[ltp] ThinkPad Batteries

Daniel Castro linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:06:07 +0000


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I'm lazy, and installing tp_smapi requires more than a few clicks... anyone
knows of a simpler solution to keep the battery on the 30%-85% charged
range? If not I think I'm going for the take the battery out option...
I'm on Ubuntu 8.04.1 BTW

Cheers!

2008/11/10 Daniel Castro <castromd@tcd.ie>

> Right...
>
> Two usefull links:
>
> http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Maintenance#Battery_treatment
> So depending on the battery you have that's the way you treat it...
>
> http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Tp_smapi#Battery_charge_control_features
> I'm going to give this a go and see...
>
> Cheers!
>
>
> 2008/11/10 Adrian Bastholm <adrian@javaguru.org>
>
> Not long ago there was a post from a guy who advocated for never
>> discharging completly, starting charging at around 20% (or 15%) but
>> not less, and to stop charging unless the battery goes under 80%
>> charge, with the motivation that laptop battery cells are
>> force-charged when they are completely depleted, and that wears out
>> the battery. Like so, charging it constantly when plugged in to AC
>> wears out the battery.
>>
>> So both theories seem logical (to me the above seems more reasonable)
>> but I'd also like an opinion from someone who doesn't just do educated
>> guessing, but has some kind of engineering background in this area.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Adrian
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 6:57 PM, Daniel Castro <castromd@tcd.ie> wrote:
>> > Interesting topic...
>> > I got my T61 in Sept 2007, it still has the nice coloured IBM logo in
>> the
>> > palm rest and display lid, so fingers crossed I'm on the safe side.
>> Could I
>> > identify shitty batteries by looking at them? (brand, make, etc...)
>> > So is it recommendable to use the computer without the battery on to
>> span
>> > the battery life? What I used to do is to run it without AC until
>> > the battery dies, have read in several places that this improved the
>> battery
>> > life. I have a docking station so taking the battery out is easier for
>> me is
>> > suppose. If so, should I leave it charged or uncharged?
>> > Cheers!
>> >
>> > 2008/11/10 Nils Faerber <nils.faerber@kernelconcepts.de>
>> >>
>> >> Just for the records: I can completely second this statement and
>> >> experience :(
>> >>
>> >> The newer model's batteries are "evil" while the older (original IBM)
>> >> perform way better. I have experience with X60, X61s (one failure, th=
e
>> >> others dramatically fast loosing capacity) and older models like X23,
>> >> X24, X31 and T42p, all of them, even if years old, still perform
>> >> reasonably well.
>> >>
>> >> Pity pity...
>> >> If the bateries would be much cheaper I would not worry that much but
>> >> with >$100 per battery this is a rather unsatisfactory experience.
>> >>
>> >> To save some cycles I now mostly run the devices without battery if
>> >> possible - for some models a little bit "unstable" while typing but
>> >> still better than ruining my batteries too quickly :(
>> >>
>> >> Cheers
>> >>  nils
>> >>
>> >> Lee Mathers (TCFS) schrieb:
>> >> > Completely dissatisfied with Think Pad Batteries, this is mostly a
>> >> > rant/vent but I do ask a question or two that perhaps someone would
>> be
>> >> > kind enough to anwser.
>> >> >
>> >> > 18 Lenovo T60 Thinkpad's 18 original batteries replaced as they
>> >> > completely failed all between 10-14mth's of use.  Of the 18
>> Replacement
>> >> > Batteries 11 of them have been RMA'd as they failed within 8mth's
>> >> >
>> >> > 32 Lenovo T61 Thinkpad more than 20 Original Batteries replaced and
>> have
>> >> > the replacement batteries have already been RMA'd.
>> >> >
>> >> > So to avoid me anymore IT Service Desk calls(1) I'm looking for
>> >> > comment's or reviews of NON IBM Batteries.
>> >> >
>> >> > Just for Reference my T43 still has 92% of it's original capacity
>> after
>> >> > 5 years of usage. Many of the R31/R52 series also >5 year old
>> batteries
>> >> > still keep the system running without AC for close to an hour.
>> >> >
>> >> > (If you seen/know how bad these laptops operate with WinXP and a NO=
N
>> >> > Chargeabl e battery you will feel my pain, glad lenovo doesn't have=
 a
>> >> > battery meter for GNU/Linux.)
>> >> >
>> >> > Strange Lenovo would let something like a battery kill the ThinkPad
>> brad
>> >> > so soon after they obtained it from IBM.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> kernel concepts GbR        Tel: +49-271-771091-12
>> >> Sieghuetter Hauptweg 48    Fax: +49-271-771091-19
>> >> D-57072 Siegen             Mob: +49-176-21024535
>> >> http://www.kernelconcepts.de
>> >> --
>> >> The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:
>> >> http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-thinkpad
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > ________________________
>> >
>> > Daniel Castro, M.Sc.
>> > +353 083-318-2058
>> > dancasmo@gmail.com
>> > castromd@tcd.ie
>> > ________________________
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> V=E4nliga h=E4lsningar / Kind regards,
>> Adrian Bastholm
>>
>> I would change the world, but they won't give me the sourcecode
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ________________________
>
> Daniel Castro, M.Sc.
> +353 083-318-2058
> dancasmo@gmail.com
> castromd@tcd.ie
> ________________________
>



