IBM/Lenovo battery test.

[Reo51St]

Is there a standard test for IBM/Lenovo batteries? In particular “T”series batteries.

Is there an OEM test that we as end users can use?

Thanks for any help.

[rkawakami]

Are you talking about something like determining the run time of the battery? If so, then there's this program:

T2x PC Doctor for DOS

In that diagnostic program, there's a rundown test in which you can measure (time) the number of minutes that the system runs under load (it executes several tests in order to run the battery down).

If you are simply talking about measuring the voltage coming out the battery, then all you need is a voltmeter.

[Reo51St]

I have used a rundown test. But are they a fair and accurate test to show how long your battery will last under normal operating conditions? Rundown tests seem to indicate how long your battery will last under conditions that most people will never encounter.

I have yet to run my CD constantly, access the hard drive, do multiple extended bit computations threw the coprocessor and test every port all at the same time and continuously.

Looking for something a little more random rather than a constant hammering of the system.

Thanks again.

[rkawakami]

But are they a fair and accurate test to show how long your battery will last under normal operating conditions?

Under normal conditions? No. Commerical programs execute a script which simulate the average usage (typing, pausing, saving files, pausing again, re-calculating a spreadsheet, waiting again, etc.). BatteryMark tests like the ones run by PC Magazine and others would be what you are looking for. They use programs like that as a fair and balanced measuring stick when attempting to compare systems to each other.

Looking for something a little more random rather than a constant hammering of the system.

By definition then, depending upon what you call random, your results will may not be repeatable from one test to the next. The rundown test I cited in the PC Doctor diagnostic suite is meant to do several things from what I gather:

- drain the battery in a constant manner
- be repeatable, in that the same tests are being run from one time to the next
- measure how long the battery lasts
- be able to compare those rundown times (only the previous time is retained)

The only other thing that may be useful is the Battery MaxiMiser utility program. This will tell you approximately how long your battery will last, given the current rate of discharge in your system.

edit: Locked this thread as there is a duplicate one in the General conference