Battery Buddy

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Fully discharging a battery and charging it back to full charge again wears it out sooner than you might expect. Battery Buddy can help you increase the battery lifetime by automatically pausing and resuming charging. You can set alerts for low and full enough charge levels, too.

New! Version 4.3.0 adds support for PineTab, developed by nephros! Thank you!

New! Version 4.2.0 adds support for setting maximum charge current for selected devices.

New! Version 4.1.0 adds initial support for Jolla Tablet.

Important: Sailjail support is enabled in Battery Buddy 4.0.0-1, which means it requires at least Sailfish OS 4.3 to work properly. For Sailfish OS 3.3 and up you should be able to use Battery Buddy 3.17-1. For older versions Battery Buddy 3.15-1 should work fine. For Sailfish OS 2.2 you have to download the legacy build.

The application comes with a service component that takes care of charger control and alerts. This means that the application doesn't have to be opened for alerts and limits to work - which is against Jolla Store policy, and hence worth mentioning here. You can control the service from the application (start/stop and enable/disable on boot).

There is now a logging option, which can be accessed via the Settings page pulley menu, with three logging options. You can copy the log contents, too, so submitting the service log for debugging purposes is now a lot more convenient! Using --verbose and --debug flags still work as before.

Please note that the charger control mechanism may not work for every device out there. So far it has been successfully tested with the following devices:

  • F(x)tec Pro¹
  • Fairphone 2
  • Jolla Phone
  • Pine64 PineTab
  • Sony Xperia 10 / 10 II / 10 III
  • Sony Xperia X / X Compact
  • Sony Xperia XA2 / XA2 Plus / XA2 Ultra
  • Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Tablet

Please let me know if it works for your device, or if it doesn't work!

Bug reports and translations are most welcome!

If you like my work and would like to support me, you can now buy me a coffee.

Source code can be found in GitHub.

Screenshots: 
Application versions: 
AttachmentSizeDate
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.16.2-1.aarch64.rpm128.95 KB24/11/2021 - 23:09
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.16.2-1.armv7hl.rpm125.24 KB24/11/2021 - 23:09
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.16.2-1.i486.rpm134.58 KB24/11/2021 - 23:09
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.17.0-1.aarch64.rpm129.5 KB20/03/2022 - 00:52
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.17.0-1.armv7hl.rpm126.65 KB20/03/2022 - 00:52
File harbour-batterybuddy-3.17.0-1.i486.rpm135.81 KB20/03/2022 - 00:52
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.0.0-1.aarch64.rpm127.77 KB20/03/2022 - 21:53
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.0.0-1.armv7hl.rpm124.93 KB20/03/2022 - 21:53
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.0.0-1.i486.rpm134.15 KB20/03/2022 - 21:53
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.0-1.aarch64.rpm174.43 KB28/08/2022 - 01:34
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.0-1.armv7hl.rpm172.03 KB28/08/2022 - 01:34
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.0-1.i486.rpm181.84 KB28/08/2022 - 01:34
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.1-1.aarch64.rpm174.7 KB28/08/2022 - 10:45
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.1-1.armv7hl.rpm172.31 KB28/08/2022 - 10:45
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.1.1-1.i486.rpm182.25 KB28/08/2022 - 10:45
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.2-1.aarch64.rpm177.35 KB01/01/2023 - 02:59
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.2-1.armv7hl.rpm174.72 KB01/01/2023 - 02:59
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.2-1.i486.rpm184.81 KB01/01/2023 - 02:59
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.3-1.aarch64.rpm179.55 KB04/03/2023 - 16:28
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.3-1.armv7hl.rpm176.99 KB04/03/2023 - 16:28
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.3-1.i486.rpm187.25 KB04/03/2023 - 16:28
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.4-1.aarch64.rpm179.8 KB05/03/2023 - 12:30
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.4-1.armv7hl.rpm177.11 KB05/03/2023 - 12:30
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.4-1.i486.rpm187.22 KB05/03/2023 - 12:30
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.5-1.aarch64.rpm182.66 KB05/03/2023 - 12:51
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.5-1.armv7hl.rpm180.05 KB05/03/2023 - 12:51
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.2.5-1.i486.rpm190.07 KB05/03/2023 - 12:51
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.0-1.aarch64.rpm177.52 KB17/04/2023 - 20:02
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.0-1.armv7hl.rpm175.28 KB17/04/2023 - 20:02
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.0-1.i486.rpm185.39 KB17/04/2023 - 20:02
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.1-1.aarch64.rpm177.67 KB22/04/2023 - 16:48
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.1-1.armv7hl.rpm175.31 KB22/04/2023 - 16:48
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.1-1.i486.rpm185.54 KB22/04/2023 - 16:48
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.2-1.aarch64.rpm178.04 KB25/04/2023 - 08:48
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.2-1.armv7hl.rpm175.3 KB25/04/2023 - 08:48
File harbour-batterybuddy-4.3.2-1.i486.rpm185.55 KB25/04/2023 - 08:48
Changelog: 

