Recovering a laptop battery (for those interested!)

AbyssUnderground · - Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 3855

I noticed a few days ago that my laptop battery was not lasting as long as it used to, it was down from 1hr 40mins to 1hr 5mins so I decided to have a look on google. I found that it is possible to 'recover' batteries that have lost some of their capacity to hold charge by freezing them. Bizzare I know, but I'm going to tell all those interested how I did it...

Step 1: Completely flatten the battery by using the laptop until it turns off (beware this can cause data loss! Shutdown just before 0% if data concious).

Step 2: Put the battery in a sealable bag (or an A4 paper wallet sealed with tape!) along with a piece of toilet roll or kitchen paper (to soak up any moisture that may accumulate).

Step 3: Put in the freezer for no less that 3 hours (24 hours is recommended but I used 3 hours) and if you have any freezer packs, surround it with them to freeze it quicker.

Step 4: After the 3 or more hours in the freezer, remove the battery and put it back in the laptop for charging (wipe any condensation off it first).

The battery wont appear to charge at first but give it 10-20 mins and it should begin.

Step 5: After a full charge you should see an increase in battery level. The easiest way to check this is to remove the mains cable and look at the 'remaining time' indicator on windows.

Step 6: Repeat the whole process a few times and see how high you can get the capacity to increase. I managed 20 minutes. It doesnt sound like a lot to you but to me its a considerable amount.

NOTE: Dont freeze below 20*c (degrees celcius) because the electrolyte will freeze and damage the battery. Most freezers only go down to -18 anyway so you *should* be OK.

I had a lot of luck with this process but it doesnt mean you will as well. Not all batteries can be recovered, it depends on their age and what state they were in to begin with.

I hope this helps anyone who wants to recover their battery just as I did.
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Andy (AbyssUnderground) (previously The Inquisitor)
www.abyssunderground.co.uk

aven59 · - Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 3

Very interesting !!! Thank you !

Li-Ion or Ni-Mh ?

I have an auld Toshiba laptop...

aven59

p3 · - Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 615

Me, personally... I would't risk somehow messing it up. I just wouldn't.

jlp09550 · - Joined: 05 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Louisiana, USA

Goatie.dk · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:25 pm Post subject:

It also works with mobile phones(or cellphones as you american call it).
Just do it like The Inquisitor tells you to do... Worked for me everytime I did it.
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The insane dane who loves AWS :D
http://home.goatie.dk

<- pic = online.. no pic, guess ;P

cmxflash · - Joined: 11 Dec 2004 Posts: 872

...Or you just change the batteries and get even better performance.

AbyssUnderground · - Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 3855

This process works for Lithium-Ion, Ni-Cad and Ni-MH batteries.

It is also quite safe providing you dont freeze it below 20*c. You wont damage the battery otherwise and as one person has already said, its worked for them, its worked for me, why shouldnt it work for you?

If your battery isnt holding much charge as it is (which is what this process was designed for) then what have you got to lose?

CMXFlash, not all of us are as wealthy as you! We can't just go out and buy £80 batteries every time we need to!
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Andy (AbyssUnderground) (previously The Inquisitor)
www.abyssunderground.co.uk

AbyssUnderground · - Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 3855

I was looking through the forum topics and I stumbled upon this topic from a while ago.

I have now posted the tutorial on AbyssUnderground.

Since this was posted 2 of my friends have tried this method and it worked for one of them (The other one was too old to have any effect on it).
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Andy (AbyssUnderground) (previously The Inquisitor)
www.abyssunderground.co.uk