Batteries - From Laptops to Motorcycles
What would you do without them? Seriously, if every single
battery of every single type were suddenly zapped out of every
single thing that it operated, what would any of us do?
Laptop computers, without a doubt, are the lifeblood of many a
businessperson today. Portable, convenient, they allow us to
work on the run and do more business. Laptop batteries are
essential to keep this resource working, as it should.
The precursor to the laptop as we know it today was introduced
by IBM back in 1986 and was called "The PC Convertible". It
weighed five and a half kilograms and cost around $3500.00.
As laptop computers have evolved, so too have laptop batteries.
* The first type of battery used in laptops was Nickel- Cadmium
(NiCad). These can still be found in some older laptops. Their
lifespan between recharges is about two hours, however, this
decreases with each recharge. Also, if a NiCad laptop battery is
charged for too long it may explode.
* The next type of laptop battery used was Nickel-Metal Hydride
(NiMH). These laptop batteries last longer than NiCad batteries
but their total lifespan is shorter.
* The current standard laptop battery is the Li-ion battery. As
well as being light and having a long life span they can also be
randomly charged and won't overheat if charged for too long.
Being thinner, the Li-ion battery is ideal as a notebook battery
and can last for between 950 and 1200 recharges.
Perhaps even more crucial to our business life as well as our
personal life is the cell phone. There are also three different
types of cell phone batteries:
* Lithium-ion Batteries: these are the newest type of cell phone
battery and, while having certain advantages over the older NIMH
and NICD batteries, care must still be taken to ensure they
perform at their best. For example, a new lithium-ion battery
should be "conditioned". What this basically means is that for
the battery's first three charge cycles, fully charge the
battery overnight and allow it to fully discharge before
charging it again. This will increase the life and effectiveness
of the cell phone battery.
* NIMH Batteries: These batteries also should be conditioned in
the same way as a Lithium-ion battery. It is important to
remember that extensive overcharging (i.e.: on a battery charger
for more than twenty-four hours) can damage these cell phone
batteries.
* NICD Batteries: These are the oldest type of cell phone
battery and, as is the case with the laptop computer, are less
reliable than the newer types.
Okay, so we know we'd be sunk without our laptops and cell
phones. But what about the car? Cars have batteries too. Perhaps
you ride a Harley Davidson - not without a motorcycle battery!
It's interesting to think where we'd be if the afore-mentioned
"zapping episode" took place. We know that our forefathers coped
without batteries but could we?
Here's a challenge: For one whole day leave everything
containing a battery alone. No driving or riding, no cell phone
or computer, completely "battery-bereft". At the end of the day
you'll either feel tranquil and centred, at total peace with
your surroundings or a nervous wreck, climbing the walls.
Which will you be?