Laptop Battery Information
- What Are The Different Types of Battery Chemistries/Technologies?
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Batteries in portable consumer devices ( laptop batteries, notebook batteries, camcorder
batteries, cell phone batteries, PDA batteries, digital camera batteries, cordless
phone batteries, UPS batteries, power tool batteries, etc.) are principally made
using either Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion
(Li-Ion) technologies. Each type of rechargeable battery technology has its own
unique characteristics:
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• NiCad and NiMH: the main difference between the two is the fact that NiMH batteries
(the newer of the two technologies) offer higher energy densities than NiCads. In
other words, pound for pound, NiMH delivers approximately 100% more capacity than
its NiCad counterpart. What this translates into is increased run-time from the
battery with no additional bulk to weigh down your portable device. NiMH also offers
another major advantage: NiCad batteries tend to suffer from what is called the
"memory effect". NiMH batteries are less prone to develop this dreaded affliction
and thus require less maintenance and care. NiMH batteries are also more environmentally
friendly than their NiCad counterparts, since they do not contain heavy metals (which
present serious landfill problems).
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• Li-Ion has quickly become the emerging standard for portable power in consumer
devices. Li-Ion batteries produce the same energy as NiMH batteries but weigh approximately
35% less. This is crucial in applications such as camcorders or notebook computers,
where the battery makes up a significant portion of the device's weight. Another
reason Li-Ion batteries have become so popular is that they do not suffer from the
memory effect AT ALL. They are also better for the environment because they don't
contain toxic materials such as Cadmium or Mercury.