Use battery or A/C? - Powerbook

[MMak]

I use my Powerbook at home about 90% of the time. Should I...

1.) Plug the A/C power cord to the computer with the battery fully charged and in the "plugged-in" state

2.) Recycle the battery (completely charge the battery then drain it...continuously)

I'd like to know the best way to preserve the battery life.

[UNIX X11]

Originally posted by MMak
I use my Powerbook at home about 90% of the time. Should I...

1.) Plug the A/C power cord to the computer with the battery fully charged and in the "plugged-in" state

2.) Recycle the battery (completely charge the battery then drain it...continuously)

I'd like to know the best way to preserve the battery life.

Yeh, I'd like to know this too. I just leave it plugged in most of the time.

[profx]

i cycle mine, not cause of batter preservation but cause it more convenient using my powerbook in the lounge next to the fire and where i can see the tv rather than in my bedroom where its coldish!! Im not sure whats best, for battery longevity but i have a feeling its best to let it completely discharge before recharging so no memory forms in the battery, tho im not sure about this.

[Arden]

I believe that when you leave it plugged in, it discharges a little bit, maybe 5%, then recharges, and this counts as a full recharge (like a full mile on your car). It's probably better to let it discharge and then recharge it overnight or something.

[bobw]

I believe that when you leave it plugged in, it discharges a little bit, maybe 5%, then recharges, and this counts as a full recharge This is not true.

It's always recommend to drain batteries and let them recharge. Even if you only ran on batterries once every two weeks, let it completely drain, then plug in and let them charge, the battery will last a LOT longer.

[UNIX X11]

bobw, it's true. sometimes when i have mine plugged it the 100% drops to 99%, and so on. It dosent recharge tho.

[Dusky]

It dosent recharge tho.

It should recharge when it goes under 95%. I keep my iBook connected to electricity and because I move it around a lot, the plug (glowing light) loses its firm grasp and the iBook thinks it's not connected anymore. As soon as I realize this, I adjust the plug so that the iBook maintain its current charge (usually above 95 when I catch it).

I've had two iBooks and both of them I've treated the same. Neither left my room a lot, so I kept them plugged to the wall. How long would a battery last if one relied on it most of the time? I'm sure I've owned my iBook for longer (with the same battery), and I still get hours of usage through it.

[MMak]

Thanks for all the advice. So here is what I gathered. Plugging in the A/C is fine as long as the battery is cycled (completely discharged then charged) once in a while. Or even cycling the battery is not necessary?

How do I know when the battery is completely discharged? Is it only by the "low battery" warning window? When this window appears I should immediately shut down the computer and charge the battery?