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CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

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polymer shape rather than an organic solvent. This enables the batteries to

take on unusual forms beyond the simple cylinder or rectangle shapes. In

practice, most of the batteries people call LiPo are actually traditional Li-Ion

electrolyte packed in polymer bags instead of a rigid case. LiPo batteries

haven’t replaced Li-Ion in most portables, but they are used a lot in smaller

electronics such as tablets, smartphones, portable media players, and in

compact portable computers such as hybrids and Ultrabooks (a super-thin

laptop form factor).

The Care and Feeding of Batteries

In general, keep in mind the following basics. First, always store batteries in

a cool place. Although a freezer might seem like an excellent storage place,

the moisture, extreme freezing cold, metal racks, and food make it a bad idea.

Second, keep the battery charged, at least to 70–80 percent. Third, never

drain a battery all the way down unless required to do so as part of a battery

calibration (where you, in essence, reset the battery according to steps

provided by the manufacturer). Rechargeable batteries have only a limited

number of charge-discharge cycles before overall battery performance is

reduced. Fourth, never handle a battery that has ruptured or broken; battery

chemicals are very dangerous and flammable (check YouTube for videos of

what happens when you puncture a Li-Ion or LiPo battery). Finally, always

recycle old batteries.

Try This! Recycling Old Portable Device Batteries

Got an old portable device battery lying around? Well, you need to get rid

of it, and there are some pretty toxic chemicals in that battery, so you can’t

just throw it in the trash. Sooner or later, you’ll probably need to deal with

such a battery, so try this!

1. Do an online search to find the battery recycling center nearest to

you. Electronics retailers are getting much better about accepting a

wide array of e-waste, including batteries, though they often place

quantity limits.

2. Sometimes, you can take old laptop batteries to an auto parts store

that disposes of old car batteries—I know it sounds odd, but it’s

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