Graph slope and red checkered pattern questions.

[SteveB]

Okay, my batter's graph is very strange (image attached). The discharge rate is pretty consistent until 40% when it starts to level off, then at 20% it's completely horizontal until just before 0%. I have two questions based on my graph:

1. How can I tell from this graph when Windows is shutting down the laptop due to what it thinks is a critical battery level? It seems to be way before 5%.

2. What's the red checkered pattern in the graph? Does that mean that Battery Bar has no data for that portion? The checkered pattern first appears around 34% and gets more frequent until below 20% when the entire remaining graph is checkered.

Unfortunately the graph doesn't seem to appear in the documentation anywhere.

Thanks,
Steve

[Chris]

The checked portions indicate areas where no data has been collected. Flat areas indicate changes in percent remaining (horizontal) with no time change (vertical). In other words, the percentage dropped some say 30% to 20% immediately.

The graph isn't designed to show you when the computer shut down, just what time remaining value BatteryBar estimates for any given percentage remaining. In your case, BatteryBar reports about 10 minutes remaining at 40%. That's an indication that your battery should probably be replaced. It also means that your battery wear value will probably jump up soon.

Since your battery is pretty much shot around 40%, I'd set your Soft Minimum to somewhere between 30-40%. That means that BatteryBar will calculate "0 minutes remaining" at that soft minimum value, giving you a better estimate of how long until your computer shuts down.