4.3.2-1

  • Fix maximum charge current setting

4.3.1-1

  • Update Polish translation (thanks, wetab73)
  • Update translation files in the repository

4.3.0-1

  • Add PineTab support (thanks, nephros)
  • Add Russian translation (I checked this time!) (thanks, sprainbrains)

4.2.5-1

  • Fixup! Include all translation files (include Slovak)

4.2.4-1

  • Fixup! Battery health is not displayed correctly

4.2.3-1

  • Add Slovak translation (thanks, okruhliak)
  • Update Swedish translation (thanks, eson57)
  • Add Support for AC Charger detection (thanks, nephros)
  • Be more efficient with handling file paths in constructors
  • Fix package dependencies

4.2.2-1

  • Replaces broken 4.2.0 and 4.2.1 releases
  • Restart the permission service on update
  • Properly read and set max current values on first startup
  • Add setting maximum charge current

4.1.1-1

  • Fixup! Use correct colors in battery graphic
  • Fixup! Enable low battery animation
  • Move all subpages to MainPage pull down menu
  • Update Swedish translation (thanks, eson57)
  • Update Polish translation (thanks, wetab73)
  • Update copyrights

4.1.0-1

  • Initial Jolla Tablet support (beta)
  • Redesign the logo and battery graphic
  • Search for control files using loops
  • Don't try to use non-existent files
  • Remove unused signals from service
  • Update Swedish translation (thanks, eson57)
  • Use ColumnView to show the log contents with formatting (thanks, nephros!)
  • Log charging/discharging current
  • Log temperature changes with resolution of one degree Celsius
  • Assume the charge current value always changes
  • Print correct log file name
  • Invert the charge current sign if necessary
  • Print changelog at the end of the build script
  • Use custom ImageButton in About page
  • Remove unused files
  • Rename internal logging functions for clarity
  • Built with Sailfish OS SDK 3.9 for 4.4.0.68

4.0.0-1

  • Enable sandboxing with appropriate permissions (GUI only)
  • Use QML DBusInterface for user service manipulation
  • Drop support for SFOS 4.2 and older
  • Clean up systemd service handling during install/update/uninstall
  • Built with Sailfish OS SDK 3.8 for 4.3.0.12

3.17.0-1

  • Disable sandboxing
  • Fix install/upgrade/uninstall scriptlets
  • Service binary consumes less resources
  • Don't try to close notifications if they are not open

3.16.2-1

  • Fix .spec bin file path (thanks, leon and nephros)
  • Built with Sailfish OS SDK 3.7 for 4.3.0.12

Full changelog in GitHub.

Comments

direc85's picture

You could stop the service by running `systemctl --user stop harbour-batterybuddy-daemon.service` and start it manually by running `harbour-batterybuddy-daemon`.

If this really turns out to be the issue I'm having (high CPU usage on lipstick after random uptime), I'll have to revert the change...

w_oe's picture

I have written a one line shell script that replaces the tool and simply exec's the command line, so I'm fine now. Maybe make the usage of the keepalive-tool configurable?

direc85's picture

What device do you have?

Please see this thread, too: https://forum.sailfishos.org/t/screenshot-leads-to-lipstick-high-cpu-and...

w_oe's picture

On my XA2 battery life is about halve since I have updated battery buddy. At the same time I have also updated a few other apps, but I don't blame them for now. Using SystemDataScope, I see that CPU sleep has gone from near 100% to 0%. Might this be related to battery buddy and the keepalive tool? How can I disable this new feature short of uninstalling?

direc85's picture

I haven't personally experienced any issues with `keepalive-tool`, but that's no definitve proof.

