Thinkpads Forum

In the past I've raised this issue that's been bothering me greatly in a few threads, but have not reached any resolution or even more insight into the problem.

The issue is as follows:

From time to time, at seemingly random points, although often related to dock/undock actions, the T60 ignores its charge threshold. Keep in mind - it does not forget, it ignores: The Power Manager will display the correct thresholds (94%-98%), and the battery will still be charged all the way to 100%.

I thought maybe there is something wrong with the T60. But it happens with both of my T60s, and also with the T42.

It was suggested that perhaps the Power Manager version I use has a bug in it. I doubted it, since I have seen this broken behavior take place with the laptop being ON and running Windows, as well as with it being OFF (or hibernated or sleeping). I also believe I witnessed it at least once under Linux with tp_smapi (i.e., battery charges to 100%, even though start/stop thresholds are apparently set, and read correctly with tp_smapi).

But who knows, maybe I'm wrong. After all, a few members testified that the feature works perfectly with their T60.

So a few days ago I installed Power Manager 1.99j, the latest version for WinXP (normally I run the old pre-1.51 versions, because I don't like the new slow GUI).

Computer was docked for a few days (including sleep intervals), everything was fine.

Last night, I undocked the computer while it was running and went to work on battery. The battery discharged to about 70% before I finished my work. Set the computer to hibernate, and put it back on the dock (the Advanced Mini-Dock, to be specific).

Come back this morning, fire it on - battery is at 100%, even though the thresholds are correct.

I am pulling hairs here - is this NORMAL? Why doesn't it ever happen with my T410? Granted it's running Win7 and the new Power Manager. Is that really the culprit? Is there a bug in all XP versions, even the latest ones? 1.99j was released in August 2011, on the same day as the latest version 3.62 for Vista/7. It is still being actively updated.

Is there anyone here that has the charge thresholds working correctly for him for these machines, on Windows XP?

Dr_st, have you solved your problem? I have the same at the TP R400, WIN7Pro SP1. Thresholds are 30% - 89%, however battery always charged to 100%. Problem appears only a few weeks ago, no problem before (from Jan 2010). Power Manager updated recently, problem persists... any ideas? Thank you.

The one thing I would be trying to do is run Windows XP on the T400 if you can and see if it does it on there. If it does do it, then your more than likely right that it is the software for XP.

Just out of curiosity though, why are you only charging to 98%? Is it to prolong battery life?

Nope, still found no solution. Although more people reported similar experiences.

It is said that battery wear is higher when it is charged to 100%, which is why I decided to set the thresholds at 98%.

My R60 w/dock is also afflicted with this problem also.

My X200 not using a dock is obeying my threshold settings.

Both my laptops are running W7 and 3.62 lenovo power manager. Threshold settings and dim/bright hotkeys not working after sleep are two glitches that need ironing out.

I don't use dock with my R400 so the issue doesn't depend on dock, probably.

My Power manager is also 3.62 but problem appeared in previous version (I don't know the version number). So problem neither depends on the version of the PM.

Well, some light at the end of a tunnel: I changed upper threshold from 89% to 80% and it works! Charging stopped at 79%. So, guys, try to change that upper threshold and let us know.

For me it always (or almost always) works as soon as I change the thresholds. But at some point it just forgets it.