Thinkpads Forum

I don't use my batteries often, and keep them refrigerated, hopefully with 40-50% charge. I put them in two of my AC connected thinkpads yesterday in order to switch locations. I got a message on one machine that the battery could use a battery gauge reset, and it wasn't configured for maximum battery life (I thought I'd done that before), so I made that change and started the reset process. I believe that this is necessary because the computer loses the ability to determine the capacity of the battery unless it's been almost discharged and then recharged occasionally. I haven't been watching it like a hawk, but I am wondering if this battery gauge reset process is an endless loop. It's been going on for I think over 8 hours now. Will it stop and tell me it's done or do I have to stop it manually, then get the battery to the level I want it at for refrigerated storage?

Muse wrote:IWill it stop and tell me it's done...

Yes, but it can take quite a while, and the battery will be at 100% charge.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Gauge reset takes decades. Literally 2 decades per battery.
I usually do them at night when I'm asleep. Easily 12 hours for a 6-9 cell battery to fully reset.

Who keeps batteries refrigerated? That sounds insane.

Kaze22 wrote:Gauge reset takes decades. Literally 2 decades per battery.
I usually do them at night when I'm asleep. Easily 12 hours for a 6-9 cell battery to fully reset.

Who keeps batteries refrigerated? That sounds insane.

No, I've seen it recommended if you want your Lithium Ion batteries to last a long time (well, longer), assuming you aren't using them. The recommendation is to have them at around 40% charged, and refrigerated. I do it with all my Li-ion batteries that I use seldomly.

But if you have them at 40% charge, what happens when you need to use them?
You will only have 40% battery life. That means you need to plan your trips around your battery life.

Also from my experience all batteries discharge when not in use. So if you kept a battery at say 40% charge you are likely to find it with 10% charge when you go to use it next time.

Kaze22 wrote:But if you have them at 40% charge, what happens when you need to use them?
You will only have 40% battery life. That means you need to plan your trips around your battery life.

Also from my experience all batteries discharge when not in use. So if you kept a battery at say 40% charge you are likely to find it with 10% charge when you go to use it next time.

My friend, you are not telling me anything I don't know. I do plan my battery uses, and from much experience I know that they will self-discharge somewhat in the refrigerator. I don't generally leave them in there until they get down to 10%. For example, I pulled both of my batteries (6 cell) from the fridge the other day and one was as 34%, the other I don't recall. After my usages and resetting the gauge on one, they were at 46% and 47% last night, and I put them each in their own plastic bag with a small package of desiccant and back in the refrigerator. As I say, I seldom use them. Usually it's just to move one or more of my 3 Thinkpads around the house. Occasionally I take them to a remote location or travel with them, and then it's a different story. But even then I'm apt to take an adapter with me, so the battery level being near 100% is not necessarily priority. I can bump the level before I leave the house if I want. Different strokes for different folks.

From my point of view, refrigeration at 40% is for long-term storage of a battery to be used when your current battery needs replacing.
Here’s my recent experience. YMMV.

More than two years ago I put a genuine T4x six cell and nine cell in the freezer; tightly wrapped and charged to around 40%.
They were removed two weeks ago and, to my amazement, both were still about 40%.

Ran two battery reset passes on each and they were still at the same WH level as when frozen. I’m a believer.
Anyone need a battery?