controlling laptop charger
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I've looked for information on this but couldn't turn up anything. So, it's time to turn to the Lounge Lizards... I'm sure you all know about the evils of leaving a laptop connected to its charger. Seems to me that there should be some sort of power management mechanism which would allow Windows (or some other program) to disconnect (or more accurately, to suspend) the charger. By having this "disconnect" scheduled, the user could then have the battery discharge, and upon reaching some (minimal) threshold, the charger would once again be enabled. Having something like this would allow the charger to be "permanently" connected to the laptop without the expected damage to the battery. Is there a [Windows] program that can do something like this? Is this at all possible? Thanks. And is there still such a thing as a Leisure Suit?
This could have been added to the ACPI specifiactions/hardware. But I don't think it was. The only solution I can think of is to have a microcontroller conncted to both the laptop and the charger. The microcontroller would be told whether or not to enable/disable the charger by the power managment program running on the laptop.
See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
So far, no one seems to have cracked this!The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."
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My laptop shipped with some crapware that does something like that. It won't let it charge unless it has less than 95% charge.
I have a faulty battery that does that :)
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I have a faulty battery that does that :)
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I've looked for information on this but couldn't turn up anything. So, it's time to turn to the Lounge Lizards... I'm sure you all know about the evils of leaving a laptop connected to its charger. Seems to me that there should be some sort of power management mechanism which would allow Windows (or some other program) to disconnect (or more accurately, to suspend) the charger. By having this "disconnect" scheduled, the user could then have the battery discharge, and upon reaching some (minimal) threshold, the charger would once again be enabled. Having something like this would allow the charger to be "permanently" connected to the laptop without the expected damage to the battery. Is there a [Windows] program that can do something like this? Is this at all possible? Thanks. And is there still such a thing as a Leisure Suit?
With the information here I/O Ports Uncensored - 1 - Controlling LEDs (Light Emiting Diodes) with Parallel Port[^] you could rig up a device with a relay to connect/disconnect the power to the power supply.
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With the information here I/O Ports Uncensored - 1 - Controlling LEDs (Light Emiting Diodes) with Parallel Port[^] you could rig up a device with a relay to connect/disconnect the power to the power supply.
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Leaving a laptop connected to the charger results in a dead battery after several months. This has happened to me on a few laptops used at the office. Based on the directions that came with my new Toshiba laptop, and from other sources, I now use my laptop while it's connected to the charger, but disconnect the charger at night. Then once every week or two, I use the laptop without the charger and let it discharge thoroughly. This has resulted in my laptops battery retaining nearly full capacity.
I suspect other causes. It hasn't happened to me over 6 laptops and as many years; nor have I heard about it happening once at work despite everyones laptop being plugged in more or less continually due to docking stations.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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I've looked for information on this but couldn't turn up anything. So, it's time to turn to the Lounge Lizards... I'm sure you all know about the evils of leaving a laptop connected to its charger. Seems to me that there should be some sort of power management mechanism which would allow Windows (or some other program) to disconnect (or more accurately, to suspend) the charger. By having this "disconnect" scheduled, the user could then have the battery discharge, and upon reaching some (minimal) threshold, the charger would once again be enabled. Having something like this would allow the charger to be "permanently" connected to the laptop without the expected damage to the battery. Is there a [Windows] program that can do something like this? Is this at all possible? Thanks. And is there still such a thing as a Leisure Suit?
You must have some ancient battery technology! What you are describing is characteristic of NiCad cells. Surely you aren't using them anymore? NMH and LIon are much better and won't destruct or develop memory issues. I've been leaving my laptops plugged in for use as desktops 24/7 for the last decade and never had a battery problem.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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You must have some ancient battery technology! What you are describing is characteristic of NiCad cells. Surely you aren't using them anymore? NMH and LIon are much better and won't destruct or develop memory issues. I've been leaving my laptops plugged in for use as desktops 24/7 for the last decade and never had a battery problem.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
I had the problem with a Toshiba Tecra (disgusting name, sounds like something related to hemorrhoids) with a LIon battery. Left if plugged in all the time and after about 6 months discovered the battery was nothing but extra weight. Interesting regarding your own experience since even the literature for my new Toshiba Satellite (much better name, and a much better machine) warns against leaving the laptop plugged in all the time. *sigh* Guess I gotta do some more research.
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I've looked for information on this but couldn't turn up anything. So, it's time to turn to the Lounge Lizards... I'm sure you all know about the evils of leaving a laptop connected to its charger. Seems to me that there should be some sort of power management mechanism which would allow Windows (or some other program) to disconnect (or more accurately, to suspend) the charger. By having this "disconnect" scheduled, the user could then have the battery discharge, and upon reaching some (minimal) threshold, the charger would once again be enabled. Having something like this would allow the charger to be "permanently" connected to the laptop without the expected damage to the battery. Is there a [Windows] program that can do something like this? Is this at all possible? Thanks. And is there still such a thing as a Leisure Suit?
Nowadays many (but not all) laptops have such technology directly in hardware. The charging circuit starts charging only when the battery level is under a certain threshold (90-95%), and when working connected to mains it bypasses completely the battery. That's the reason why my personal laptop has still a strong battery after 2yrs of working connected, while my company's laptop battery lasts 15 minutes at best. If you're going to buy a new machine, ask the seller to take a look at the user manual (or better, google about the specific model that you're buying). I also suppose that a pure software solution would fail to handle the case of mains going down, your pc would go off before the software can switch to battery mode. A hardware solution can handle that.
Luca The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance. -- Wing Commander IV En Það Besta Sem Guð Hefur Skapað, Er Nýr Dagur. (But the best thing God has created, is a New Day.) -- Sigur Ròs - Viðrar vel til loftárása
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You must have some ancient battery technology! What you are describing is characteristic of NiCad cells. Surely you aren't using them anymore? NMH and LIon are much better and won't destruct or develop memory issues. I've been leaving my laptops plugged in for use as desktops 24/7 for the last decade and never had a battery problem.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
My wife's laptop (Fujitsu, about three years old) has a LIon battery that no longer holds a charge. :sigh: