Comments on: Laptop Battery Lifetime http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/ Eitan's Pitch Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ara http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21602 Ara Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:48:27 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21602 Similar thing for me: ara@sushirider:~$ cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT0/info present: yes design capacity: 56160 mWh last full capacity: 36550 mWh battery technology: rechargeable design voltage: 10800 mV design capacity warning: 1827 mWh design capacity low: 200 mWh capacity granularity 1: 1 mWh capacity granularity 2: 1 mWh model number: 42T5262 serial number: 27919 battery type: LION OEM info: SANYO Similar thing for me:

ara@sushirider:~$ cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT0/info
present: yes
design capacity: 56160 mWh
last full capacity: 36550 mWh
battery technology: rechargeable
design voltage: 10800 mV
design capacity warning: 1827 mWh
design capacity low: 200 mWh
capacity granularity 1: 1 mWh
capacity granularity 2: 1 mWh
model number: 42T5262
serial number: 27919
battery type: LION
OEM info: SANYO

]]> By: Dennis Fisher http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21551 Dennis Fisher Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:05:56 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21551 This post from Lifehacker founding editor Gina Trapani might be a helpful read: http://smarterware.org/3296/unplug-your-laptop-regularly-when-in-doubt This post from Lifehacker founding editor Gina Trapani might be a helpful read: http://smarterware.org/3296/unplug-your-laptop-regularly-when-in-doubt

]]> By: Astron http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21506 Astron Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:09:30 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21506 Some advice: * Try to keep your battery between 20 and 80 % charge most of the time (better is 40 - 60 %) -- below is harmful, above is less harmful * When the computer runs on AC, remove the battery (I guess it is better not to remove the battery while the computer is running), also see above. * every 30 (or more) cycles "reset" the battery by charging completely, then discharging almost completely twice I'm having a hard time trying to follow this, too. Some advice:
* Try to keep your battery between 20 and 80 % charge most of the time (better is 40 – 60 %) — below is harmful, above is less harmful
* When the computer runs on AC, remove the battery (I guess it is better not to remove the battery while the computer is running), also see above.
* every 30 (or more) cycles “reset” the battery by charging completely, then discharging almost completely twice

I’m having a hard time trying to follow this, too.

]]> By: Adam Williamson http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21488 Adam Williamson Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:08:17 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21488 Lenovo may well replace it under warranty. They did when an extended-life battery I bought directly from them dropped its capacity spectacularly within a year. Lenovo may well replace it under warranty. They did when an extended-life battery I bought directly from them dropped its capacity spectacularly within a year.

]]> By: Chris Jones http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21483 Chris Jones Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:46:31 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21483 Bear in mind that to get the tp_smapi stuff in Karmic you'll need to use module-assistant to build the tp_smapi source package for each new kernel you install. Bear in mind that to get the tp_smapi stuff in Karmic you’ll need to use module-assistant to build the tp_smapi source package for each new kernel you install.

]]> By: Paul Johnson http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21481 Paul Johnson Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:22:18 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21481 I got a T400 around the same time you did, Lenovo replaced mine no questions asked (though I did it the very last day my battery was still under warranty). I got a T400 around the same time you did, Lenovo replaced mine no questions asked (though I did it the very last day my battery was still under warranty).

]]> By: Soroush http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21480 Soroush Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:57:44 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21480 and I'm using a Lenovo laptop too. (X61s) and I’m using a Lenovo laptop too. (X61s)

]]> By: Soroush http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21479 Soroush Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:55:20 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21479 I have been using Ubuntu for a year with this laptop. But after installing karmic alpha, the battery capacity dropped from 80% first to 49% and then to 39%. I have been using Ubuntu for a year with this laptop. But after installing karmic alpha, the battery capacity dropped from 80% first to 49% and then to 39%.

]]> By: Sven http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21478 Sven Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:16 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21478 There are some good tips at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Maintenance#Battery_treatment A common problem is that people use their notebook a lot with AC connected and when they run it on battery, then they do that for a short time only. Unfortunately the default battery charge logic aims to keep your battery fully charged and will start charging a battery that is only a few percent discharged as soon as you plug your notebook in again. This quickly wears out your battery. If you get a new battery, make sure you adjust the battery charger thresholds as described at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Tp_smapi#Battery_charge_control_features There are some good tips at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Maintenance#Battery_treatment

A common problem is that people use their notebook a lot with AC connected and when they run it on battery, then they do that for a short time only. Unfortunately the default battery charge logic aims to keep your battery fully charged and will start charging a battery that is only a few percent discharged as soon as you plug your notebook in again. This quickly wears out your battery.

If you get a new battery, make sure you adjust the battery charger thresholds as described at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Tp_smapi#Battery_charge_control_features

]]> By: Pierce http://monotonous.org/2009/10/12/laptop-battery-lifetime/comment-page-1/#comment-21477 Pierce Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:18:15 +0000 http://monotonous.org/?p=273#comment-21477 All gadgets with lithium ion batteries tell you to just plug it in whenever you want, there's no need to fully discharge and recharge, in fact that's harmful. However my experience has been the opposite. My current laptop (over a year old) has 5289 mAh / 5800 mAh (why amps and not watts, I don't know, but I can confirm that it still has most of its original battery life, which was around 5 hours). I let it drain all the way and recharge it fully at least once a month, but sometimes I end up draining it once a day. On the other hand, back when I worked at a computer repair shop, I saw some laptops which were put in a kitchen and plugged in and never moved, and a year later when someone tried to use them unplugged they only lasted 30 minutes. I had a palm with lion batteries many years ago which I treated as suggested, docking it every time I returned home, and the batteries became useless in a matter of months (which started me on my current battery treatment habit). Now I also let my phone drain before recharging it, which seems to work ok. Maybe my phone would be fine if I just let it charge everytime I got back to my apartment, I don't exactly have the equipment or motivation to run a proper experiment. People still tell me I'm crazy, that's not how lion batteries work... maybe I am. All gadgets with lithium ion batteries tell you to just plug it in whenever you want, there’s no need to fully discharge and recharge, in fact that’s harmful.

However my experience has been the opposite.

My current laptop (over a year old) has 5289 mAh / 5800 mAh (why amps and not watts, I don’t know, but I can confirm that it still has most of its original battery life, which was around 5 hours). I let it drain all the way and recharge it fully at least once a month, but sometimes I end up draining it once a day.

On the other hand, back when I worked at a computer repair shop, I saw some laptops which were put in a kitchen and plugged in and never moved, and a year later when someone tried to use them unplugged they only lasted 30 minutes.

I had a palm with lion batteries many years ago which I treated as suggested, docking it every time I returned home, and the batteries became useless in a matter of months (which started me on my current battery treatment habit).

Now I also let my phone drain before recharging it, which seems to work ok. Maybe my phone would be fine if I just let it charge everytime I got back to my apartment, I don’t exactly have the equipment or motivation to run a proper experiment. People still tell me I’m crazy, that’s not how lion batteries work… maybe I am.

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