Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!)

klh

Hello!

I created a fix for indicator-power that should make it better at recognizing the real battery. If you would like to test this and are on the devel channel, run these commands on your device:

sudo ubports-qa install indicator-power 60

and

restart indicator-power

(or reboot your device).

To test simply unplug the device, observe the battery indicator, plug it back in and check again. Longer-term testing would be good too, to check if the battery level goes down as it should.

Let me know your device, and:

if it worked for you before and now something is wrong (no charging indicator, always empty battery, etc)
if it didn't work before and now it works (shows charging, proper battery level)
if nothing changed

by posting here or in the PR (https://github.com/ubports/indicator-power/pull/60)

Thanks!

Keep in mind that this can behave weirdly if it breaks, have a backup / don't do it on your daily driver unless you know how to fix a potentially broken system.

nero355

Could this improve the Battery Level reading on my BQ E5 HD too ?!

Some examples :

Fully charged phone that is only stand-By for many days will stay around 100% to 95% and then when the battery is almost empty it will shoot to 5% then 1% and then Power Off...
Full Charged Phone that is used on a regular basis and for example left at 70% or 20% or so and not used anymore does the same when the battery is almost empty : Shoot to 5% then to 1% and then Power Off...

So basically :

When you use the phone the battery status changes pretty much reliably
When the phone is only stand-by the battery status is not reliable at all!

klh

@nero355 It highly depends on the batteries reported by your kernel - if you could run upower -d on your device and post the output I could tell you more (although the issue this is attempting to fix is apparently due to the newer kernels, I think the BQ E5 HD runs an older one).

A Former User

@klh
All good so far on Cosmo Communicator and Pinephone.
No change in behaviour.

Keneda

@klh how can i copy/paste from terminal to provide results for MX4 ?

klh

@keneda I usually just run adb shell COMMAND > ~/somefilename or adb shell COMMAND | xclip -sel clip so I have the results on my PC. If you mean the device terminal, it's the same but without adb shell of course.

nero355

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

@nero355 It highly depends on the batteries reported by your kernel - if you could run upower -d on your device and post the output I could tell you more (although the issue this is attempting to fix is apparently due to the newer kernels, I think the BQ E5 HD runs an older one).

It's telling me the following :

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ upower -d
Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ac
  native-path:          ac
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Sun 21 Nov 2021 01:26:13 AM CET (316435 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  line-power
    warning-level:       none
    online:              no
    icon-name:          'ac-adapter-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_battery
  native-path:          battery
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Wed 24 Nov 2021 05:20:04 PM CET (4 seconds ago)
  has history:          yes
  has statistics:       yes
  battery
    present:             yes
    rechargeable:        yes
    state:               charging
    warning-level:       none
    energy:              0 Wh
    energy-empty:        0 Wh
    energy-full:         0 Wh
    energy-full-design:  0 Wh
    energy-rate:         0 W
    voltage:             4.056 V
    percentage:          94%
    temperature:         21 degrees C
    capacity:            100%
    technology:          lithium-ion
    icon-name:          'battery-full-charging-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_usb
  native-path:          usb
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Wed 24 Nov 2021 05:19:21 PM CET (47 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  line-power
    warning-level:       none
    online:              yes
    icon-name:          'ac-adapter-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_wireless
  native-path:          wireless
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Sun 21 Nov 2021 01:26:13 AM CET (316435 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  line-power
    warning-level:       none
    online:              no
    icon-name:          'ac-adapter-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/DisplayDevice
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              Wed 24 Nov 2021 05:19:21 PM CET (47 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  battery
    present:             yes
    state:               charging
    warning-level:       none
    energy:              0 Wh
    energy-full:         0 Wh
    energy-rate:         0 W
    percentage:          94%
    icon-name:          'battery-full-charging-symbolic'

Daemon:
  daemon-version:  0.99.4
  on-battery:      no
  lid-is-closed:   no
  lid-is-present:  no
  critical-action: PowerOff
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$

And this is my Kernel :

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu-phablet 3.4.67 #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Jun 6 14:03:15 UTC 2016 b75400e armv7l armv7l armv7l GNU/Linux
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$

klh

@nero355 Seeing as you only have one battery with a defined technology I'd say this will work for you (not 100% sure as the list may be changing once you unplug).

nero355

@klh
Sounds good!

I will try to test this during the next week or so and let you know the result!

klh

Tested on a Galaxy Note 4 (910F) and it also solves the issue.

Mario.CH

@keneda Hi, Working with the terminal:
Just press your finger on the screen (without moving) about 2 seconds, then select <select> from the menu, highlight the desired text with your finger and select <exit selection mode> at the bottom of the screen, now, back again, select <copy> in the menue.
Switch app and paste in the selected app (for example ForumWebApp, MorphBroserApp, EditorApp, or whatever).
That's it.

