Gaming Laptop Battery Temperature
Gaming laptop battery temperature is one of the most influential factors on battery capacity. Temperatures that are too high or too low can cause thermal damage to the battery, which can reduce the capacity and lifespan of the battery. The ideal temperature for a gaming laptop battery is between 15°C to 35°C.
Gaming laptop battery temperature can be affected by several things, such as:
- Environmental temperature, that is, the air temperature around the laptop. Ambient temperatures that are too hot or too cold can affect the temperature of a gaming laptop battery. Therefore, you should avoid placing the laptop in a place exposed to direct sunlight, near a heat source, or in a closed car.
- Laptop use, which is an activity carried out with a laptop. Intensive laptop use, such as playing games, watching videos, or running heavy programs, can increase the temperature of a gaming laptop battery. Therefore, you should use the laptop as needed, and give a rest time for the laptop so that it does not overheat.
- Battery charging is the process of charging a laptop battery. Charging the battery for too long, too often, or with fast or wireless charging technology, can increase the temperature of a gaming laptop battery. Therefore, you should charge the laptop battery as needed, and disconnect the cable or wireless charging device when the battery is full or not in use.
How Does a Gaming Laptop Battery Work?
Before discussing the impact of charging a gaming laptop battery constantly, we need to understand how a gaming laptop battery works. Gaming laptop batteries, just like laptop batteries in general, are types of lithium-ion or Li-ion batteries. Li-ion batteries have several advantages compared to other types of batteries, such as:
- It has a large capacity and can store more energy
- It is a lightweight and small size
- Does not experience memory effects, which are a decrease in battery capacity due to incomplete recharging
- Does not require special maintenance and can be recharged at any time
Li-ion batteries consist of two electrodes, the cathode, and the anode, separated by an electrolyte. Electrolytes are substances that can conduct electric current. As the battery is charged, an electric current flows from the adapter to the cathode, and then to the anode through the electrolyte. This process causes a chemical reaction that produces lithium ions. These lithium ions then move from the cathode to the anode and are deposited there. When the battery is used, electric current flows from the anode to the cathode, and then to the device that requires power. This process causes a chemical reaction that produces electrons. These electrons then move from the anode to the cathode and produce energy. The lithium ions deposited in the anode again move to the cathode and wait to be recharged.
What Happens When Charging a Gaming Laptop Battery Constantly?
When you’re charging a gaming laptop constantly, you’re not charging the battery, but rather using power from the adapter directly. The battery only serves as a backup in case of a power cut or you disconnect the charging cable. When the battery charge reaches 100%, charging will stop automatically and the battery will enter trickle charging mode. Trickle charging mode is a charging mode with a very small current to keep the battery fully charged. This mode is not harmful to the battery, but it also does not provide any benefits.
However, charging a gaming laptop battery constantly can also cause several problems, namely:
- Overheating. Gaming laptops tend to generate high heat when operating, especially when running heavy games. This heat can spread to the battery and increase the temperature of the battery. Too high a temperature can damage the battery and reduce its capacity. In addition, heat can also affect other components inside a laptop, such as processors, graphics cards, and motherboards, and reduce their performance and lifespan.
- Battery stress. Li-ion batteries have a limited charge cycle, i.e. the number of times a battery can be recharged before its capacity decreases significantly. These charge cycles typically range from 300 to 500 times, depending on the quality and maintenance of the battery. When you charge a gaming laptop battery constantly, you are forcing the battery to work continuously, even with a small current. This can cause stress on the battery and reduce its charge cycle. In addition, battery stress can also cause battery degradation, which is a decrease in battery quality due to changes in its chemical and physical structure. Battery degradation can lead to decreased battery capacity, durability, and reliability.