--=20
________________________

Daniel Castro, M.Sc.
+353 083-318-2058
dancasmo@gmail.com
castromd@tcd.ie
________________________

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I&#39;m lazy, and installing tp_smapi requires more than a few clicks... an=
yone knows of a simpler solution to keep the battery on the 30%-85% charged=
 range? If not I think I&#39;m going for the take the battery out option...=
<br>
I&#39;m on Ubuntu 8.04.1 BTW<br><br>Cheers!<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quot=
e">2008/11/10 Daniel Castro <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:castrom=
d@tcd.ie">castromd@tcd.ie</a>&gt;</span><br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quot=
e" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt =
0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Right...<br><br>Two usefull links:<br><br><a href=3D"http://www.thinkwiki.o=
rg/wiki/Maintenance#Battery_treatment" target=3D"_blank">http://www.thinkwi=
ki.org/wiki/Maintenance#Battery_treatment</a><br>So depending on the batter=
y you have that&#39;s the way you treat it...<br>

<br><a href=3D"http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Tp_smapi#Battery_charge_contro=
l_features" target=3D"_blank">http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Tp_smapi#Batter=
y_charge_control_features</a><br>I&#39;m going to give this a go and see...=
<br>
<br>Cheers!<br>
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">2008/11/10 Adrian Bastholm <span dir=3D"=
ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:adrian@javaguru.org" target=3D"_blank">adrian@ja=
vaguru.org</a>&gt;</span><div><div></div><div class=3D"Wj3C7c"><br><blockqu=
ote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204=
); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">

