BatteryLog

BatteryLog

A freeware software tool for tracking your laptop's battery consumption.

BatteryLog has only been tested on Windows ME. It should work on Windows 95 and 98 as well. It might work on NT/2000/XP, but the CPU usage information might be wrong.

Download: batterylog.zip (12k)

Contact: Click here

Background

I decided to write this application after I noticed that my laptop's battery, barely a year old, was suddenly not lasting as long as it used to.

To track this, and to keep my programming skill sharp, I wrote this little application. Basically what it does is record your battery power percentage to a log file. Using this data you could plot your battery usage over time. It would be a good idea to run it periodically to see what sort of life your battery is giving you lately.

Computer manufacturers often limit the battery warranty to one year, calling it a "consumable item." That would be OK with me if laptop batteries were something like $10, but since they range from $50 to $200, this is a significant expense annually.

The battery on my Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop used to last over 3 hours, now only lasts about an hour, at the roughly 1 year mark. Since my laptop battery was a week past its warranty when I reported the problem, Dell told me to buy another.

I hope this application can help you not get taken by the computer manufacturers. Run this program to create a battery log when your battery is new. Then run it once a month or so to see if your battery is still performing. If you have a significant drop in battery time during your warranty, make sure you get them to replace it ASAP!