Laptop Battery Life Optimization Software

[benjamming]

Is there software available that will optimize battery charge to extend its life? Assume that it's plugged in most of the time, can software regulate the charge so it stays at 40-60% charge instead of pegging out at 100%? Would this have to be done by the laptop mfg or is there 3rd party software that will accomplish this?

Thanks.

 

[Skid]

If it's plugged in most of the time, you can just remove the battery and run on AC power. That's what I do.

One of my Lenovos has a feature that supposedly allows you to set the amount of charge. It doesn't work well though and still overcharges, so I'm not sure that a software solution would be effective.

 

[dparm]

The ACPI/BIOS is sort of doing this behind the scenes. If it's Li-ion you don't need to worry much.

 

[spackard]

Your Lenovo software doesn't work?
Hm, mine works fine.
Lenovo Power Manager, v3.64.
I set it at a custom setting to stop charging at 90% and to resume charging at 85%. From what I've read on candlepowerforums.com, the last 10% costs life without much payback in capacity.

I think I've only killed one Li-Ion laptop battery pack and one IPod Li-Ion battery pack so far.

 

[benjamming]

BTW, I have a Toshiba laptop if that makes any difference. Supposedly, the Sony Vaio has s/w for this purpose.

 

[JHZR2]

My old pre-lenovo IBM had this.

The newer, higher capacity Li-ion cells may well be internally derated to avoid the last few percentage on either side where the chemistry starts to get funky.

That's one reason why chinese aftermarket batteries are not trustworthy, the circuitry inside may not have the correct protections.

 

[Rolla07]

Personally, I would do as Skid would do, and run off AC power. If you need to run off your battery, i found changing settings on your computer itself will make the most sense, dont find software to be very useful. Reducing screen brightness, limit progams that you dont use from running at startup, and reduce the time your computer needs to go into standby. These are the best tips to maximize battery life.

 

[JHZR2]

While computer power supplies can have enough capacitance built in to overcome a few "blips" in power (i.e. a cycle or two), I doubt that a laptop power supply will. Therefore, Id make sure to run with a UPS to protect the internal components.