Greetings Mario :winking_face:

A Former User

So I also installed the Uopower thing today on my Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. Very interesting in the terminal, the battery is detected. I have posted a picture in the Xiaomi group. Will test this solution once longer. So far it runs well but is that normal that it takes a while until the battery turns green? About up to 40 seconds after plugging in.

Keneda

@mario-ch THX !

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ac
  native-path:          ac
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              dim. 19 déc. 2021 22:50:02 CET (38973 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  line-power
    warning-level:       none
    online:              no
    icon-name:          'ac-adapter-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_battery
  native-path:          battery
  vendor:               SONY
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              lun. 20 déc. 2021 09:39:07 CET (28 seconds ago)
  has history:          yes
  has statistics:       yes
  battery
    present:             yes
    rechargeable:        yes
    state:               discharging
    warning-level:       none
    energy:              0 Wh
    energy-empty:        0 Wh
    energy-full:         0 Wh
    energy-full-design:  0 Wh
    energy-rate:         0 W
    voltage:             3,858 V
    percentage:          76%
    temperature:         21 degrees C
    capacity:            100%
    technology:          lithium-ion
    icon-name:          'battery-full-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_usb
  native-path:          usb
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              ven. 17 déc. 2021 05:17:55 CET (274900 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  line-power
    warning-level:       none
    online:              no
    icon-name:          'ac-adapter-symbolic'

Device: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/DisplayDevice
  power supply:         yes
  updated:              lun. 20 déc. 2021 09:14:44 CET (1491 seconds ago)
  has history:          no
  has statistics:       no
  battery
    present:             yes
    state:               discharging
    warning-level:       none
    energy:              0 Wh
    energy-full:         0 Wh
    energy-rate:         0 W
    percentage:          76%
    icon-name:          'battery-full-symbolic'

Daemon:
  daemon-version:  0.99.4
  on-battery:      yes
  lid-is-closed:   no
  lid-is-present:  yes
  critical-action: PowerOff

klh

@keneda Looking at this the patch shouldn't change anything since you only have one battery anyway - would be nice to know if it doesn't break anything though

Also, lid-is-present: yes is... interesting.

Keneda

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

Also, lid-is-present: yes is... interesting.

Why ? I'm total noob so don't know what that line says.

+Sorry i did not understand that was for device with more than one battery.

UniSuperBox

@klh

lid-is-present: yes is... interesting.

Many phones have a hall effect sensor that's set as a lid in the kernel. This allows book-like cases to embed a small magnet to shut off the device screen when they are closed.

klh

@keneda Not with more than one physical battery, with more than one battery reported by upower - this causes issues with the indicator. Still would love to see if it breaks anything for you

@UniSuperBox Oh that's cool, good to know.

nero355

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

@nero355 Seeing as you only have one battery with a defined technology I'd say this will work for you (not 100% sure as the list may be changing once you unplug).

Just so you know : I did not forget about you but I have just been busy with too much stuff the last few weeks!

I have switched to the right branch today and will do some testing during the next 2 weeks!

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

@keneda Looking at this the patch shouldn't change anything since you only have one battery anyway - would be nice to know if it doesn't break anything though

Also, lid-is-present: yes is... interesting.

@keneda said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

Why ? I'm total noob so don't know what that line says.

@unisuperbox said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

Many phones have a hall effect sensor that's set as a lid in the kernel. This allows book-like cases to embed a small magnet to shut off the device screen when they are closed.

You can test it very easily if you hold a magnet near the phone in the right area : It will react as the lid of the case has been closed!

I am guessing you will get something like this when you activate it : https://shopee.ph/redmi-note-9-s-smart-mirror-flip-case-for-xiaomi-redmi-note-9-pro-max-9s-redmy-note9s-phone-cases-redmi9-readmi-note9-s-stand-cover-casing-i.60314136.3636360348
(Scroll to the picture with the clock shown on the phone!)

A Former User

Hi guys this Upower application is a stroke of luck at least on Merlin I've tested it for a while now and it works great, no more empty battery on full charge in the display. Many thanks to you that you have written the commands to install it in the forum. Here again to all happy holidays and best wishes for the new year.

nero355

@klh said in Call for testing: power indicator (esp. if it works for you now!):

@nero355 Seeing as you only have one battery with a defined technology I'd say this will work for you (not 100% sure as the list may be changing once you unplug).

Sorry to say this but... no improvement on my BQ phone...

The behaviour is pretty much the same as before!

Luckily the battery is still good so it's not a big deal but it would be cool if someone knows how to fix the batterystatus reading one day