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http://www.techatplay.com/?p=428
Fortunately, the risks are actually manageable with the use of proper smart chargers and safety cutoffs. On the same token, all bets are off in the presence of manufacturing defects, or where poorly designed safeguards are concerned. For example, attempting to recharge a lithium-ion battery after it falls below a certain low-voltage threshold is outright dangerous.
Some batteries therefore feature an internal safety circuit that will prevent charging when this happens – in effect rendering the battery permanently dead. For laptops, the circuit could be built into the laptops instead, since no computer manufacturers that I know create separate chargers for laptop batteries.
It is in view of the above facts that make it illogical to allow a lithium-ion battery to deplete before charging it up again. And yes, lithium-ion batteries have no memory effect; and you are actually risking permanent damage, or an explosion, by allowing a lithium-ion battery to deplete completely. This is the same reason why lithium-ion batteries always leaves the factory fully charged – and the advice by your friendly mobile phone salesperson to “charge for 8 hours before use” is a whole load of uninformed hogwash.
In fact, if you look around, you will probably notice that Apple designed iPods to shut down when the charge gets too low. In the same vein, the folks over at RIM took the trouble to program my BlackBerry Bold so that it will arbitrarily disconnect from the mobile network when running out of battery.
Fortunately, the risks are actually manageable with the use of proper smart chargers and safety cutoffs. On the same token, all bets are off in the presence of manufacturing defects, or where poorly designed safeguards are concerned. For example, attempting to recharge a lithium-ion battery after it falls below a certain low-voltage threshold is outright dangerous.
Some batteries therefore feature an internal safety circuit that will prevent charging when this happens – in effect rendering the battery permanently dead. For laptops, the circuit could be built into the laptops instead, since no computer manufacturers that I know create separate chargers for laptop batteries.
It is in view of the above facts that make it illogical to allow a lithium-ion battery to deplete before charging it up again. And yes, lithium-ion batteries have no memory effect; and you are actually risking permanent damage, or an explosion, by allowing a lithium-ion battery to deplete completely. This is the same reason why lithium-ion batteries always leaves the factory fully charged – and the advice by your friendly mobile phone salesperson to “charge for 8 hours before use” is a whole load of uninformed hogwash.
In fact, if you look around, you will probably notice that Apple designed iPods to shut down when the charge gets too low. In the same vein, the folks over at RIM took the trouble to program my BlackBerry Bold so that it will arbitrarily disconnect from the mobile network when running out of battery.
Edited by Davidoff59, 19 March 2012 - 07:51 PM.
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