Even after the re-work and BIOS updates and fresh installs of Windows or Linux, my 11th gen still loses about 1% per hour when it’s shut down and unplugged. My partner finally gave up and just leaves hers plugged in.
Rework Instructions for 11th Gen Mainboards to enable powering the RTC circuit from the main battery
This rework has nothing to do with the laptop’s main battery discharging during standby or while powered off. This is to fix an issue where the RTC battery would die, preventing the laptop from powering on without a mainboard reset.
No kidding. I did two of them. I was responding to the comment that a laptop wouldn’t hold a charge. Maybe I misunderstood and he was saying his cmos battery wouldn’t hold a charge.
Well, he did say “after the replacement” so the obvious inference would be it was an issue with the dummy battery. Who knows?
To clarify, I guess, the problem I have now is that after soldering in the battery replacement I have =rapid= discharge (100% in 12 hours) when unplugged and in standby. I don’t think it’s the same as the common complaint about poor standby performance – also because the other day it =didn’t= do this – I lost a typical amount in a 12 hour period. But then it was totally drained the next day. Unfortunately still haven’t really taken a good look or done formal testing (I’m just getting by leaving it plugged in).
I won’t pollute this topic about the rework procedure with a somewhat specific problem I’m having – I mostly just wanted to check and see if anyone else had the same problem after the replacement.
Let us know how it goes. Sounds like the solder might be the problem as the resulting discharge just ain’t right.
Do the 11th gen mainboards still have this issue? If I plan to buy an 11th gen framework 13 would I need to perform this fix?
Yes, as far as I’m aware. I don’t think there’s been a revision or anything.
Guys, try to keep the conversation around the rework – there are other threads for discussing the battery issue in general if you still want to talk about that.
Off-topic messages have been removed. This thread exists as a community resource to ask questions about the rework. I do not want to close it, but if it continues to be derailed, we will be forced to do so. I have warned this many times already.
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RTC battery got some problems while switching Windows and Linux. When I use only one system, the time is always correct, however when I switch, the time always got wrong and I have to sync it manually (in windows).
That’s normal Windows weirdness and not related to the Framework laptop or the RTC battery.
I’d like to thank everyone for their comments on their experience installing the replacement module. It helped me avoid issues I wouldn’t have been aware of without your warnings. I thought it might be useful to others if I documented the process I used to avoid damaging the battery holder.
Before starting the replacement process, I measured the dimensions of my RTC battery and the replacement module with calipers. The replacement module was slightly smaller than the battery in both thickness and diameter (by about 0.1 mm). This might suggest that the replacement module should fit more easily into the holder. However, their side profiles differed: the RTC module was cylindrical, whereas the RTC battery had an angled bottom edge.
This difference became significant during insertion because the components slide into the holder at an angle, impacting the fit. When inserting the RTC battery, a gap appeared between the top and the lip of the holder.
This was not the case with the original replacement module. Its 90-degree bottom corner increased the effective height of the module during insertion. As seen below, there was no gap between the top of the module and the holder’s lip; instead, the module was higher than the lip and did not fit under the retaining fingers.
I reasoned that adding a small angle to the bottom of the replacement module would allow it to fit under the top lip fingers. This modification would reduce strain on the fragile fingers and lower the risk of damaging the holder. I used a diamond knife sharpener to sand one edge on the bottom side of the replacement module, creating a slight angle. This edge was then inserted first into the holder. Note: When sanding, I ensured the gold coating on the side of the cylinder that makes contact with the electrode remained intact.
After this modification, the replacement module fit under the fingers, and I was able to gently complete the insertion using a SIM Eject tool without damaging the holder. The sanded corner did not affect the final fit once the replacement module was fully inserted.
An excellent solution to inserting the dummy battery. I spent quite some time gently moving it around until I got it in. Having read other posts here, I count myself lucky.
Can I still request this fix for my Framework with the 11th gen even if I bought it used off someone?
@odysseywestra, Framework has said that you can get an RTC Battery Substitute module regardless of where you got your 11th gen mainboard from.
You can submit a request here: framework.kustomer.help/contact/support-request-ryon9uAuq. As part of your initial message, it would be good to provide your mainboard serial number, and a picture of your mainboard showing its serial number sticker. Just to accelerate things.
It’s possible that one might run into a support representative who doesn’t know FW’s policy regarding this. So if you need to, you can quote them the information from Framework’s github.
Just to note, “Nrp” is Nirav Patel, Framework’s CEO. So this policy comes straight from him.
Welcome to the forum by the way.
Since this thread re-opened I may as well update my experience.
The battery replacement never really solved my problem – I still get power drain within a day or two no matter how I shutdown/suspend/hibernate in both Linux and Windows and then laptop won’t power on without plugging in.
Rather than try to sort out if my soldering wasn’t good or if something else was going on I just decided to live with a laptop that I need to plug in to turn on after any period on not using it.
Could very well be nothing wrong with the replacement battery or work instructions for it – but even still if anyone asked me (or if I had a chance to do it again) I think I’d just live with replacing the RTC battery whenever I had a problem rather than risk the soldering job. As it is I still love my laptop – it’s just a bit of a pain finding a plug sometimes!
Hopefully Framework will ship you some batteries because it’s hard to find the exact type you need elsewhere.
Good luck and welcome to the Framework Family!
Welcome to the community @odysseywestra!
Like @MJ1 said, you can request the battery substitute module from Framework. However, this will require soldering the new component in place. If that is not something desired or do not have a place to perform the repair/replacement properly, Framework has stated they will supply a replacement ML1220 battery free of charge. Contacting support for a replacement is necessary. Ideally this should only need to be done every few years as long as the ML1220 is charged by leaving a charger plugged into the laptop on a regular basis.
Caution on removing and replacing the ML1220 battery as the holder has been known to break on a number of people. Just wanted to make people aware that the replacement module is not the only solution available, it just happens to be a longer term fix.