Z5500 battery meter issues

[sashby11]

I\'m considering buying a Z5500 or 5600.  Cost of 5500 is very attractive, but I still have a couple of questions about the battery.

1.  Many threads mention battery meter on 5500 staying near 100% until almost out, then dropping near 0% without warning.  Does everyone have this problem?  Or is it a rare problem, and if so does it indicate malfunction?  Is there a real working fix for this?

2.  On 5500, I\'m gathering that 1 hour with light maxed is max expected.  Based on typical use (no wifi, reading emails, playing solitaire, checking calendar, etc.) what should I expect with the 5500?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[lardman]

1. Many threads mention battery meter on 5500 staying near 100% until almost out, then dropping near 0% without warning. Does everyone have this problem? Or is it a rare problem, and if so does it indicate malfunction? Is there a real working fix for this?

It\'s a kernel issue. OZ3.2 (at the very least) has kernel patches to fix this issue and make the battery level reporting more accurate.

2. On 5500, I\'m gathering that 1 hour with light maxed is max expected. Based on typical use (no wifi, reading emails, playing solitaire, checking calendar, etc.) what should I expect with the 5500?

I generally get a week\'s worth of usage, but then I don\'t use it for all that ong (lots of times but for short periods). Probably best to wait for someone with a more objective view.


Si

[sashby11]

Thank you Si.  I had read a posting here, though, where the \"fix\" was described as a software work-around that interpolates readings to basically \'guess\' the battery level.  The statement was that, as a result, the readings are limited to 10%, 25%, 50% and 100%.  Is this incorrect then?  In your experience, does the battery meter behave as expected, with a somewhat continuous drop over time, accurately indicating battery status?

Thanks again!
Shane

[dolphin_oracle]

My 5500 (sharp rom 3.1) goes about 3 to 4 days between charging.  I generaly use it for spreadsheet (expense logging, weightwatchers) and contacts.  The battery lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours using WIFI.  And the battery meter works (or doesn\'t) as was described.  Basically,  it jumps straight to low-power warning.

[sashby11]

Thank you Si.  I had read a posting here, though, where the \"fix\" was described as a software work-around that interpolates readings to basically \'guess\' the battery level.  The statement was that, as a result, the readings are limited to 10%, 25%, 50% and 100%.  Is this incorrect then?  In your experience, does the battery meter behave as expected, with a somewhat continuous drop over time, accurately indicating battery status?

Thanks again!
Shane

Just to clarify: according to the earlier posting by Si, the issues with battery meter accuracy on the SL-5500 are due to a kernel issue, which was fixed by a patch.

According to other information I\'ve read, this kernel patch is actually a workaround which interpolates, and only indicates 10%, 25%, 50% or 100%.

Which is correct?  Was the original problem an (unresolved) hardware issue, or is the workaround info wrong?

Thanks!

[lardman]

I don\'t think it\'s a hardware issue (at least the hardware is more accurate than the sopftware currently makes it seem afaik) - though you\'ll have to either look through the kernel source or trawl the openzaurus-devel mailing list to be sure about the actually accuracy of the hardware reporting cf. what the kernel (apm) returns.

Sorry I don\'t have any more info than that.

Take a look at the mailing lists here:
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.p...penzaurus-users
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.p...penzaurus-devel


Si

[suruaZ]

Tell you more. After quick jump from \"Good\" to \"Low\" it could jump back to the \"Good\" sometimes. At least with my battery.
The battery lasts about 1 hour with light on.

suruaZ

[sashby11]

Thank you everyone for your posts!  I\'ve also found some more info in another posting on this site.  

\"[unusual battery behavior] has probably nothing to do with this special ROM as the battery meter reads out \'apm\' which in turns reads out the kernel values. Sharp used a four stages driver...  In the OZ kernel for collie we have patched the battery driver to be much more accurate...\" (borrowed from Mickeyl)

I think I have a pretty good picture.  It sounds like:

1.  hardware is not the problem
2.  100% -] 0% is a kernel issue, fixed in some newer ROMs.  Inaccurately interpreting results of APM call?
3.  100%, 75%, 25%, 0% behavior derives from Sharp driver which only reports 4 possible battery states.  Some newer ROMs either interpolate this for better resolution, or patch APM somehow.  4 step behavior is a design issue then, not a \"bug\", and

DIFFERENT FROM 100%-]0% issue
4.  Some users say status goes from \"good\" to \"low\" then back to \"good\" again.  Perhaps APM status reading is right \"on the line\" between 2 states?

Also: newest OZ Rom apparently reports status in 1% increments (if it works, then NICE!)

Battery life - wow, 1 hour with light full.  Ouch.  The price of pocketing Linux, I suppose.  I gather battery extenders are pretty workable (and all over Ebay).  It still beats Win CE (

yuck! )

Thanks again everyone!  Sorry if this posting seems a little pedantic (I\'m an Engineer, please forgive me), and I hope that this thread has answered others\' questions too.  At least there\'s a lot of great feedback in one place!