Arch Linux

rashdanml

Member

Registered: 2014-01-07

Posts: 2

Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

Basically, having the same issue as this post: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 1#p1230331

I have TLP and tpacpi-bat installed. Since I have the X230, I've neglected tp_smapi since it's not fully supported (according to Wiki's).
Charge thresholds set to 40-80% as above. cbatteicon doesn't apply to me either, as I'm using the default battery applet with the Cinnamon desktop environment.

Output from acpitool -B

Battery #1     : present
    Remaining capacity : 29390000, 47.29%
    Design capacity    : 62160000
    Last full capacity : 62150000, 99.98% of design capacity
    Capacity loss      : 0.01609%
    Present rate       : 0
    Charging state     : Unknown
    Battery type       : Li-ion
    Serial number      : LGC

It's been stuck at 47% for a while now. When plugged in below 40%, it charges up until 79% and stops there. I want it to reach 80%, then stop charging/start discharging back to 40%, then repeat.

Is my desired behaviour actually possible? Or is the above behaviour normal? I can't see anything in TLP's options that'll help me achieve what I want to.
I also have no idea if the above charge thresholds work with Windows, as I installed Arch linux as soon as I got the laptop.

If any specific info is required, let me know and I can provide it.

alroar

Member

Registered: 2012-10-15

Posts: 27

Re: Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

Battery thresholds can be set via TLP's config file:   /etc/default/tlp
There is a section like this:

# Battery charge thresholds (ThinkPad only, tp-smapi or acpi-call kernel module required)
# Charging starts when the remaining capacity falls below the START_CHARGE_TRESH
# value and stops when exceeding the STOP_CHARGE_TRESH value.
# Main battery (values in %)
START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=70
STOP_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=85

After changing the values, simply run a "tlp start" as root. Further, tp_smapi does not support modern thinkpads battery interface currently, you can control those using the aur package acpi-call https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/acpi_call-git/

If you need further assistance, please post your output of "tlp-stat". To fully load your battery, just run "tlp fullcharge".

edith:  just seen you posted this in january... sorry for that late post, no intention for a necro-bump.

Last edited by alroar (2014-02-18 19:57:27)

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

Battery thresholds can be set via TLP's config file:   /etc/default/tlp

I don't think that this is actually the case, as I am fairly certain that the newer machines are not compatible with tp_smapi. 

The only way I have heard about being able to actually make limits like this is by using the acpi_call module.  But I have never actually tried.

alroar

Member

Registered: 2012-10-15

Posts: 27

Re: Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

TLP can use acpi_call and/or tp_smapi. Working fine here on a X230 with acpi_call-dkms module.

Last edited by alroar (2014-02-20 18:16:07)

rashdanml

Member

Registered: 2014-01-07

Posts: 2

Re: Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

Apologies. Completely forgot about this topic as I didn't get many responses.

For the X230, I'm using acpi_call-git, and it works (setting charge thresholds manually, and not through TLP).

The question was mainly regarding the behavior of charge thresholds though, not actually setting the charge thresholds. It's not really a major issue, since leaving the battery anywhere between 40-80% is perfectly fine for the battery. I've rarely let it go below 40%, and I've only done one full charge/discharge cycle to calibrate the battery (was having an issue where the battery percentage tanked from around 35% to 6% in less than a minute - which is now fixed).

Something I expected: I plug the laptop in at 50% capacity. Battery continues discharging till 40, then charges up to 80 (and holds at 80). What actually happens is, the battery remains at 50%. The battery percentage never actually reaches 80 (holding at 79.67% atm).

Since it's not a major issue, I've accepted it as is. The charge thresholds are working, and I'm keeping it away from the 0/100% extremes, so that's good enough for me.

Thanks!

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: Thinkpad X230 Battery Charging Thresholds

You should just use the acpi_call package that is in the official repos now.  The only reason I can see for not using the officially supported on is if there is either a feature that is in the development branch but not marked for stable, or if you are running a custom kernel.