So is this an issue specific to HP themselves, or does it pertain to the manufacturer of the batteries? Given the issue spans multiple product lines (hence not a single design/shape of battery unlike Samsung's recent issue), I wonder if its something to do with the manufacturer - and does that mean this can potentially expand to include other brands using batteries from the same manufacturer?
Battery recalls are nothing new. I've seen them with a certain degree of regularity for well over two decades. It's good information to share because people tend to live under a rock and may not know, but no one should be surprised by this.
I used to look forward to a battery recall, because it meant a free new battery. Any reason Laptop batteries only seem to last about a year when kept plugged in 95% of the time?
Yes, keeping batteries stored at thier maximum potential voltage is what wears them out, it is much healthier for long term to cycle the battery regularly.
Keep it charged at less than 80% level. Thinkpads and some Dells have this feature where you can set the max level. It'll only charge to that level, then stop charging and run completely on AC.
For older Macbook Pros with MagSafe2 connector, you can put a thin film or tape over the center pin which is used to signal the charging. By blocking this pin the laptop won't charge but still be powered by the AC. I use this method to keep it charged anywhere between 40-80% most of the time. I have a late 2013 rMBP13. It's a bit of a hassle, but better than not being able to control the battery charge level at all.
Never keep your laptop (Dell) plugged in full-time. My father did that despite my explicit objections and the battery lasted 13 months. I always let it cycle to at least 30% and then charge it.
>muh battery is too big 4 da laptop. >muh battery problems only exist when da battery is 2 big 4 elektroniks.
Waiting to see what other sheep come in from the Samsung Note7 battery issues to start proclaiming that the battery was _clearly_ too large, despite the scientific analysis presented in the article.
After all, batteries only explode when they're too big for their enclosure, and TVs only stop working when you watch too much TV without giving the TV some time to rest, etc.
Go check out the comments section of the Anandtech article "Samsung Reveals Root Cause of Galaxy Note7 Battery Fires", where dozens of commenters are going on about the battery size being too large being the issue causing battery fires, despite the article clearly explaining the issue being unique to two different Note 7 battery manufacturers.
For the first, electrodes were too close to each other near the negative battery terminal, such that during normal thermal expansion and contraction during battery charging/depletion there was a chance that electrodes would bridge causing a short, leading to thermal runaway during the reaction, and a battery fire. The other manufacturer had shoddy welding for the positive terminal that occasionally, again caused a short, then thermal runaway, and thus a battery fire.
Essentially, I'm predicting another wave of idiots who can't read an article and don't understand that there is more to battery design and manufacturing problems than "hurr durr battery 2 big so fire happen".
My envy 17 from 2012, the battery bulged and tore the chassis right after the 4 year warranty, The support is the worst I have ever experienced. 90 mins of being bounced all over and finally saying they need 150$ to answer the simple question where can I find a replacement for the battery let alone find and answer to the battery bulging. Never a HP again.
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Michael Bay - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Woah. Still better than Samsung...so far.Phylyp - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
You're just sore that Samsung had more fireworks than your movies :-)Michael Bay - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Hey, I imploded right on the stage for them once!Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
It would have been pretty funny if one of the phones had blown up on stage during a Samsung presentation.Phylyp - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
So is this an issue specific to HP themselves, or does it pertain to the manufacturer of the batteries? Given the issue spans multiple product lines (hence not a single design/shape of battery unlike Samsung's recent issue), I wonder if its something to do with the manufacturer - and does that mean this can potentially expand to include other brands using batteries from the same manufacturer?BrokenCrayons - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Battery recalls are nothing new. I've seen them with a certain degree of regularity for well over two decades. It's good information to share because people tend to live under a rock and may not know, but no one should be surprised by this.Rocket321 - Friday, January 27, 2017 - link
I used to look forward to a battery recall, because it meant a free new battery. Any reason Laptop batteries only seem to last about a year when kept plugged in 95% of the time?Sarah Terra - Saturday, January 28, 2017 - link
Yes, keeping batteries stored at thier maximum potential voltage is what wears them out, it is much healthier for long term to cycle the battery regularly.hp79 - Sunday, January 29, 2017 - link
Keep it charged at less than 80% level. Thinkpads and some Dells have this feature where you can set the max level. It'll only charge to that level, then stop charging and run completely on AC.For older Macbook Pros with MagSafe2 connector, you can put a thin film or tape over the center pin which is used to signal the charging. By blocking this pin the laptop won't charge but still be powered by the AC. I use this method to keep it charged anywhere between 40-80% most of the time. I have a late 2013 rMBP13. It's a bit of a hassle, but better than not being able to control the battery charge level at all.
gdmaclew - Monday, January 30, 2017 - link
Never keep your laptop (Dell) plugged in full-time. My father did that despite my explicit objections and the battery lasted 13 months. I always let it cycle to at least 30% and then charge it.dstarr3 - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
And this is why you build devices with user-replaceable batteries.Manch - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Not just those serial numbers. We've replaced about 60% of our HP batteries.Manch - Friday, January 27, 2017 - link
Our bad battery Serials: 6DJFVandrewaggb - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Yep, the whole lithium battery industry needs higher standards. These recalls have been happening for years.JoeyJoJo123 - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
>muh battery is too big 4 da laptop.>muh battery problems only exist when da battery is 2 big 4 elektroniks.
Waiting to see what other sheep come in from the Samsung Note7 battery issues to start proclaiming that the battery was _clearly_ too large, despite the scientific analysis presented in the article.
After all, batteries only explode when they're too big for their enclosure, and TVs only stop working when you watch too much TV without giving the TV some time to rest, etc.
Manch - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
What are you on about?JoeyJoJo123 - Thursday, January 26, 2017 - link
Go check out the comments section of the Anandtech article "Samsung Reveals Root Cause of Galaxy Note7 Battery Fires", where dozens of commenters are going on about the battery size being too large being the issue causing battery fires, despite the article clearly explaining the issue being unique to two different Note 7 battery manufacturers.For the first, electrodes were too close to each other near the negative battery terminal, such that during normal thermal expansion and contraction during battery charging/depletion there was a chance that electrodes would bridge causing a short, leading to thermal runaway during the reaction, and a battery fire. The other manufacturer had shoddy welding for the positive terminal that occasionally, again caused a short, then thermal runaway, and thus a battery fire.
Essentially, I'm predicting another wave of idiots who can't read an article and don't understand that there is more to battery design and manufacturing problems than "hurr durr battery 2 big so fire happen".
Manch - Friday, January 27, 2017 - link
Well, that didn't pan out for you.sharath.naik - Friday, January 27, 2017 - link
My envy 17 from 2012, the battery bulged and tore the chassis right after the 4 year warranty, The support is the worst I have ever experienced. 90 mins of being bounced all over and finally saying they need 150$ to answer the simple question where can I find a replacement for the battery let alone find and answer to the battery bulging. Never a HP again.