How to increase the battery life - ThinkPad

TITLE:
How to increase the battery life - ThinkPad

SYMPTOM:
Instructions on how to increase the battery life on a ThinkPad system.

AFFECTED CONFIGURATIONS:
ThinkPad

AFFECTED SYSTEMS:
· Lenovo B480, B580
· Lenovo E49
· Lenovo V480, V480s, V490u, V580
Zhaoyang E49, Zhaoyang K29, Zhaoyang K49
Edge 11, Edge 13, Edge 14, Edge 15
Edge E10, Edge E30, Edge E40, Edge E50
Edge E120, Edge E125, Edge E130, Edge E135, Edge E220s
Edge E320, Edge E325, Edge E330, Edge E420, Edge E420s, Edge E425,
Edge E431, Edge E445
Edge E430, Edge E430c, Edge E435, Edge E520, Edge E525, Edge E530,
Edge E530c, Edge E535, Edge E531, Edge E545
Helix
L410, L412, L420, L421, L430, L510, L512, L520, L530
Reserve Edition X61
R51e, R52, R60, R60e, R61, R61e, R61i
R400, R500
SL300, SL400, SL400c, SL410, SL500, SL500c, SL510
S430, S431, S531
T43, T43p, T60, T60p, T61, T61p
T400, T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T420, T420i, T420s, T420si
T430, T430i, T430s, T430si, T431s
T500, T510, T510i, T520, T520i, T530, T530i
W500, W510, W520, W530, W700, W700ds, W701, W701ds
X1, X1 Hybrid, X1 Carbon
X32, X40, X41, X41 Tablet
X60, X60s, X60 Tablet, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
X100e, X120e, X121e, X130e, X131e
X200, X200s, X200 Tablet, X201, X201i, X201s, X201 Tablet
X220, X220i, X220 Tablet, X220i Tablet
X230, X230i, X230s, X230 Tablet, X230i Tablet, X300, X301
Z60m, Z60t, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t OPERATING SYSTEMS:

Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows 7

SOLUTION:
A ThinkPad battery can be set up for maximum runtime (hours) or for maximum lifespan (years) before it must be replaced.

Optimizing for runtime (hours):

The normal default Lenovo Power Manager Battery Maintenance setting
keeps your battery fully charged. Lenovo Power Manager starts
charging when the battery drops below 96 percent and stops at 100
percent. The runtime on the battery depends on the Power Plan
settings chosen.

There are several predefined Power Plans which can be customized for
your needs or you can create your own. For the best runtimes, start
with the Maximum Battery Life Power Plan.

Optimizing for lifespan (years):

The main reasons that defeat battery longevity are age, the number of
charge cycles, the amount of time at full charge, and the high
temperature.

For maximum lifespan when rarely using the battery, set the Custom
charge thresholds to start charging at 40 percent capacity and stop
at 50 percent and keep the ThinkPad cool. The thresholds can be
adjusted in the Battery Maintenance settings of the Lenovo Power
Manager.

If you do use your battery frequently, set the start threshold at 85
percent and stop at 90 percent. This will still give a good lifespan
benefit over keeping it charged to 100 percent.

For some systems, the simplest way to optimize for battery lifespan
is to select Automatic in the Power Manager Battery Maintenance
settings and let it manage the battery charge thresholds.

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