Notebook Computer Battery Guide

Initialization and Calibration
Charging
Recalibrating Battery Fuel Gauge
Maximizing Run Time
Storage
Handling and Care
Disposal and Recycling
Troubleshooting

Oncore manufactures batteries with the highest commitment to quality. Every battery is guaranteed to meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications for performance, compatibility and safety. See Warranty.

Following the instructions in this guide will help you maximize the performance and life of your new battery. For information specific to your particular notebook, please refer to the user manual that came with your computer.

Initialization and Calibration

Before you begin using your new battery, it must be initialized and calibrated. This step is crucial in enabling your computer to report accurate battery usage and remaining power.

To initialize and calibrate your battery please follow the steps below:

  1. Charge the battery in your notebook computer overnight. This is longer than you would normally charge your battery in order to insure a full and complete charge.
  2. Unplug your AC adapter and discharge the battery completely by running your notebook computer only on battery power. You may receive battery low warnings from your computer before the battery is completely discharged. To receive a proper initialization and calibration, the battery must be discharged to the point that the notebook computer shuts itself off or is no longer able to operate.
  3. Charge the battery completely, according to your notebook computer’s user manual, and you may begin normal usage.

Charging

  • To charge your battery, follow the charging instructions included in your notebook computer’s user guide. If using an external charger, be sure to only use one specifically designed for your notebook computer and battery chemistry. However, it is recommended to initialize and calibrate the battery inside of the notebook computer, as some external chargers may not recognize a brand new battery. It is perfectly normal for a battery to become warm to the touch during charging and discharging.

    • Recalibrating Battery Fuel Gauge

    Periodically, the circuitry that calculates the remaining capacity in your battery needs to be recalibrated so that it can accurately gauge how much charge is left. This is required more frequently in batteries that are always plugged in or do not periodically experience full discharges.

    To recalibrate your battery please follow the steps in the section titled Initialization and Calibration. Additionally, some notebook computers may have a special calibration utility built into their system BIOS or software utility. For instructions specific to your notebook model, please refer to your notebook computer’s user manual.

    Maximizing Run Time

    The actual run-time you experience will depend on the power demands of the computer during use. Some factors that affect battery run-time include screen brightness and usage of CPU, hard drive, CD/DVD and other peripherals.

    Utilizing your operating system’s power management features can conserve battery power by running the processor at a lower speed, reducing the screen brightness, spinning the hard drive down when not in use or initiating sleep, standby or hibernate mode. Additional power saving features may be available in the BIOS settings, such as turning off serial, parallel, USB or FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports. Each notebook has different options. Please refer to your notebook computer’s user manual for more specific information.

    Follow the path below to locate the power management features for your operating system.


    Windows 95/98/Me/2000

    Click Start/Settings/Control Panel/Power Options


    Windows XP

    Click Start/Control Panel/Power Options


    Mac OS 9

    Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu and Energy Saver from the sub-menu.


    Mac OS X

    Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu or Dock, then choose Energy Saver.

    Storage

    If your battery is not going to be used for a month or longer it should be charged to approximately 40%, removed from the notebook computer and stored in a cool, dry place. Storing your battery at a lower percentage of charge will reduce the amount of non-recoverable capacity loss (degradation).

    However, storing your battery completely discharged (0%) can cause permanent failure due to the excessively low voltage levels that can be reached after self-discharge occurs. Self-discharge is the natural release of a battery’s charge and is to be expected during storage.

    A good temperature for battery storage is 59°F (15°C). Care should be taken to avoid extremely high and low temperatures. After storage, be sure to recalibrate your battery before you resume normal use. Please follow the steps in Initialization and Calibration section.

    Temperature 40% charge level
    (recommended storage charge level)    		 100% charge level
    (typical user charge level)
    32°F (0°C) 98% after 1 year 94% after 1 year
    77°F (25°C) 96% after 1 year 80% after 1 year
    104°F (40°C) 85% after 1 year 65% after 1 year
    140°F (60°C) 75% after 1 year 60% after 3 months

    Non-recoverable capacity loss of Litium Ion (LiIon) batteries after storage.
    High charge levels and elevated temperatures hasten the capacity loss. Improvements in chemistry have increased the storage performance of some LiIon batteries. (Table and caption from Batteries in a Portable World by Isidor Buchmann, CEO of Cadex Electronics Inc.)

    Handling & Care

    Proper care of your Oncore battery will help ensure its optimal performance.

    WARNING: Rechargeable batteries may present a fire or chemical burn hazard if mishandled. To protect your battery and avoid possible injury:

    1. Do not expose battery to moisture or rain
    2. Do not expose battery to direct sunlight
    3. Never expose battery to temperatures above 180°F (82°C)
    4. Do not drop, hit or abuse the battery
    5. Under no circumstances should you attempt to open battery case
    6. Always keep away from children
    7. Always keep away from fire and do not incinerate the battery, as it may explode, resulting in damage to equipment and/or personal injury
    8. Never short-circuit external contacts. Short-circuiting occurs when the contacts on the battery are accidentally connected to each other. Short-circuiting may cause severe damage to the battery, equipment or yourself.

    You should avoid exposing your battery to harsh environments such as extreme heat or cold. Extremely high temperatures (like that in a car on a hot day) can permanently damage your battery. This may reduce the run time per charge and decrease the number of charge/discharge cycles in the battery’s life.

    It is also best to turn off your notebook computer when not in use. Your battery can reach temperatures of 95-105°F (35-40°C) when inside a running computer, and although newer batteries are designed to be less susceptible to heat, it is still best to limit this exposure when possible.

    Disposal and Recycling

    We support the RBRC (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation), a non-profit, public service organization created by the rechargeable power industry and dedicated to the recycling of rechargeable batteries. For program information or to locate a participating collection site in your area, visit their Website, or call the toll free help line, 1-800-8-BATTERY.

    WARNING: Rechargeable batteries contain elements that are harmful to the environment if disposed of in the trash. Please be environmentally responsible and recycle your used rechargeable batteries.

    Troubleshooting

    Before you begin using your new battery, it must be both initialized and calibrated. This step is crucial in enabling your battery to report accurate battery charge level information. Please follow the steps in Initialization and Calibration section.

    Battery Fuel Gauge and Charge Level Issues

    Initialize and calibrate if battery has any of the following symptoms:

    1. Inaccurate, erratic or out-of-sync fuel gauge
    2. Not charging to 100% capacity
    3. System shuts off prematurely before reaching a 0% charge
    4. System continues to operate after reaching a 0% charge

    TIP: Short discharges, followed with recharging, do not provide the periodic calibration needed to synchronize the fuel gauge.

    TIP: As a battery ages, the maximum amount of charge it can hold will gradually decrease. This is know as capacity degradation. The status of a battery’s degradation can be referred to its “state of health.” For example, a battery with a state of health at 75% can only hold, at maximum, 75% of its original capacity. Over time this can lead to inaccurate fuel gauge reporting. Recalibrating the fuel gauge will synchronize the fuel gauge with the battery’s state of health. Please follow the steps in Initialization and Calibration section.