Not long ago there was a post from a guy who advocated for never<br>
discharging completly, starting charging at around 20% (or 15%) but<br>
not less, and to stop charging unless the battery goes under 80%<br>
charge, with the motivation that laptop battery cells are<br>
force-charged when they are completely depleted, and that wears out<br>
the battery. Like so, charging it constantly when plugged in to AC<br>
wears out the battery.<br>
<br>
So both theories seem logical (to me the above seems more reasonable)<br>
but I&#39;d also like an opinion from someone who doesn&#39;t just do educa=
ted<br>
guessing, but has some kind of engineering background in this area.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Adrian<br>
<div><div></div><div><br>
On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 6:57 PM, Daniel Castro &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:castro=
md@tcd.ie" target=3D"_blank">castromd@tcd.ie</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt; Interesting topic...<br>
&gt; I got my T61 in Sept 2007, it still has the nice coloured IBM logo in =
the<br>
&gt; palm rest and display lid, so fingers crossed I&#39;m on the safe side=
. Could I<br>
&gt; identify shitty batteries by looking at them? (brand, make, etc...)<br=
>
&gt; So is it recommendable to use the computer without the battery on to s=
pan<br>
&gt; the battery life? What I used to do is to run it without AC until<br>
&gt; the battery dies, have read in several places that this improved the b=
attery<br>
&gt; life. I have a docking station so taking the battery out is easier for=
 me is<br>
&gt; suppose. If so, should I leave it charged or uncharged?<br>
&gt; Cheers!<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; 2008/11/10 Nils Faerber &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:nils.faerber@kernelconce=
pts.de" target=3D"_blank">nils.faerber@kernelconcepts.de</a>&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Just for the records: I can completely second this statement and<b=
r>
&gt;&gt; experience :(<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; The newer model&#39;s batteries are &quot;evil&quot; while the old=
er (original IBM)<br>
&gt;&gt; perform way better. I have experience with X60, X61s (one failure,=
 the<br>
&gt;&gt; others dramatically fast loosing capacity) and older models like X=
23,<br>
&gt;&gt; X24, X31 and T42p, all of them, even if years old, still perform<b=
r>
&gt;&gt; reasonably well.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Pity pity...<br>
&gt;&gt; If the bateries would be much cheaper I would not worry that much =
but<br>
&gt;&gt; with &gt;$100 per battery this is a rather unsatisfactory experien=
ce.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; To save some cycles I now mostly run the devices without battery i=
f<br>
&gt;&gt; possible - for some models a little bit &quot;unstable&quot; while=
 typing but<br>
&gt;&gt; still better than ruining my batteries too quickly :(<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Cheers<br>
&gt;&gt; &nbsp;nils<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; Lee Mathers (TCFS) schrieb:<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Completely dissatisfied with Think Pad Batteries, this is mos=
tly a<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; rant/vent but I do ask a question or two that perhaps someone=
 would be<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; kind enough to anwser.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; 18 Lenovo T60 Thinkpad&#39;s 18 original batteries replaced a=
s they<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; completely failed all between 10-14mth&#39;s of use. &nbsp;Of=
 the 18 Replacement<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Batteries 11 of them have been RMA&#39;d as they failed withi=
n 8mth&#39;s<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; 32 Lenovo T61 Thinkpad more than 20 Original Batteries replac=
ed and have<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; the replacement batteries have already been RMA&#39;d.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; So to avoid me anymore IT Service Desk calls(1) I&#39;m looki=
ng for<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; comment&#39;s or reviews of NON IBM Batteries.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Just for Reference my T43 still has 92% of it&#39;s original =
capacity after<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; 5 years of usage. Many of the R31/R52 series also &gt;5 year =
old batteries<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; still keep the system running without AC for close to an hour=
.<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; (If you seen/know how bad these laptops operate with WinXP an=
d a NON<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Chargeabl e battery you will feel my pain, glad lenovo doesn&=
#39;t have a<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; battery meter for GNU/Linux.)<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; Strange Lenovo would let something like a battery kill the Th=
inkPad brad<br>
&gt;&gt; &gt; so soon after they obtained it from IBM.<br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;&gt; --<br>
&gt;&gt; kernel concepts GbR &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Tel: +49-271-771091=
-12<br>
&gt;&gt; Sieghuetter Hauptweg 48 &nbsp; &nbsp;Fax: +49-271-771091-19<br>
&gt;&gt; D-57072 Siegen &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mob: +49-=
176-21024535<br>
&gt;&gt; <a href=3D"http://www.kernelconcepts.de" target=3D"_blank">http://=
www.kernelconcepts.de</a><br>
&gt;&gt; --<br>
&gt;&gt; The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:<br>
&gt;&gt; <a href=3D"http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/mailman/listinfo/linu=
x-thinkpad" target=3D"_blank">http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/mailman/lis=
tinfo/linux-thinkpad</a><br>
&gt;&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; --<br>
&gt; ________________________<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Daniel Castro, M.Sc.<br>
&gt; +353 083-318-2058<br>
&gt; <a href=3D"mailto:dancasmo@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">dancasmo@gmail=
.com</a><br>
&gt; <a href=3D"mailto:castromd@tcd.ie" target=3D"_blank">castromd@tcd.ie</=
a><br>
&gt; ________________________<br>
&gt;<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div></div><font color=3D"#888888">--<br>
V=E4nliga h=E4lsningar / Kind regards,<br>
Adrian Bastholm<br>
<br>
I would change the world, but they won&#39;t give me the sourcecode<br>
</font></blockquote></div></div></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><div=
><div></div><div class=3D"Wj3C7c">________________________<br><br>Daniel Ca=
stro, M.Sc.<br>+353 083-318-2058<br><a href=3D"mailto:dancasmo@gmail.com" t=
arget=3D"_blank">dancasmo@gmail.com</a><br>
<a href=3D"mailto:castromd@tcd.ie" target=3D"_blank">castromd@tcd.ie</a><br=
>
________________________<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br>___________=
_____________<br><br>Daniel Castro, M.Sc.<br>+353 083-318-2058<br><a href=
=3D"mailto:dancasmo@gmail.com">dancasmo@gmail.com</a><br><a href=3D"mailto:=
castromd@tcd.ie">castromd@tcd.ie</a><br>
________________________<br>

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