Battery meter not accurate

[jmdennis]

Since using build 19601-081227 the battery meter has not been accurate.  I thought it was my battery so I ordered one but it is still playing even though the meter shows the battery is completely empty.  When I shut down my iPod Color it shows that the battery is low and shutting down but I turn it back on and it keeps playing just fine.  Hopefully the current builds will fix this problem.

[saratoga]

Since using build 19601-081227 the battery meter has not been accurate. 

Looking at the code, theres no battery discharge for the Ipod color (it uses the iriver H300 value), so it was probably never accurate.  Post a battery bench log and I'll add it to SVN.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginBatteryBenchmark

[jmdennis]

I will do this but mine will not be a good test since my battery is old.  The meter was fine though until that update and then the meter started to go down very fast so I do not know if some change was made to the code.  Before that my battery meter would go down like it should and show the correct battery left.

[Llorean]

Why not do it with the new battery you ordered then?

[jmdennis]

The new battery is a higher capacity battery so it would not be right to use this to determine how well the batter works.  Like I said I did not have this problem before a recent change so not sure if it is reading the battery differently or what the deal is.  I have attached the battery bench mark like you requested.  It does pretty well but the battery shows it already drained well before the battery ever runs out.

[crescentfresh]

Update: I ran a battery benchmark yesterday on my 60 gig ipod color, and have attached the results.  While my battery life is actually better than ever (almost 13 hours), the battery meter on yesterday's daily build is still much more inaccurate than it used to be just a couple weeks ago.  Fully charged it was only registering at 75%.  At 5 hours, it was down to 9%, yet the ipod kept running for almost another 8 hours.  If there's anything else I an do, let me know.

[siber_cat314]

I've noticed a similar trend on my Sansa c200, the charge tops out at 75% and hovers around 10% for hours on end. I still haven't let my player die, though, but I seem to recall my modded r18664 build doing that, too. (my modded build didn't touch any of the firmware code)
I'll test the current SVN when I get back home later today, and run a battery bench for it, too.

[saratoga]

I've committed an updated battery bench for the Photo.  If anyone else wants to give me benchs, I can update the other ipods, and perhaps the c200 (which has an odd looking discharge curve in SVN).

edit:  Committed a c200 curve as well.

[siber_cat314]

Well, I finally ran the battery bench. I'll admit, I didn't play just one album running this, (even had different codecs...) but it's rather representative of the files I play on my rockbox. I'll give the new curve a try later this week, hopefully.

Edit: I switched players a little while back, and forgot I had one album running: WMA, 44100Hz, 128kpbs. Vol@-25dB, mono, and all sound enhancements off.