FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NICAD, NIMH AND LITHIUM ION BATTERIES?

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) and NiCd (Nickel Cadmium), are two of the oldest chemistries. The major differences between the two types of batteries are capacity, memory effect and environmental friendliness. NiMH batteries have high capacity, no memory effects and environmentally friendly. Li-ion is currently the most popular chemistry. Li-ion batteries produce the same energy as Ni-MH battery but they are much lighter. This can make a noticeable difference in devices such as lawn mowers, medical , two-way radios, bar-code scanners or notebook computers where the battery makes up a significant portion of the total weight.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO UPGRADE THE DEVICE'S BATTERY TO A NEWER CHEMISTRY?

NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion are all fundamentally different from one another and cannot be substituted unless the device has been pre-configured to accept more than one type of battery chemistry.

HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF MY BATTERY?

There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your battery:

Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries which do not suffer from the memory effect. Keep the Batteries Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device. Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break in procedure described above. Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the batteries before use. Sealed Lead Acid - (SLA) batteries must be kept at full charge during storage. This is usually achieved by using special trickle chargers. If you do not have a trickle charger, do not attempt to store SLA batteries for more than three months.

WHAT IS "MEMORY EFFECT"?

Memory effect, also known as battery effect, lazy battery effect, or battery memory, is an effect observed in nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries that causes them to hold less charge.

WHAT ARE VOLTS AND MILLIAMP-HOURS (E.G. 10.8V - 4600MAH)?

Every battery has two ratings which are volts and amp-hours (AH). The Ah rating may also be given as milliamp-hours (mAh), which are one-thousandth of an amp-hour ( for example, a 4.6Ah battery is equal to 4600mAh). Ah hours are a rating of the amount of energy that a battery can store. Typically, the mAh rating is also a measure of the number of hours a battery may last. For example, a 4600mAh battery will last at least 4.5 hours. The higher a battery's amp hour rating is, the longer the battery's run-time will be. It is not uncommon for some of our batteries to have higher or lower amp ratings. This will not cause any incompatibilities.

Voltage ratings, however, must be within a reasonable range. For instance, your original battery may say 3.6v, but you purchase a battery that is 3.7v. This is still acceptable. The rule of thumb when dealing with voltage is to never exceed one volt higher than your original rating. So if your original battery is rated at 3.6v, then you would be able to use a replacement battery up to 4.6v and nothing higher.

Run times vary for many reasons, such as the type of device, the type of applications being used, whether or not you are playing a CD or DVD (etc.) and the chemistry of the battery. The average computer should give you between 1½ to 3 hours of run time. Once again, this varies for many reasons.

HOW LONG DO TYPICAL BATTERIES LAST?

The life of a battery under normal use is around 500 to 900 charge-discharge cycles. This is between one and a half to three years of battery life for the average user. Of course, a more avid user might obtain less of a life span due to the frequency of charge-discharge cycles. As the rechargeable battery begins to fail the running time of the battery on a full charge will begin to decline. When a battery supplies thirty minutes or less of charge, it is time for a replacement.

HOW TO PROLONG LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES

Simple Guidelines:

Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.

Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.

Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.

Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)

Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.

If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.