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  • On 3 different ThinkPads with SOLUS Budgie no charging possible

Hey everyone!
I seem to have run into a problem that I cannot solve by myself. So, maybe this forum can help as I can imagine the problem could have to do with recent SOLUS updates.

I have three different ThinkPads which I use for work, backup and tinkering, they all run SOLUS Budgie and have been working 100% until a week or so ago:
T495 - AMD Ryzen 5 Pro
T480s - Intel Core i7
X395 - AMD Ryzen 7 Pro
All of these computers cannot be charged anymore when I try to charge them with an original Lenovo charger (65W USB-C) that came with the computers.
I've tried different chargers, different mains sockets in my flat, different USB-C sockets on my computers - no success.
They are all charged quite fully (around 92-97%) and react when connected to the mains by making a short confirming sound (normal behaviour of the laptops, so there is power from the chargers!) and after that they all show "Not charging" in the energy settings and no green colour in the battery icon in the task bar.
Could it be that SOLUS integrated a new kind of energy/power/charging handling with recent updates?
I do not use powertop or any other kind of power-saving software, just what SOLUS itself uses.
Let me know if you need any more information.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers, SOLUSfiddler

[EDIT]
It seems that they charge only if the computer runs below 90% of charging level. I've just found out by my X395 having gone down to 87% and all of a sudden I could charge it again.
I know that I don't need to charge a laptop battery showing 96% - but SOLUS' behaviour has changed:
Until now the OS showed that a charger had been connected, now it doesn't do that anymore - and it seems that has been deliberately altered within SOLUS. So, maybe someone could solve that little riddle quickly.
Thanks!

    SOLUSfiddler Many Lenovo models (like the Dells I use) are set up so that the battery doesn't charge unless the battery is at 90% or less, in order to preserve battery life by reducing the number times the battery tops off.

    SOLUSfiddler Could it be that SOLUS integrated a new kind of energy/power/charging handling with recent updates?

    It isn't clear whether charging behavior has changed or charging status reporting has changed. If charging behavior has changed, an update (probably to the Gnome stack) may have enabled Solus to work with Lenovo's battery preservation settings. It is also possible that the actual charging behavior has not changed, but the software reporting charging status has changed to report charging status more accurately. Maybe one of the maintainers will respond with the answer.

    If the 90% behavior interferes with your work environment, you might check BIOS to see of there is a way to override the 90% setting. In Dell computers, the 90% behavior can be turned off by turning off "adaptive" charging. I don't know if Lenovo has a similar way to turn off the 90% behavior.

        SOLUSfiddler "It isn't clear whether charging behavior has changed or charging status reporting has changed. If charging behavior has changed, an update (probably to the Gnome stack) may have enabled Solus to work with Lenovo's battery preservation settings. It is also possible that the actual charging behavior has not changed, but the software reporting charging status has changed to report charging status more accurately. Maybe one of the maintainers will respond with the answer." (Tom)

        --that seems intuitively right---after update a program could change the way it communicates with Lenovo. still a strange change. something made 90% the baseline. weird. saw nothing at the devtracker.

          I have Solus Budgie installed on a Thinkpad E585 laptop. I too have noticed this behavior . I know certain new models of Lenovo computers and tablets have a battery cutoff at 90 percent to avoid the battery from being overcharged and over heating . I recall reading something to that effect on the Lenovo website or online somewhere . I can not give you a specific reference however. On my Lenovo Thinkpad e585 when i start to charge it and it is below ninety percent it will fullly charge to 100 percent . However , if it is already above ninety percent it will not charge but the battery will not drain . it apparently switches to AC Power. I do have TLP installed and running . I hope this information helps answer your concerns.

          This is from the lenovo website.
          If Conservation Mode is turned off and the AC adapter is added when the battery capacity drops from 100% but is still more than 95% (95% - 100%), the battery will not start charging. This is not a bug. It is due to the battery charge self-protection feature. This works by design.

          Many systems support power management programs that can either extend the run time of the battery or extend the life of the battery. The 60% available (plugged in, not charging) message indicates that this sort of setting may be enabled. Under this setting, the battery does not charge to 100% when connected to an AC adapter in order to preserve the battery’s life.
          (just info battery behaviour issues can be confusing)
          Sometimes a deep battery drain to 10% or so then charge helps

          Thanks, folks, for your reply.
          It seems that the "problem" I've run into is a feature by Lenovo indeed. It's just that I hadn't noticed it before or that it was changed recently.
          Whichever way:
          My ThinkPads all start charging when the battery capacity is less than 90%. So, everything seems to be OK.
          Thanks again!

          [mark as SOLVED, please!]

          thanks axios . i knew i had read about that somewhere but could not remember where. that item on lenovo's website is what i was referring to in my previous answer/post. thanks again...