Thinkpads Forum

I have not researched this issue at all in the TP manuals, but does anybody know what is recommended practice concerning the battery? For example, if you use your TP extensively on a power adapter, does it have sense at all to have the battery connected or is it better to disconnect it?

Cheers,
Rick

Apple's battery tips could be a good start:
http://www.apple.com/batteries/

In the ThinkVantage Power Manager, under "Battery Information" and then hit the "Battery Maintenance" button, there are options to set for prolonging the battery life if it's mostly plugged into AC. Don't know if this utility does a good job, but it's there.

Thanks for the replies guys!

At the Apple site I found:

"Standard Maintenance
For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her MacBook Pro on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing. If on the other hand, you use a desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel, Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month."

Sounds reasonable to my ears, any other opinions?

Cheers,
Rick

somewhere at the power settings in windows XP you can change the battery charging scheme for some notebooks. Either set it to max charged or to the other option which extend's the battery's life.

It is interesting how many different opinions one gets from the manufacturers (or at least distributors) of lithium ion batteries. Some state it makes no difference what so ever whether you drain it all the way, then recharge (Nikon). Others state it's best to top it off daily (Palm Treo). Apple's commentary is already listed below. Lenovo takes the position that draining it below 96% or so periodically and then topping it off provides for the best life.

The one thing they all seem to have in common is that at least some kind of discharge and recharge on a monthly basis is beneficial to prolonging battery life, but as for everything else, there appear to be a wide range of opinions but those who should know with certainty.

If you don't use the battery too often, it's best to adjust the charge thresholds so it doesn't constantly charge the battery at 100%. For instance, I go from dock to dock between home and work, so rarely use the battery at all. In the Power Manager > Battery Maintenance section, you can change the threshold from its default of 96%.

The battery maintenance section of the power manager as has a "perform reset" option. This fully charges, discharges, then charges the battery. There is also an option to have power manager notify you when a "reset" is needed.

To me it seems like (between the automatic notify for reset option and the automatically optimizing the charging threshold as the quality of the battery changes over time) the ThinkPad power manager, based on what other people have said above, is pretty well devised for optimizing the life of the battery.

this is unfortunatly not on all systems, like the t41, and t41p.

Under Power Manager, "Battery Maintenance", you can select the three options when plugged in to AC, 1. keep between 96-100%, 2. Let the computer change the parameters automatically, or 3. you set the threshholds to discharge and then recharge.

I did a battery reset, worked great, discharged to 0% then charged to 100%, but the above three settings do nothing other than keep the battery at an indicated 100% (when plugged in to AC). IBM help desk said to unplug the AC to discharge it, then plug it in to start to charge. I argued that the software is supposed to do it as it indicates on the screen. They ended up agreeing, reluctantly, and said they would research it.

Has anyone used these settings and does the battery charge indicator show a discharge to the parameter you set, then charge it to the charged parameter, and/or does it do it automatically when you select the auto option (while plugged in to AC)?

ShaggyDog wrote: I did a battery reset, worked great, discharged to 0% then charged to 100%,

Did you perform the "reset" with the computer plugged in?

Thanks

Yes, I did the reset with it plugged in and it worked flawlessly. That's why I figure there is a (partial glitch) in the Power Manager

ShaggyDog wrote: I figure there is a (partial glitch) in the Power Manager

What are your thoughts on a (partial glitch) ? I'm still trying to figure this one out as well.

There seems to be a lack of information on this topic. I have called tech support a couple of times, each time getting a different answer.

Thanks!

Tech support was not too impressive. I spoke with two tech reps, neither had seen or used the T60, the initial email reply said to reinstall the "Battery Maximizer" which the T60 does not have. It has the "power Manager". One tech rep said, he is a "hardware guy" not a "software guy" and that he would send it for research, but wasn't sure when they would get an answer.

I left the conversation with the distinct impression, he still did not really understand the issue. He kept returning to suggesting I continually unpplug & plug in the AC.

He also didn't know where the software for the Power Manager could be found.

Everything else works very well on the T60 and I like it. This isn't a big issue but would like it resolved.

????

ShaggyDog wrote:Tech support was not too impressive.

This is a somewhat new problem, that I have not noticed in the past. However recent contacts with tech support have left me surprized at their lack of experience.[/quote]

ShaggyDog wrote:Everything else works very well on the T60 and I like it. This isn't a big issue but would like it resolved.

????

Exactly how I feel, this is a great computer, however it would be nice to know (as I did in previous years) that tech support could help sort out any problem. And even more importantly, not misdiagnose to the point where they want you to send it in for repair when that is not needed. This has happened to two of my associates recently where upon return of their ThinkPads the problem still remained (after a system board replacement).To make matters worse, they were returned filthy dirty with smudges and grease marks everywhere, including the displays! (auto tech by night/IBM tech by day?). When they called back to report the status 1) not repaired 2) dirty 3) wasted time. IBM was very hesitant to take responsibility.
My past experience with tech support and sending the computer in was exemplary, came back repaired, and clean as new. Hopefully these two examples above were the exception not the rule.