The laptop battery is one of the most important parts of your computer. It turns it on and keeps it running when it's asleep or in suspend mode.
There are three types of laptop batteries on the market today: lithium ion, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel cadmium (NiCd). Lithium ion batteries are thin, lightweight, and don't suffer from memory effect.
The newest and most popular type of laptop battery today is lithium-ion. Its thin and lightweight design helps manufacturers create thinner, lighter notebook computers. It also provides superior power capacity to keep your laptop working longer with a single charge.
Lithium-ion batteries come in different chemistries which include lithium cobalt oxide (ICR-type), lithium iron phosphate or LiFePO4 and lithium manganese nickel cobalt oxide or NiMH. These can be connected in series or parallel to increase voltage or add capacity to the cell.
When purchasing lithium batteries, it is important to follow the TDG (Transportation of Dangerous Goods) regulations to ensure that they are properly classified, labeled and packaged before shipping. This is critical to prevent potential safety risks such as fires and explosions. Also, it is essential to check with the manufacturer for their warranty information and restocking fees for returning the product if necessary. (See our Laptop Batteries Return Policy).)
While they're not as high-performing as lithium-ion batteries, NiMH ones still offer a good balance of cost and stamina. The capacity (usually in milliampere-hours, or mAh) indicates how much power the battery can hold while charging or running a specific gadget. We've heard rumors that AmazonBasics, the plain-looking batteries in the unprepossessing cardboard box, are made by Panasonic in the same factory as Eneloops and are an excellent value.
NiMH cells typically operate at 1.2 volts per cell, lower than the 1.5 V produced by alkaline cells, but still enough to operate many devices designed for that voltage. They can be recharged and topped off without loss of energy, have a long lifespan and don't suffer from the memory effect. Use the Network Battery Finder above to see all of the compatible battery chemistries for your device. For best results, avoid recharging batteries to full capacity. The more you drain them, the shorter their lifespan becomes.
Known as Nickel-Cadmium batteries, they feature nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium (anode) as electrodes. They typically have a capacity of 1500 to 1800 milliamp hours and are rated at a one year warranty.
They are also durable and rugged, able to withstand high levels of discharge, cold temperatures and repeated use. They do, however, suffer from the memory effect which requires a full discharge every few months to prevent the battery from retaining energy for later use. They are also not considered to be environmentally friendly as they contain toxic materials.
Oftentimes, carbon zinc batteries are used in devices that require low levels of power. Canadians told Marketplace they often buy carbon zinc batteries from dollar stores and don’t realize that they’re not suitable for high-drain devices. They may only last seven minutes in a simulated test of high draw, while Panasonic and E-Circuit carbon zinc batteries lasted up to an hour. These batteries are also prone to corrosion.
Lead-Acid batteries contain metallic lead, lead dioxide, and a solution of sulfuric acid. They are mainly used for cycling (drawing energy over an extended period of time and then charging) or in off-grid homes that utilize solar to power equipment.
They have the lowest energy density of any rechargeable battery, which makes them unsuitable for portable devices. They also have a high self-discharge rate at low temperatures. Their high lead content and electrolyte make them environmentally unfriendly. Transportation restrictions on flooded lead acid batteries are common due to environmental concerns over spillage and thermal runaway.
The good news is that newer lead-acid batteries are designed to be more resilient to these conditions. Canbat offers a wide range of sealed lead-acid batteries, known as valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA), in both AGM and Gel formats. Each series is formulated to meet specific application requirements. If you have any questions, one of our battery experts is happy to assist.