Dell Optimizer does not limit battery charging %

Question

My Inspiron 15 laptop battery used to be limited to 50%. Since upgrading latest Bios (1.39.0), and latest Optimizer (6.3.2.0) charging is no longer limited and is permanently at 100% unless I unplug charger? What changed and how can I get the limiter back? All online help refers to a windows setting.I have Energy saver on, and do not see any reference to limiting charge %.

I note that I'm within a month of my basic hardware service contact expiring .... coincidence?

Please advise.

twilsonny · Accepted Answer

Well this is the weirdest thing I've seen on a laptop! As described,this was the bios power option...I'm going to assume the support advice to allow the battery to drain to zero, ultimately DID reset what was displayed by Daniel V in his solution so I was able to set the custom configuration max 55% so I would assume this is resolved.

When the power initially drained, the laptop booted to the same screen I displayed here. I figured why not set the express charge for 15 mins at 5am every day. when I saved that setting, my laptop shut down as the battery was fully drained. I plugged the power adapter in and it booted to the bios again, and hey presto!

BeastGamer13 · Answer

Try this: Windows app method: Open My Dell / Dell Power Manager → Power → Battery settings → Custom. Set Start ~60% and Stop ~80%, then Apply. BIOS method: Restart and tap F2 → Power Management → Battery / Battery Health Manager. Choose Maximize my battery health (targets ~80%) or set Custom thresholds if available.

twilsonny · Answer

@BeastGamer13​ sadly Dell power manager was replaced by optimizer which doesn't provide a specific % option, just 'save energy' lol The bios option now only allows you to optimize power during 'peak hours' which you set for each day of the week. no option to limit power, only when to use maximum .

DELL-Daniel V · Answer

@twilsonny​  Please see this thread here. It should be a similar situation. Dell Optimizer does not allow for specific battery percentages to be selected. This option would have to be enabled in the BIOS should your BIOS support the option. Did you previously have the custom battery charge settings before the BIOS update to 1.39.0? What model of Inspiron do you have exactly? Kinda odd if it was present before the update but then was removed afterwards.

twilsonny · Answer

@DELL-Daniel V​ Hey Daniel, I can't say for certain that the bios upgrade or optimizer upgrade changed the functionality. All I can say is that up until 3 weeks ago, my laptop was always at 50% +/-, then 1 update or another changed that setting. whether that was Windows or Dell I don;t know. In the bios option, I'll go check, but pretty sure on my laptop, the only option I has was 'Express Charge' that you could set for every day. I'll reboot & take a look at the options. I would opt for Custom option in a heartbeat! Dell support solution is to drain the laptop battery completely so that is in progress as I type though I'm not optimistic.

usersuper1 · Answer

MTTS

mean time to failure

It's like when the Toyota factory tells you to change oil every 10,000 miles.

They know good and well that it will wear out quicker than if you change it at 5,000 like most people do.

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

Inspiron

Dell Optimizer does not limit battery charging %

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