How long can a laptop battery last if it has never been used? I have
an 8 year old laptop, and I'm trying to locate the battery for it. I
know for a fact that the battery was never used, and I was wondering
if it would still be good as new after all these years?

It won't be absolutely "as good as new" under any circumstances, but it
may still be useable (or it may be a junk paperweight). A lot depends
on the type of battery and the storage conditions.


Alan wrote:

> How long can a laptop battery last if it has never been used? I have
> an 8 year old laptop, and I'm trying to locate the battery for it. I
> know for a fact that the battery was never used, and I was wondering
> if it would still be good as new after all these years?
>

"Alan" <alan@local.bin> wrote in message
news:4sRXg.34467$it4.25916@fe31.usenetserver.com.. .
> How long can a laptop battery last if it has never been used? I have
> an 8 year old laptop, and I'm trying to locate the battery for it. I
> know for a fact that the battery was never used, and I was wondering
> if it would still be good as new after all these years?
>

You don't say what type of battery it is.

If a Ni-Cd or Ni-MH, it will have self discharged to completely flat.
Fortunately this is how Nickel batteries like being stored, so you may be in
luck.

If it is a Li-ion battery, it too will have self discharged to the point of
being flat. Unfortunately, Lithium batteries throw copper metal out of the
chemistry when in this condition. No attempt should be made to charge it as
the likelihood is that it will explode.

"M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:45332ddf$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
[...]
> If it is a Li-ion battery, it too will have self discharged to the
> point of being flat. Unfortunately, Lithium batteries throw copper
> metal out of the chemistry when in this condition. No attempt should
> be made to charge it as the likelihood is that it will explode.

Wow I have never heard of an exploding Li-ion being charged from being
too drained too far. But most Li-ion charges won't even touch a Li-ion
battery that far gone anyway. For example, all laptops that I know will
flash the charge light stating there is a problem and will refuse to
charge it.

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:egvguu$n4c$1@emma.aioe.org...
> "M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:45332ddf$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
> [...]
>> If it is a Li-ion battery, it too will have self discharged to the
>> point of being flat. Unfortunately, Lithium batteries throw copper
>> metal out of the chemistry when in this condition. No attempt should
>> be made to charge it as the likelihood is that it will explode.
>
> Wow I have never heard of an exploding Li-ion being charged from being too
> drained too far. But most Li-ion charges won't even touch a Li-ion battery
> that far gone anyway. For example, all laptops that I know will flash the
> charge light stating there is a problem and will refuse to charge it.
>

That is precisely why a properly designed charger will refuse to charge an
overdischarged Li-ion battery. The copper thrown out of the chemistry
plates itself on the internal structure, short circuiting the cells (and
bypassing the PTC protection to boot). By that doesn't stop idiots trying
to charge them by alternative means.

"M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:453373d0$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
> news:egvguu$n4c$1@emma.aioe.org...
>> "M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:45332ddf$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
>> [...]
>>> If it is a Li-ion battery, it too will have self discharged to the
>>> point of being flat. Unfortunately, Lithium batteries throw copper
>>> metal out of the chemistry when in this condition. No attempt
>>> should be made to charge it as the likelihood is that it will
>>> explode.
>>
>> Wow I have never heard of an exploding Li-ion being charged from
>> being too drained too far. But most Li-ion charges won't even touch
>> a Li-ion battery that far gone anyway. For example, all laptops that
>> I know will flash the charge light stating there is a problem and
>> will refuse to charge it.
>
> That is precisely why a properly designed charger will refuse to
> charge an overdischarged Li-ion battery. The copper thrown out of
> the chemistry plates itself on the internal structure, short
> circuiting the cells (and bypassing the PTC protection to boot). By
> that doesn't stop idiots trying to charge them by alternative means.

I sure don't like hearing how dangerous these Li-ion batteries are.
:( I noticed my old and almost expired laptop Li-ion batteries seems to
get warmer than fresh batteries when charging. Well the laptop tends to
get warmer anyway, which maybe causing the battery to get warmer.

I believe you mentioned that Ni-Cad batteries have been tried in cars
and such, but they tend to explode. Is this correct? So what would be in
your opinion is the safest battery to use in say a laptop? I was really
happy with my Sharp laptop ('89 era) which used a lead-acid gel cell
battery. As that one lasted 10 years with use. It seemed really safe to
me as well. But very few laptops had ever used lead-acid batteries. :(

--
Bill

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
news:egvu40$bo0$1@emma.aioe.org...
> "M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:453373d0$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote in message
>> news:egvguu$n4c$1@emma.aioe.org...
>>> "M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:45332ddf$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net
>>> [...]
>>>> If it is a Li-ion battery, it too will have self discharged to the
>>>> point of being flat. Unfortunately, Lithium batteries throw copper
>>>> metal out of the chemistry when in this condition. No attempt
>>>> should be made to charge it as the likelihood is that it will
>>>> explode.
>>>
>>> Wow I have never heard of an exploding Li-ion being charged from
>>> being too drained too far. But most Li-ion charges won't even touch
>>> a Li-ion battery that far gone anyway. For example, all laptops that
>>> I know will flash the charge light stating there is a problem and
>>> will refuse to charge it.
>>
>> That is precisely why a properly designed charger will refuse to
>> charge an overdischarged Li-ion battery. The copper thrown out of
>> the chemistry plates itself on the internal structure, short
>> circuiting the cells (and bypassing the PTC protection to boot). By
>> that doesn't stop idiots trying to charge them by alternative means.
>
> I sure don't like hearing how dangerous these Li-ion batteries are. :( I
> noticed my old and almost expired laptop Li-ion batteries seems to get
> warmer than fresh batteries when charging. Well the laptop tends to get
> warmer anyway, which maybe causing the battery to get warmer.
>
> I believe you mentioned that Ni-Cad batteries have been tried in cars and
> such, but they tend to explode. Is this correct? So what would be in your
> opinion is the safest battery to use in say a laptop? I was really happy
> with my Sharp laptop ('89 era) which used a lead-acid gel cell battery. As
> that one lasted 10 years with use. It seemed really safe to me as well.
> But very few laptops had ever used lead-acid batteries. :(
>

Li-ion batteries are safe enough as long as they aren't over-charged or
over-discharged. Oh, and the manufacturer doesn't screw up the crimping
process! There is no other chemistry that comes close for energy density.