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Nicole 2023-01-08 19:13:49 +01:00
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@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ Pixelbook running vanilla Linux (in my case Debian).
What I want to achieve is that the battery is not constantly being charged What I want to achieve is that the battery is not constantly being charged
to and held at 100%, which will quickly destroy the battery. to and held at 100%, which will quickly destroy the battery.
The Pixelbook Linux runtime contains a tool called "ectool" which can ## Implementation
The Pixelbook ChromeOS Linux runtime contains a tool called "ectool" which can
control the charge control code embedded in the EC. Newer EC version also control the charge control code embedded in the EC. Newer EC version also
allow for a "battery sustainer" pretty much implementing what I want but the allow for a "battery sustainer" pretty much implementing what I want but the
Pixelbook (aka Eve) EC is too old to use this. Pixelbook (aka Eve) EC is too old to use this.
So I came up with a bash script that can run in teh background. So I came up with a bash script that can run in the background.
For it to work you need the "ectool" in Linux. I tried to compile the ectool For it to work you need the "ectool" in Linux. I tried to compile the ectool
from source under Debian but failed. So I took the alternative path and used from source under Debian but failed. So I took the alternative path and used
@ -70,8 +71,10 @@ charger state OK, idling...
0 0 0 0
``` ```
This should be kept running all the time then.
With this I still get more than enough charge in the Pixelbook for all my With this I still get more than enough charge in the Pixelbook for all my
tasks but on the other hand prevent teh battery from premature aging. Each tasks but on the other hand prevent the battery from premature aging. Each
charge cycle means wear to the battery. charge cycle means wear to the battery.
Please note that all this of course only works as long as the operating Please note that all this of course only works as long as the operating
@ -81,3 +84,21 @@ and reconnect the charger it will again charge to 100% no matter what.
Enjoy! Enjoy!
Feedback welcome. Feedback welcome.
## Outlook
Running this as a shell script with root priviledges is probably not teh
greatest idea, but right it is a 'works for me' approach. The Pixelbook has
some more features I would also like to make more use of, like a light
sensor and LCD/keyboard backlight control. In ChromeOS this really worked
super nicely, almost always the right backlight based on the light sensor
readings. In Linux and I use GNOME the keyboard backlight can not be
controlled by default at all (see here: https://www.dpin.de/nf/google-pixelbook-eve-plain-linux/
) and the automatic LCD brightness control is just horrible, too big steps
and no way to control the brightness vs. ambient light thresholds. This
makes no sense to me, it just results in awkward brightness settings and too
abrupt changes, very distracting and sometimes even unusable.
So maybe some fine day I need to dig into either implementing this in
something like `upwerd` (I think this is on control of these things) or
write my own little daemon running in the background.