Re: accuracy of built-in battery meter on IPaqs? (2215)

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McQz_at_Work
Date: 01/11/05 

Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 10:38:38 -0700

I think you've hit the nail on the head.
When there is "insufficient" power available according to some internal
algorithm, the system shuts down as quickly as possible to preclude more
disastrous consequences.

I had a 3630 that was let sit for a year... After an overnight recharge, it
would stay lit for about 30 seconds before shutting down - almost enough
time to get everything displaying normally! That was a backup battery
function and it didn't matter how much power was available on the main
battery.

I have a 2215 now and the details that I find in the battery monitor are
"for comparison only" since everything that you do on the machine uses
additional power. If you just let it sit with no activity at all, no
alarms, no backlight, no taps, you might approach the figure shown on the
monitor.

I've gotten nearly 4 hours of music playback from a 1 GB CF card with the
screen blacked out after 5 minutes. I shut it off before it ever timed out,
but it must have been pretty close to drop dead time.

Good luck,
mcq

"KR" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uOhY%23EA%23EHA.1084@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
Your response actually triggered another question;

When I mess with the settings, I do see corresponding changes in the approx
hours left. If the actual power rating that is used as an input into this
algorithm is accurate, then I'm ok- I guess I just don't know where the
device gets that rating, or how to ensure it is accurate.

Now my new question: my device just indicated 8 hours, then when I boosted
the backlight, it went down to less than 4. So... in addition to actual
battery power remaining, does the device have any "triggers" to shut down or
go into suspend if the _approx hours left_ falls below a certain number? I
wonder if my battery is low but not out, and I start it up with heavy CPU
operations, maybe that approximate time falls below a certain number (like
5 minutes) and triggers some sort of automatic self-protecting shutoff?

I know I'm reaching on this one, I just can't figure out why my PPC often
shuts itself off within 10 seconds of me turning it on. :-(

Thanks,
Keith

"xTenn" <xTennREmoveThisPart@tds.net> wrote in message
news:eXCYc6$9EHA.1544@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>
> "KR" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:uVPrPv$9EHA.3592@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > Does anyone have any information about how accurate the built-in battery
> > meter is on the IPaq series, especially the 2215? I'm interested in any
> > information on the reliability of the meter for either/both the regular
> > (removable) battery or the internal emergency battery.
> >
> > If the battery meters aren't accurate, are there any utilities out there
> > that are more accurate? (vs a hardware issue, in which case any software
> > utility would be dealing with GIGO). Preferably something cheap or free,
> > as
> > I only need to diagnose whether my unit is providing accurate
information
> > maybe once or twice (at which point I may have to buy a new battery).
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Keith
> >
>
>
> I don't think the 2215 runs 2003, so this may not work. If you go to
> settings\power\standby you can (on 2003 at least) see approx. hours left
as
> a number down to 1/10 hour. The cool thing about this is that you can
> toggle wifi, backlight, bluetooth, etc. and see the numbers change
> immediately. This may give you more feedback as you test your battery
than
> the standard gauge.
>
> Then again, you may have already checked this and determined that you do
not
> trust the operating system (and utilities shipped with it) reporting the
> values, in which case disregard this particular response.
>
>
>

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