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The Technobuddy of Laptop Batteries are changing

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If batteries could go to a party they’d wear blue suits and brown shoes and stand in a corner while the HDTVs and PCs whooped it up. HP laptop batteries

But that’s just because they’re shy. Batteries run the show when it comes to high tech. Without them your iPhone wouldn’t say a word, your GPS wouldn’t know Gulf Shore Boulevard from a seagull and your laptop computer might as well just stay at home.

Knowing a little bit about batteries can make a big difference in how well your gadgets work. Taking advantage of that knowledge can mean having enough light to see when the power goes out and give you a few extra minutes to make a cell phone call when you need help.

Let’s start with the most humble of the humble — the ordinary alkaline batteries you see stacked at the checkout stand. They generally cost less than other types of batteries but have attributes that make them the best choice for many uses. ibm laptop battery

The most important of their virtues is the ability to hold a charge even after they’ve been stored away for two or more years. A rechargeable battery, for instance, would be dead as road kill if stored unused. By the way, while friends will tell you to store alkalines in the refrigerator for even longer shelf life — don’t bother. They’ll do fine tucked away in a closet.

And it’s smart to keep a dozen or so stored away. That way if the power goes out you’ll have power for battery-powered lanterns, flashlights, portable radios and the like. They’re usually the battery of choice for smoke detectors. And small devices that don’t draw much power — like remote controls — do best with an alkaline.  sony laptop battery

Rechargeable batteries have been around for a long time. But there have been real improvements over the past few years. The old nickel rechargeables were highly toxic and didn’t hold a charge very well.

Your laptop probably uses modern lithium-ion batteries; cell phones and other consumer gadgets have also almost universally moved to them. And, increasingly, they’re used in popular AA sizes in digital cameras and other devices.

While they do lose a charge when stored unused, they do it much slower than older rechargeables. And they avoid one of the big flaws of early rechargeable batteries: They have no memory effect. Batteries with memory effect needed to be completely discharged before charging again to remain effective. Still I think it’s smart to let them run down to about 20 percent of their charge once a month or so.

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egular readers of the column know I’m a big fan of Uninterruptible Power Supplies — UPS — for a computer. It furnishes enough power to let you shutdown your computer properly when the power goes out. But it’s also great — during power outages — as a source of AC current that will let you use the battery charger for your laptop and cell phone.

A UPS uses a sealed lead acid battery not so different from the battery in your car. These batteries should be replaced every two years or so, and replacing the battery, rather than buying a new UPS, can save money. The manufacturer of your UPS will usually offer replacement batteries; you’ll find that option on its website.

You need to dispose of any outdated battery, whether it powered your flashlight or a UPS, in a safe manner. Here is a site that offers tips on battery disposal:

Any type battery, if misused, can be a safety hazard. For instance, popping an alkaline battery in a recharger, or using lithium batteries in a recharger made for other kinds of batteries can be dangerous. For a long list of battery dos and don’ts, check out this Web page:

Despite all the improvements in batteries that I’ve mentioned, the technology has moved slowly compared to the high tech world in general. But with the push for electric cars and the need to find ways to store energy produced by solar cells and other alternative energy sources, we’re on the verge of a great leap forward.

It’ll be fun to watch as batteries go from the wallflower at the party to the center of attention.