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Thread ID: 77357 2007-03-07 01:09:00 Using Laptop without battery R2x1 (4628) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
530768 2007-03-07 01:09:00 Please accept my apoogies if this has been covered here, I couldn't find anything definitive.
I am unsure if operating a laptop from the mains when no battery is installed is harmful or not. Does the battery act as a super smoothing capacitor or just lie dormant. I use the battery very seldom, and so replacing a 3 1/2 year old battery that is definitely tired seems hard to justify, and not lugging the extra ballast appeals to my inherent laziness.
Thanks.
R2x1 (4628)
530769 2007-03-07 01:18:00 I use mine without a battery. It is really no different from using a desktop. rogerp (6864)
530770 2007-03-07 01:23:00 I dont see the harm in running a laptop without the battery but if you lost electricity all of a sudden than just like a desktop your lappy is gona be dead. But it would be wise to have a fully charged battery at hand just in case.. ronyville (10611)
530771 2007-03-07 01:28:00 Answers via Google to other people were pretty varied, and largely seemed to be based on guess work.
Nothing vital is carried on the laptop, so if it's safe enough, the old battery is going to live on a shelf and gather dust.
Thanks
R2x1 (4628)
530772 2007-03-07 06:22:00 I dont see the harm in running a laptop without the battery but if you lost electricity all of a sudden than just like a desktop your lappy is gona be dead. But it would be wise to have a fully charged battery at hand just in case..It is unlikely to cause any permanent damage though, so all you will loose is any unsaved documents in the unlikely event you loose power. Personally I wouldn't buy a new battery for a three and a half year old laptop. maccrazy (6741)
530773 2007-03-07 06:39:00 Ah, but this is a Sony, and I am not a dedicated follower of fashion so it can soldier on for a while yet. It is only 6 months out of warranty, and it obligingly failed the DVD drive with two weeks of warranty left. When they checked it, they replaced the hard drive as well, since the smart tests said it was not up to par. The old drive soldiers on in a friends IBM that killed it's drive, with no apparent hassles. At this advanced age, I guess some brands would be in their dotage. ;) .:D
Actually, I am using it at work right now, and the battery is at home, resting up. Maybe I should get some Li-Po cells and make my own battery, the proprietary batteries are a bit fierce in $$$ ^X:badpc:
R2x1 (4628)
530774 2007-03-09 10:46:00 Hi R2-D2. On the other hand, you can also choose to opt for a UPS instead of a battery if the former is more economical (and more practical!).

Cheers :)
Renmoo (66)
530775 2007-03-09 11:17:00 Our laptop has a switch that needs to be switched if operating with the battery removed. Greg (193)
530776 2007-03-09 11:52:00 Hi R2-D2. On the other hand, you can also choose to opt for a UPS instead of a battery if the former is more economical (and more practical!).

Cheers :)
Hi James-Well, carting a UPS around may be a tad more exercise than I feel keen about most days :D
I think if I need to use the battery, I may have to grit my teeth and throw away a great number of $$ that could go to something useful. At $5 per cell (on special) for 1500 mAH Li-Po individual cells, it is still a bunch of dollars to make my own pack And at that price, the cells are probably a bit long in the tooth and also probably not too well matched for paralelling up. When it is used here (very rarely), it is indeed run via the UPS - more for the filtering than the power continuity.
Cheers
R2x1 (4628)
530777 2007-03-09 11:55:00 Our laptop has a switch that needs to be switched if operating with the battery removed.
Oh Darn, I hope yours is not a Sony Vaio, or I am going to be most embarassed. :badpc: Please say it isn't :help:
R2x1 (4628)
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