm loving my 10-hour netbook especially when I'm browsing the forums.

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