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MAY 24, 2005
By Steve Wildstrom A Laptop's Battery: Use It or Lose It Operating your computer unplugged will help maintain its ability to run that way in the future Q: I want to use an IBM (IBM ) ThinkPad i1500 as a permanent desktop replacement. It would be connected to the power adapter at all times when in use. Is operating it with just the power adapter and the battery removed OK? (I tried to get an answer via the IBM ThinkPad Web site, but it won't help because my warranty has expired.) I read somewhere that leaving in the battery subjects it to the 98% charge problem -- whatever that is. A: You definitely can run a laptop without a battery. Manufacturers may hesitate to endorse such use, because they (or their lawyers) worry about liability. With no battery installed, the charging contacts will sit exposed on the bottom of the computer. They are, however, typically deeply recessed and not that easy to get to. But if you are really careless, you could get a low-voltage jolt (16 volts d.c. on a ThinkPad, up to 24 volts on some other laptops). Leaving a lithium ion battery, the type used on virtually all laptops made in the past several years, connected to an AC power source will indeed diminish the life of the battery. Keeping the battery fully charged at all times leads to gradual deterioration of its ability to charge and discharge fully. The latest ThinkPads include software that can help maintain a battery for maximum life, but you can also alleviate the problem manually. LIMITED LIFE. If you leave a laptop connected to power most of the time, unplug it (while turned on) every couple of weeks to let the battery discharge. Operating on battery power will help ensure that the battery gives maximum performance should you ever really need it. But all batteries have a limited life span, and their performance declines with use. A heavily used battery will probably need replacing after 18 months or so.  Wildstrom is Technology & You columnist for BusinessWeek. You can contact him at techandyou@businessweek.com
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