Short Circuits
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday November 27, 2007
Q
I am using a Dell Inspiron laptop as my home desktop computer. Can I remove the battery? Is there a danger of a crash if a sudden power failure occurs? A If you're using the laptop as your primary computer and keeping it plugged into the electrical outlet all the time, removing the battery is fine. Many companies actually recommend against keeping the battery constantly plugged in, as heat and other factors could affect its internal chemistry and shorten its overall life span. Sudden surges of current from the wall outlet can do bad things to computers, modems and other delicate electronic equipment. To help protect against electrical fluctuations, many people use a surge suppressor - a device that goes between a computer's power cord and the wall outlet. If you want to make sure your computer has a back-up power system in case the electricity fails, you might want to buy an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Besides protecting your computer from electrical fluctuations, a UPS can also serve as an emergency battery back-up when the power goes out, to give you enough time - two to five minutes - to shut the computer down properly. (A detailed explanation is at computer.howstuffworks.com/question28.htm). You can find UPS units for less than $100 on the Web. If you don't use the laptop battery, charge it to about 40 to 50 per cent of its capacity and tuck it away it in a cool, dry place.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald
Share This