The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is there a thread for x220 battery optimal treatment?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by gamekingr, Dec 5, 2011.

  1. gamekingr

    gamekingr Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    like the title says, I thought I saw a thread somewhere but after clicking and reading through 20 something pages of the owner thread it got tiring =S Anyone know the thread link or just some general tips on how to preserve battery?
     
    gamekingr, Dec 5, 2011
    #1
  2. Colonel O'Neill

    Colonel O'Neill Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    300
    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Don't overcharge it, don't overdrain it, don't overheat it, don't overload it.
     
    Colonel O'Neill, Dec 5, 2011
    #2
  3. gamekingr

    gamekingr Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Currently I have its set up with customized threshold, only charge when below 15% and charge to full. Would this setup along with periodic gauge reset be good? When I have AC on for a while I kept the battery there, but with that setting it says its not charging. Would that be ok or should I still take the battery out? And is charging to full 100% bad? Thanks.
     
    gamekingr, Dec 5, 2011
    #3
  4. Colonel O'Neill

    Colonel O'Neill Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    300
    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Charging below 15% sounds like it might interfere with your usage cycle. I keep my W520 going from 70 to 80%.

    A gauge reset is really only necessary once or twice a year or if you notice sudden drops in power during the use of a charge.

    When it says not charging, you can safely leave the battery attached. Besides, the battery is necessary for full performance. And it provides a battery backup in the event of a power outage or if someone trips over your cord.

    Charging to 100% puts undue stress on the cells, and they generally degrade faster with a higher charge. The lithium ion cells prefer operating with a narrow range of charge, and at low discharge rates.

    This means full cycling it from 0 to 100% to 0 many times will cause undue wear, as will trying to play games on battery power or something.
     
    Colonel O'Neill, Dec 5, 2011
    #4
  5. gamekingr

    gamekingr Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm a bit confused Colonel, sorry about that. So you have low threshold of 70% and high of 80% and just keep ur computer on AC with the battery in?
    What about in cases of when i have to take the laptop to do multiple hours of studying at a library? Would be nice if you can kind of give me an example of your power management during home use, and portable use :) Much appreciated!
     
    gamekingr, Dec 5, 2011
    #5
  6. Colonel O'Neill

    Colonel O'Neill Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    300
    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I meant I set Power Manager to start charging when below 70% and end charging at 80%. The battery is in my computer 100% of the time.

    If I need to use it to take notes at a lecture, 80% is plenty to last me the day.
    If I need to go to the library, I don't take my AC adapter... I game enough at home. :p
     
    Colonel O'Neill, Dec 5, 2011
    #6