Battery Life

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redsi · #1 Post by **redsi** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 2:42 pm

Hello! I wanna ask the average usage (in terms of time) of a 6 cell battery on T40. Just regular browsing and word document, no intensive apps or games. Thanks

Chun-Yu · #2 Post by **Chun-Yu** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:07 pm

My T41 seems to use right around 10 watts while browsing/using word (with wireless off and screen brightness way down). A new 6-cell battery should be around 48 WHr, so that would mean nearly 4:48 (you probably wouldn't run it all the way down to 0%). I can never sit down and browse/use word for that long, so this is just an estimate based on the rate of discharge and battery capacity

I always end up listening to music and doing other stuff that increases the discharge rate (like using wireless and compiling stuff) so I seem to get probably 3.5 to 4 hours with the 6-cell battery.

#3 Post by **K. Eng** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:29 pm

When my battery was new, I'd get about 4.5-5 hours if I was just writings stuff, surfing the web, and running with the screen brightness at level 0.

If I'm doing all that, but with half screen brightness and some music through headphones, 3.5-4 hours is more realistic.

redsi · #4 Post by **redsi** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:45 pm

I got a fully charge battery 100% and I am only getting 2:49 hrs, or 3:00 if I dim down the LCD panel a bit. Yes, I am using the Intel Wireless for internet. Other than that, there is nothign running. Do u think my battery is defective? The unit is a re-furbish model from IBM Canada. I double click the battery infomation in Power Options, the battery is made by Sanyo.

cynic · #5 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:01 pm

What does the full-charge capacity say in Wh and what is the cycle count.
This info is found here:

(left click on green battery in taskbar) Battery Information>Status Detail

Are you using your optical drive, do you have your graphics card set to POWERPLAY (Display Properties>Settings>Advanced), what marker is your screen on (there are 7 levels), do you have the hard drives spin down when not in use, is your CPU set on adaptive. Combined, these options should increase your battery life.

Also, wireless cards take a lot of power. The drivers allow power-saving modes and reduced transmission strengths. If you can easily connect to your wireless, I'd make sure that you are using all the available power-saving features of you wireless card (My Computer>right click>Properties>Hardware>Device Manager>Network Adapters>double click>Advanced)

Also, if you don't use the trackpad or infra-red, I'd turn them off (Start>All Programs>Access IBM>ThinkPad Configuration) and if you aren't currently listening to anything, use the mute button (after all, headphone jacks are amplified)

I've never had a problem in getting IBM's numbers on time (In fact I've went over them using the awareness of the above; 8 hrs using intermittent wireless on the extended battery(9 cell))

A year+ later, I get about 5.5 to 6 hrs in normal battery usage.

akerman · #6 Post by **akerman** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 5:42 pm

wow.. 10w.. I wish I could use that little.

Mine goes around 17w with screen at full or almost full brightness, just surfing and playing mp3. I turn off all the stuff I don't use.

eriqesque · #7 Post by **eriqesque** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 6:10 pm

akerman wrote:wow.. 10w.. I wish I could use that little.

Mine goes around 17w with screen at full or almost full brightness, just surfing and playing mp3. I turn off all the stuff I don't use.

If you can turn that brightness down and you will see big difference in batt life.

redsi · #8 Post by **redsi** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:09 pm

Do u think I should call IBM and get CRU?

Told them my battery is not getting anywhere close to 4-5 hrs battery life?

Anyone has done that? As far as I know, battery has only 1 yr warranty.

I simply don't anything close to that figure even I enable this and disable that.

cynic · #9 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 7:39 pm

redsi-

What are your power stats? (I mentioned earlier how to get them)
So far 3 hrs is sounding about right using the 6cell battery (regular size) and Intel wireless on continously... so No, I don't think you have a defective battery.

eriqesque · #10 Post by **eriqesque** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 9:06 pm

I never run my battery down past 30% and I get a good 4-4.5hrs (I would estimate about 5-5.5 if i ran it down to 3%)continuous use WiFi on brightness at 2, communications port,infrared and printer port disabled
I never use the so why have them suck on the Batt. and this is the 6 cell batt.

redsi · #11 Post by **redsi** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:42 pm

I just called IBM and the tech guy said it is normal to have aroung 2.5-3 hrs life. For 5 hrs life, he said it's like a gimmic. So I am wondering if others using a 6 cell can run for 4.5 - 5 hrs.

Let me know if there is any trick on this

eriqesque · #12 Post by **eriqesque** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 12:02 am

redsi wrote:I just called IBM and the tech guy said it is normal to have aroung 2.5-3 hrs life. For 5 hrs life, he said it's like a gimmic. So I am wondering if others using a 6 cell can run for 4.5 - 5 hrs.

Let me know if there is any trick on this

Thats total BS i get it so i know it's possible and not a gimmic

UclaWill · #13 Post by **UclaWill** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:56 pm

I received my T42 (2378FVU) the other day and seem to be having the same battey issues. After conditioning the battery, I get no more than 3 hours usage with the following settings:

Continuous use WiFi
LCD Brightness level 3
Communications, infrared, and printer port disabled
Volume Muted

I assumed the low battery life was due to the continuous WiFi usage, but I'm starting to doubt this now that some of you are reporting otherwise. So I'm curious as to how well is the 6-cell performing for other T42 owners?

All in all, I love my very first thinkpad

eriqesque · #14 Post by **eriqesque** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 3:19 pm

Well 1st off you do not need to condition Li-Ion batteries
actually they do not respond well to coditioning.
In fact it is harmful for them to be conditioned. They prefer a shallow discharge and recharge.
Most of the time this is not possible if yo la on using the battery to be mobile.
But thats just the way it is.

DaWill · #15 Post by **DaWill** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 5:35 pm

The dothan uses more power on battery than the banias. So your going to lose some battery life with the t42 over the t41. I forget the exact numbers but the dothan is only using less power when running at full speed compared to the banias at full speed. However at slower speeds the dothan is actually using more power. Also if you have a 15" display w/ flexview your going to lose more battery time. Of course since your model has the 14" you don't have to worry about that. I'm sure the 9600 also uses more juice than the previous ati cards. The t41 has better battery life than the t42. Although I don't think it should be more than maybe 30min

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