"Big_Al" <BigAl@md.com> wrote in message
news:uACxuJi0IHA.416@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Rahul wrote:
>> 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.
> I have a Dell and I've read and or been told that it has to do with charge
> cycles, not amount charged like 20% or 99%. If you get 1000 charge
> cycles and charge it everyday, you get about 2-3 years.

If you get 1000 charge/disharge cycles then you have got a very unusual
Li-ion battery indeed. 500 is generally the top end of the range. Of
course this is full discharge. If you only half discharge the battery, then
you will get 1000 half cycles, but it's only really 500 full cycles.