Thinkpads Forum

I've just started working with a used W520 and need some info on how the battery charge indicator works.

On my T61 for example, the batter charge indicator is green when the battery is charged, is orange and blinking which the charge is too low.

My W520 has a 9 cell battery. The charge indicator is never lit green (it is UNLIT) but the lenovo power manager shows the battery is charged.
Can anyone tell me if this means the charge indicator circuit of my W520 is faulty and needs replacement, or perhaps something else is wrong?
I've swapped out the battery with two others and the same is true, an unlit indicator lite when power manager shows 100% battery charge.

I've done a discharge cycle on the batteries and the same is true except the charge indicator goes blinking then orange when the re-charge begins, then after the battery gets to x % charged (I don't know the value) then it goes green then it goes OFF (unlit).

Is something wrong or is that how the W520 works, ie, when the battery is 100% charged the charge indicator is unlit ??? or do I need to get the charge circuit repaired ???

thanks in advance,

It might be how it is supposed to work. My T520 does the same thing. The indicator is not lit unless it's charging, then goes off.

As long as it's charging the battery I wouldn't worry about.

Is this while on or off?

When on, A/C not attached; the icon is green above a certain percentage, orange below. And I think when even lower it starts blinking.
When charging it's the same for color, but it blinks (mostly on, very short pulses off)

to elaborate...
when off OR on with a/c attached and battery fully charged the only green indicator is for a/c attached.
The battery indicator is OFF (unlit) even though the battery is charged.

I'm trying to find out if that's normal for the W520 to shut the battery indicator (unlit) when the battery is charged OR if my battery indicator and/or charging circuit is broken ???

I'm only familiar with the T61 where the battery indicator is ON/Green ALL THE TIME when the battery is charged.

When off and fully charged there is no battery activity, so it makes sense to not lit the icon. If I remember right, this is perfectly normal behaviour, but I'll check tomorrow, when my W520 is fully charged again.

Also note that the T61 has a dedicated icon to indicate A/C adapter attached; the W520 lacks that.

When running, and on AC, and battery is fully charged, battery light is off. At least that's how my two W520's are.

Thanks to all for the info.
Based upon the info provided my W520 seems to be operating as it's supposed to be.

The "normal" operation of the battery charge indicator seems to be as follows (forum correct as necessary)....
No battery charge green light (unlit) after the battery is fully charged.
Lit battery indicator when discharging to orange or blinking status and during recharging.
When recharging to green the green indicator goes off at some point of percent charge to fully charged.

It goes off before it reaches 100%? I think it does go off when it achieves a manually pre-set threshold. I had mine set to charge not further than 60% for the first year I had it.

With the condition it's in now even 100% is still only 60 Wh