Knowledge Base

What is a "part number"?

A part number is a code that uniquely identifies a stock item. The purpose of this code is to help us refer to that specific item without knowing additional information such as the production machine, machine make, stock part size, etc.

What is the capacity of a battery?

Battery capacity can be described as the electrical energy content, which is usually expressed in milliampere-hours (mAH). This is determined by the amount of current energy that the battery is able to deliver – under specific temperature conditions, discharge rate and the final voltage of the battery, over a specified period of time. As you might guess, the higher the battery capacity, the higher the MaH level and the longer the battery will last. So for laptops and other portable devices that are used for extended periods of time, higher-capacity batteries are preferred.

What is a Volt?

A volt is a measure of electrical pressure or force. Referred to as "V" for voltage different volts or voltages can be found in batteries of different chemistries. For example, NiCd and NiMH batteries are nickel-based and provide a cell voltage of around 1.2 V, while a lithium-ion cell provides a voltage of 3.6 V/3.7 V.
As such, the voltage of two battery cells of the same chemistry is always the same. Although their capacities may differ, the voltage always remains the same. Similarly, it is important that the voltage of a cell or battery always mirrors the voltage requirements of the device in which it is used. If there is a difference between the two, the device will malfunction and enough failures can also cause permanent damage.

Do Lithium-ion batteries suffer from the “memory effect”?

Quite simply, no – Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from the “memory effect”. Such action would cause a drop in the battery capacity or voltage. While the “memory effect” does not affect Lithium-ion batteries, it does affect NiCd and NiMH batteries because they are nickel-based. As a result, laptop users can become quite rusty with unexpected downtime.

What is self-discharge?

When a battery loses charge while not in use, it's called self-discharge. If a battery remains unused, it will lose charge, with self-discharge reaching its highest level after the battery is fully charged to its full capacity. There are other factors affecting the rate of self-discharge, including the temperature of the place where the battery is stored, and even the presence of moisture. And this is true regardless of the type of battery or its chemical composition. Lithium-ion batteries have the lowest self-discharge rate – 5% to 10% per month; quite low compared to 20% for NiCd and 30% for NiMH.

What is the battery cycle life?

When calculating how many times a battery can be charged and discharged before it fails, you are measuring the battery cycle life. A single battery cycle is defined as a full charge followed by a full discharge.

What is battery lifespan?

Battery lifespan, as you might guess, is the measure of how many cycles a battery can provide before it "dies" and requires complete replacement. Battery lifespan varies depending on its chemical composition, but lithium-ion batteries typically provide around 500-700 charge/discharge cycles.

What precautions should be taken when storing a laptop battery?
Heat and metal objects do not go well with laptop batteries. Best practices include removing laptop batteries and storing them in a cool and dry place. When stored, batteries should be discharged to 40%. Long-term storage of lithium-ion batteries is not recommended for periods longer than three months.

How to find the specifications of a laptop battery?
There are several different types and sizes of laptop batteries. To determine the battery type you have, remove the battery from your laptop and check the bottom or top of the battery.