How to Maximize Computer Battery Life
From Tech-Help
Q: How do schools solve the problem of laptop batteries? We finally have several clases and small groups accessing all of the laptops on a regular basis. The problem is, if one group uses them all morning, the group in the afternoon is left with discharged batteries. Any sugestions?
A. First of all, It's great to find that the computers are getting used so much!
Here are a few possibilities:
1) Get a second set of new batteries and a charger for them, and swap them out. Could get expensive, but if you keep track of which batteries are new and which are "veterans" you will probably find that the older ones aren't holding a charge as long as the new ones anyway -- and the new ones might hold up longer on a long day anyway, and the older ones would become the "spares". You may discover, too, that there are a couple of batteries that are worse than others at holding a charge, and it's worth replacing them -- but saving them, if they'll get you through even a short time. Ask Tim.
2) Come up wtih a way to keep the computers plugged in -- either in the morning or the afternoon. It might take a couple of power strips -- and taking the power supplies out of the cart. Could get either tangled, and reduce flexibility in the classroom. Getting extra power supplies for such an arrangement is also an option, but again, could get expensive.
3) Another possibility -- and a cheap one financially but which takes some computer setting modifications -- is to try to minimize the power drain on the batteries when they are used in the morning on such days. One easy way to reduce the power drain is to turn off the WiFi until it's needed. for instance, if the students are doing word processing and aren't on-line, turn the WiFi off, until/unless they need to print. Of course, this means making an adjustment to each computer, and I'm not sure how difficult that would be from the limited "Student" login. But it would help reduce what the battery has to power. You might also look through the energy settings -- so that when possible, the hard drive spins down, and the screen dims. Adjusting these settings will definitely extend the time a single charge will last. And help make the student aware of how to keep an eye on the battery levels, so that they can alert their teacher when the power level on their laptop is getting low.
4) Lastly, teamwork will also help. A battery charge won't last for more than a few hours of work on most computers anyway. On days when two classes are signed up to have the computers, getting whoever has the cart in the morning should plug it back in as soon as possible after the students have used the machines -- this may give you enough extra juice to last the afternoon. See if the morning teacher can plan to use them as early as possible, and not wait until the last part of class. I know that's sometimes not possible, but sometimes people are flexible, and knowing that it could help the cause will be willing. I don't know what the transit between two classes is or how that's handled, but if that cart is sitting idle for even five minutes unplugged between the classes, you are missing an opportunity. Figure out what the optimal length of time it takes to fully recharge a battery, and ask pople who are sharing the cart to try to give the cart a chance to refresh during lunch. It's a courtesy thing. Reminding the afternoon teacher to keep them plugged in in the cart as long as possible before handing them out, too, but they are probably already feeling put out because the batteries have been tapped out. Maximizing ANY opportunity to recharge between morning and afternoon will be helpful, but figure out how long a full charge actually takes. It's not uncommon for people to just forget after they've used them that this is a shared resource and with the increased usage, shared stewardship of it is really important.
Some combination of the above four things will help. Do both 3 & 4, and get some power strips and make a few power bricks easily accessible and removeable from the cart, and ask the IT Dept. for at least a couple "replacement" or "spare" batteries to keep on hand (charged, of course!) to swap out when a battery drains.
