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    Question about M15x or M17x batterys...

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by shaknbakenyc, Jul 31, 2009.

  1. shaknbakenyc

    shaknbakenyc Notebook Evangelist

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    I have a general question about laptops batterys especially the m15x which is what i own. I have it connected constantly to a adapter and the battery is obviously at 100%..My question is if its at 100% and the adapter is connected, is it constantly throwing power at the battery or is the laptop just using the ac adapters power...I figured it would be a waste if the ac adapter is always giving power to the battery even if its at 100% because it can stress the battery..


    Now even though the battery said 100% charged the alienware head still goes from a dim white to a blue color ( as if it is being charged). When I removed the battery and left the ac power plugged in the alienhead is at a constant blue...So this is making me think this whole time my battery was connected to my laptop I was killing its juice ( in the long run) anyone know what I mean?
     
    shaknbakenyc, Jul 31, 2009
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  2. airplaneman

    airplaneman Notebook Deity

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    Not sure about the 1st question, but the Alienhead pulses/morphs between 2 colours by default if it's plugged in, and goes solid when you run on battery power. This is so you can differentiate between the two and figure out what power you are running on.
     
    airplaneman, Jul 31, 2009
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  3. madrabbit711

    madrabbit711 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah I understand what your saying

    My m15x doesn't do what you've described:
    -100% Charge + AC Power = solid blue Alienhead Power button
    - Disconnected form AC power = solid white Alienhead Power button
    - < 100% charge + AC power = white-to-blue pulsing Alienhead Power button

    I run my laptop off AC power about 10% during normal usage and usually drain it down to about 25% before charging again. I rarely, if ever, use the smartbay battery.

    Off course these colour changes depend on your Command Centre settings. e.g. you could have the Alienhead Power button stay green no matter what you power state if you wanted!

    So it's either:
    a) Your AlienFX light settings are different to the defaults
    b) Your battery is never getting fully charge or losing it's charge as rapidly as it is getting it.

    I'm no expert on this, just trying to thin about it logically. From experience with mobile phones, I know there are some types of batteries that you decrease their life-time if you keep charging them when their already at 100%. But there are also mechanisms (surely?) in place to prevent overcharging because of this. Can anybody verify this?

    Ho long does you laptop last on the main battery, no smartbay battery, without AC power on high performance?
     
    madrabbit711, Jul 31, 2009
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