One option that you probably ignored when you bought your laptop was getting a second or spare battery. But people who are on the road all the time or in a remote location where they spend a long time away from the power socket absolutely have to have a spare battery handy.
Before you use a spare battery, make sure that you fully charge it. Either charge it in the laptop or use an external charger (if you have one). Put the fully charged, spare battery in your laptop case or in any non-conducting (metallic) container. Then head out on the road.
If your laptop has some type of quick-swapping ability, then when the power gets low, you can just eject your laptop's original, spent battery and quickly insert the spare battery. But be sure that your laptop can survive such a heart transplant before you attempt it!
If your laptop doesn't have the ability to hot-swap batteries, then just turn off (or hibernate) the laptop when the original battery is nearly spent. Remove the old battery, insert the fresh one, and then turn the laptop on again.
Keep these spare-battery tips in mind when out and about with your multiple batteries:
- Yeah, you probably want to get a laptop that supports hot-swapping batteries, if you plan on pulling this trick often.
- You may want to label your batteries with a Sharpie so that you don't get the two (or more) confused and accidentally insert a dead battery.
- You can buy a spare battery from your dealer or from stores (either brick-and-mortar or online) that sell extra batteries.
- Be wary of generic batteries! Always try to get manufacturer or manufacturer-approved batteries for your laptop. Anything less, and you run the risk of setting your laptop ablaze! It's happened!
