Many laptop users leave their devices connected to the socket for more or less long periods of time. There are even those who, if there is no need to move it from its location, always have them like this. But this is a practice that may not be highly recommended. Is it good to leave the laptop always plugged in? We clarify it below.
I'm sure many people who work from home have a habit of not unplugging their laptop. Why do it, if we are not going to move? This is done out of sheer convenience, without thinking that doing so we could be harming the health and life of the battery.
First of all, it must be said that there is no simple answer to this question. Among the experts themselves there are diverse opinions and even confronted. To this we must add that each manufacturer offers its customers their own recommendations for use in this regard.
when the first appeared laptop, the great advantage they offered was the possibility of being able to transport it from one place to another without the need for the equipment to be connected to the electrical current. Over time, increasingly better models appeared, equipped with batteries with greater autonomy, to be able to use it anywhere independently.
Things have changed a lot since then and today there are many users who have replaced the desktop computer at home or in the office with a laptop. That yes, the old habits persist and these devices are used like conventional computers, plugged in at all times to the current. Are they doing the right thing?
Battery problems
This is the big question: Does the battery get damaged leaving the laptop always plugged in? Will you have a shorter life? This is not a minor matter if we consider that the new models no longer offer the possibility of removing the worn or damaged battery and replacing it with another.
New protection technologies
Well, for everyone's peace of mind, it must be said that the non-removable batteries that almost all laptops have today are specially designed with specific protection systems. This means that when it is detected that the charge has been completed, the process stops automatically, thus avoiding the possibility of an overload.
The key is in the design of the current lithium ion batteries, which are only recharged when their charge level is not at 100%. In other words: keep your laptop always connected it will not adversely affect the battery. In reality, the energy that the computer will receive from that moment on will be used to keep the device turned on, exactly as if we had removed the battery and simply had it plugged in.
If your laptop is old...
Obviously, everything said so far does not apply when we refer to "old" laptops. That is, notebook computers of models in which removable batteries are still used. In those cases, the danger of device overheating due to battery overload is very real.
Other problems
But even new laptops, which are already equipped with lithium-ion batteries, despite having the protection technology, are not completely safe from suffering some problems derived from the fact of being permanently connected to the current There are two risks to pay attention to: connector wear and the so-called “memory effect”.
- connector wear: When we use the laptop as a desktop computer and always leave it plugged in, it is inevitable that the connection of the cable with the connector will slowly wear out due to small movements, such as opening and closing the computer, or moving it on the table. In this case, the battery will not suffer, but it can be damaged and the connector may break.
- Memory effect: If the charge and discharge cycles are not complete, it is possible for some of the cells that make up the battery to crystallize, which in the long run prevents full battery charges and, therefore, its loss of capacity.
Tips to take care of our laptop battery
With the question of whether or not it is convenient to have the laptop always plugged in finally cleared up, it does not hurt to deal with the issue of battery care and battery life. Whether we have the laptop plugged in or not, it is inevitable that its battery will deteriorate with use and the passage of time. However, there are some tricks and habits that we could adopt to prolong its life:
- Make use of "Saving Mode" of the computer.
- Reduce screen brightness when not needed.
- Prevent the laptop from being exposed to the sun or high temperatures.
- Keep open only programs and applications that we are using.
- Prevent battery level from dropping below the 20% of its capacity.
- not leave the discharged laptop and without battery for a long time.