Main and Bay batteries - discharge sequence

[andrewb]

I am thinking of getting a bay battery, but wondered if anyone could confirm the sequence for discharging this and the main 3, or 6, cell battery.

The last occasion on which I used a bay battery, being on my T43, it was impossible to set a discharge sequence in order that the main battery was discharged in priority to the bay battery. If I recall correctly, this was a common complaint to which no one had a solution.

Will the X300 also give me no choice but to discharge the bay battery first ?

Thanks.

[erik]

the X300 is the same way—the bay battery is discharged first and the main battery second.   i haven't found any way to change the discharge order.

the only reason i can imagine for this order is so that your main battery isn't discharged first in the event that you need to use the optical drive while on batteries.   in fact, i almost prefer this order on the X300 for that very reason.

[gator]

This has been the default discharge pattern for all thinkpads that have a bay battery till date. It is logical, except for one problem. The bay battery is fully discharged before the thinkpad switches to the main battery and this shortens the lifetime of the bay battery considerably. It'd be fantastic if Lenovo can set to switch batteries once the bay battery hits say 10% (ie not a complete discharge).

[andrewb]

Thanks. Gator's observation was, indeed, why I was asking.