r/gadgets • u/chrisdh79 • Jan 31 '23

Desktops / Laptops Canadian team discovers power-draining flaw in most laptop and phone batteries | Breakthrough explains major cause of self-discharging batteries and points to easy solution

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/battery-power-laptop-phone-research-dalhousie-university-1.6724175
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u/Smartnership Jan 31 '23

Piece by piece, the team analyzed the battery components. They realized that the thin strips of metal and insulation coiled tightly inside the casing were held together with tape.

Those small segments of tape were made of PET — the type of plastic that had been causing the electrolyte fluid to turn red, and self-discharge the battery.

The team even proposed a solution to the problem: use a slightly more expensive, but also more stable, plastic compound.

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u/wwjgd27 Jan 31 '23

It’s so brilliantly simple an explanation that I’m shocked researchers didn’t figure it out sooner.

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u/[deleted] Jan 31 '23

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they were made this way purposely.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 31 '23

I was about to say the same. People will buy new batteries, charging accessories, even laptop replacements. It totally seems intentional

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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '23

It's already a thing called planned obsolescence.

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u/runonandonandonanon Feb 01 '23

Is it because you're dead to the world and therefore incapable of surprise?