"Rahul" <nospam@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9AC25C0ABF7016650A1FC0D7811DDBC81@207.46.2 48.16...
>I just bought a new LiIon Laptop battery for my Dell Inspirion E1505 (dual
> boot WinXP and Fedora).
>
> I gave it my initial 10 hour charge. Now what? I started using it but
> should I continue using it till the battery is drained and then recharge?
> Or should I only drain it partially? If it is not drained fully how will
> the Laptop learn (callibrate) itself to what the new capacity is?
>
> Or is it recommended that I only partially discharge it? What's best for
> the battery life?
>
> Another point: How many times should I cycle it this way? In the long term
> should I always wait for a full discharge; or can I charge it up from a
> partially-discharged state or does it not matter?
>
> I've gogled this but recieve conflicting advice.
>

You will receive conflicting advice here and also on the internet if you
google these things.

There are only three things that you really need to know.

First: remove the battery from the laptop when you are running on AC and not
charging the battery. The heat generated by the internal components of the
laptop warms the battery up. Heat destroys Li-ion batteries.

Second: It is not necessary to discharge the battery before charging it.
Li-ion batteries do not suffer a memory effect or any other effect which
stops you from charging from partially discharged. You may hear advice
about not completely discharging the battery, but I have found no evidence
to support this view (and I use these batteries in aerospace applications).
I have 3 examples of batteries that are nearly 15 years old that have often
been fully discharged. Fully discharging periodically (say every six months
or so) will recalibrate the battery charge monitor circuit.

Third: Li-ion batteries do like to be used occasionally. Don't leave one
standing idle for months on end.