T23 - Should I take battery out whilst using AC?

[enorehtonatey]

Thinkpad T23

I want the battery to last as long as possible.

When the computer is on AC, the battery information panel (which seems
able to measure battery current with great accuracy) says "no activity".

Can I trust it? - or am I better to take the battery out during a long
spell on AC? Has anyone measured current to battery in an AC/100% charge
situation?

The reason I'm wondering is that the reported battery "full charge
capacity" has steadily risen since I got the machine and have done a few
conditioning type cycles, however after a spell on AC that reported
capacity has declined slightly.

[a Smith]

The capacity increasing slightly is normal, a new battery or something close
to it will often gain close to its maximum capacity after a few cycles
(discharged to 5% or so, sometimes less). Once that's done, it only goes
downhill from there.
The T2x laptops are quite well designed in that the battery is held away
from all the parts that produce heat (hard disk primarily), because of this,
the battery doesn't heat up much, if at all when left in the laptop for
extended periods of time with AC power. So yeah, it's safe to leave the
battery in.

If you want the battery to last as long as possible, then it probably would
be better to remove it from the laptop but then it'll be top heavy. Just
make sure it's discharged to something like 70%, remove it and recharge
every 2 to 3 months. Then take it down to 70% again and repeat the cycle.
This may be better since constantly charging the battery back up to 100%
after it reaches around 95%, won't do it much good. It also helps to cycle
the battery properly every few weeks/couple of months down to 5% or so.

Post by enorehtonatey
Thinkpad T23
I want the battery to last as long as possible.
When the computer is on AC, the battery information panel (which seems
able to measure battery current with great accuracy) says "no activity".
Can I trust it? - or am I better to take the battery out during a long
spell on AC? Has anyone measured current to battery in an AC/100% charge
situation?
The reason I'm wondering is that the reported battery "full charge
capacity" has steadily risen since I got the machine and have done a few
conditioning type cycles, however after a spell on AC that reported
capacity has declined slightly.

[enorehtonatey]

Post by a Smith
The capacity increasing slightly is normal, a new battery or something close
to it will often gain close to its maximum capacity after a few cycles
(discharged to 5% or so, sometimes less). Once that's done, it only goes
downhill from there.

It wasn't new when I got it - around one year old but the battery had
only done around 10 cycles.

Post by a Smith
The T2x laptops are quite well designed in that the battery is held away
from all the parts that produce heat (hard disk primarily), because of this,
the battery doesn't heat up much, if at all when left in the laptop for
extended periods of time with AC power. So yeah, it's safe to leave the
battery in.
If you want the battery to last as long as possible, then it probably would
be better to remove it from the laptop but then it'll be top heavy. Just
make sure it's discharged to something like 70%, remove it and recharge
every 2 to 3 months. Then take it down to 70% again and repeat the cycle.
This may be better since constantly charging the battery back up to 100%
after it reaches around 95%, won't do it much good. It also helps to cycle
the battery properly every few weeks/couple of months down to 5% or so.

I notice the documentation specifically instructs user not to put
battery on to charge unless it is below 95%.

[a Smith]

That sounds like how I got mine, if it's only done 10 cycles in a year then
it's probably only had light use and probably never reached its full
capacity in the first place.

Post by enorehtonatey

Post by a Smith
The capacity increasing slightly is normal, a new battery or something close
to it will often gain close to its maximum capacity after a few cycles
(discharged to 5% or so, sometimes less). Once that's done, it only goes
downhill from there.

It wasn't new when I got it - around one year old but the battery had
only done around 10 cycles.

[enorehtonatey]

Post by a Smith
That sounds like how I got mine,

Mine is at 27 cycles now and down to 37.11 Wh reported capacity (design
capacity reported as 43.20 Wh)

[a Smith]

Well yeah, that is bad, mine's reached 36.60 Wh after 82 cycles.
how do you generally use the battery? I ruined the capacity on one battery
by consistently running it down to 0% until it got close to shutting down.
I've since learnt that once the battery's voltage hits about 10.8volts (at a
low load), it's flat. And that generally, it'll stay on one percentage for a
while (6% or 2% in my experience) and when it drops further, it'll notice
the capacity increase. If your battery is much above 10.85 volts at around
6%, then you've probably got some unrecognised capacity.

Post by enorehtonatey

Post by a Smith
That sounds like how I got mine,

Mine is at 27 cycles now and down to 37.11 Wh reported capacity (design
capacity reported as 43.20 Wh)

[enorehtonatey]

Post by a Smith
Well yeah, that is bad, mine's reached 36.60 Wh after 82 cycles.

Ahh but mine is still rising!! At least is has gone up once more to
37.47 this time (from 37.11). (It was at 35.82 Wh fourteen cycles
back). Its looking like a full cycle does it good and a partial
discharge followed by a full charge reduces capacity but I'll look into
connecting up an ammeter to make sure that there really is no current
when its at 100% and on AC.

Post by a Smith
how do you generally use the battery? I ruined the capacity on one battery
by consistently running it down to 0% until it got close to shutting down.
I've since learnt that once the battery's voltage hits about 10.8volts (at a
low load), it's flat. And that generally, it'll stay on one percentage for a
while (6% or 2% in my experience) and when it drops further, it'll notice
the capacity increase. If your battery is much above 10.85 volts at around
6%, then you've probably got some unrecognised capacity.

I tend to have it on AC then take it off for just half an hour or so and
then back on again. Perhaps that's not optimal for the battery?
I had just ran it down to 4% (when it goes into standby) and charged it
up to 11, when I got this email. Running it down again took it below
10.8 V (around 10.7) but I did have media player running.

[g***@gmail.com]

Post by enorehtonatey
Thinkpad T23
I want the battery to last as long as possible.
When the computer is on AC, the battery information panel (which seems
able to measure battery current with great accuracy) says "no activity".
Can I trust it? - or am I better to take the battery out during a long
spell on AC? Has anyone measured current to battery in an AC/100% charge
situation?
The reason I'm wondering is that the reported battery "full charge
capacity" has steadily risen since I got the machine and have done a few
conditioning type cycles, however after a spell on AC that reported
capacity has declined slightly.

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