[RESPONDED] API to control max battery charge level for better battery health

Framework Laptop 13 Linux
1

My laptop plugged in USB-C cable for the whole day. By default, it will keep 100% charge for battery. Keeping battery at 0% or 100% for a long time is very bad for battery health.

Many laptops have BIOS settings and API to control max battery charge. GNOME even has a nice extension to set limit for many laptops.

  1. Does Framework have an option in BIOS to set max charge level? I didn’t find it in BIOS.
  2. Does Framework have Linux API to set a limit? If yes we can add it to that extension.

If we don’t have a charge limit support (since I didn’t find it in BIOS), should we add it? It is good practice if you want to avoid buying new battery every few years (good for ecology).

2
  1. Yes, it’s already in BIOS.
  2. It can already be controlled via ECTool, but I don’t believe it’s exposed on it’s own via the kernel - you have to go through the EC’s interface. @DHowett would be the person to ask.
3

So am I to understand that the Battery Charge Level in the BIOS is OS dependent?

4

No, The battery charge level in the BIOS is not OS Dependent.
I run Windows 10 on my main drive Ubuntu 22.04 LTS on an expansion card, and occasionally for giggles and grins Fedora on a USB Flash drive.
My BIOS is set to 85% max charge, and all OS’s respect that.
Since it’s BIOS, it even stops at 85% when shut down.

5

That’s what I thought so what is this problem

Ah! Now I see

:blush:

6

It’s in the BIOS.

Tab from Main to Advanced tab, look down, second entry from the bottom - Battery Charge Limit. Click the enter key, type a new number, tab to Yes. F10 to save changes and reboot.

7

@Matt_Hartley thanks!

Any option to do it from Linux (so we can add it to GNOME extension)? It will be nice to avoid reboot for changing the settings.

8

I prefer to do it in BIOS, however untested by me but should be fine: Battery Care — TLP 1.6 documentation and additional details Battery Care — TLP 1.6 documentation .

9

@Matt_Hartley Is tlp an option for charge thresholds on the FW yet? I assumed no since the thresholds aren’t exposed in sysfs.

10

Have not tested or explored this in depth whatsoever. Ideally, BIOS is the recommended official method.

I remembered that TLP had such an option that the op could explore, but it may not do anything if thresholds are not exposed.

So I passed this along for the customer (on their own) to explore if they like. I have not had an opportunity to explore this with tlp at this time.