To clarify: Would less energy be used if the computer was continuously kept plugged in during use OR unplugging the laptop when fully charged and using it unplugged until the battery is low OR does it not matter? If no answer can be found, how could I test this theory?
julesoriginals
Favorite Answer
Unplug when fully charged, then plug in when battery is low.
A charger does not have a brain, nor does the battery. There isn't anything to tell the charger to "shut off" because the battery is full so it keeps drawing electricity. Fully unplug it when not needed, and you stop drawing electricity.
You can buy a volt tester and track your usage in both conditions, full battery and charge mode. I think you will find it's always drawing electricity. .
Tony
You will use less energy keeping it plugged in while using it but unplugging the power adapter when it is not in use. Charging the batteries is not 100% efficient and will use more energy than simply keeping it plugged in.
Anonymous
the laptop uses a rechargeable battery and when you recharge it you loose some energy as heat so it is best to use mains power. in reality it is far from simple, most laptops have low energy modes that they go in to when they are using battery power (eg turning HD off quicker and using less back lighting on the screen). if you changed your settings so that you are always using these power saving methods it would be better to run on mains power but otherwise it gets a little foggy.
Anonymous
Nop, it doesnt because at the end, you would use the same electricty and logically i would rather keep it pluged but to save energy get 2 batteries to change when one is finished
Anonymous
the battery is still charged even if not plugged into computer so the anwer is both