The easiest way to disable it at the moment is to downgrade Battery Buddy.

shults's picture

Why the voltage is not shown? Does it work on 64bit sfos4.1?

direc85's picture

Voltage display isn't added yet, but I can add it later on.

Battery Buddy should work just as well on aarch64 devices, at least there haven't been any reports. I don't have any such devices, but at least the community hasn't reported any issues yet :)

direc85's picture

Version 3.14 is the first one in which I use keepalive-tool to, well, keep alive the daemon while the phone is in suspend (the display is off and power consumption is minimal). This may and will increase battery consumption - please monitor your charge extra carefully and report back how well it works now, and if there is any difference in battery consumption.

I sure tested it myself, and didn't really notice any difference, but it is worth mentioning anyway.

nephros's picture

Possible, but the values usually are right next to the charge states in e.g. sysfs. So it should be really similar in handling.

nephros's picture

Wonderful app, I use it constantly. Thanks for making it!
I have a feature request/wish: monitor and warn about battery temperature similar to full and empty notifications.

direc85's picture

Thank you for your kind words!

Battery temperature is a great idea, although I think it has to be implemented per-model. I'll see what I can do!

direc85's picture

There was a typo in the translation files, which caused version 3.12-2 to be released without any translations at all. This is fixed in 3.12-3, and I pulled the broken version. Sorry for any inconvenience.

vansid's picture

Is Sailfish 4.0.1 Koli supported in the current release?

direc85's picture

Yes, it is tested and supported! Even multi user devices are supported - every user gets their own charging settings :)

nthn's picture

Hello, please consider applying for translation hosting at https://hosted.weblate.org/, this will make it easier for people to translate your application.

direc85's picture

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually used Weblate when I participated in an another project a few days ago, and it sure looks nice!

moses_s's picture

The app still doesn't work properly on Sony Xperia 10 Plus (mine is the dual-sim model i4213) there is a bug since the Sailfish 3.4 updade (I am running v3.4.0.24 Pallas-Yllastunturi). The app does not stop the charging of the phone once "Pause charging limit" setting is met. Thanks.

direc85's picture

This should be fixed in 3.8-1. Is it fixed for you now?

moses_s's picture

Yes. Charging control works fine now in version 3.8-1, just like it used to in the old days :)

Thanks a lot Matti. Is there a way to support your efforts via contributions/donations?

Moses.

huggymann's picture

Yes, check the app description and lood for

buy me a coffee
huggymann's picture

Hello, i am using xperia x compact phone. the notifications are working fine but the automatic charging control does not. I restarted the service multiple time and restarted my phone as well. It always charges up to 100% . Any ideas what i am doing wrong?

i have sailfish 3.4.0.24

Regards

direc85's picture

This should be now fixed in version 3.8-1. Does it work for you?

huggymann's picture

hello direc, strange thing, it is not working yet. I supposed to but after trying out today, its not working. I just reinstalled sailfish and installed battery buddy, but its not working :(

what i can see is that when i hit on "start background service" in the options to disable it. It will never finish. the circle starts blinking forever. Does that help you? Can i do anyting to help you debugging?

direc85's picture

Actually  let's take this to GitHub Issues instead. I'll open a ticket for you.

direc85's picture

I guess the background service doesn't start or doesn't function properly... Can you post output of the following commands?

systemctl --user status harbour-batterybuddy.service

systemctl --user stop harbour-batterybuddy.service

harbour-batterybuddy-daemon --debug

(Now try to change a few settings in the application  and exit the service with Ctrl-C.)

I think I'll improve the debugging abilities to make it easier to report new devicea and hunt down bugs.

huggymann's picture

Thank you so much!

Maximilian1st's picture

I just bought an Xperia 10 and the app does not start at boot and automatic charging control does not work.

direc85's picture

Thanks for reporting. I found the bug and fixed it in 3.8-1. Does it work for you now?

Maximilian1st's picture

Hi and thank you for this utility. I use a Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact and the app sends warnings when needed. It disregards the silent ambience which is a problem at night but unfortunately the automatic charging control does not work. ;-p you could add this phone to the working list.

direc85's picture

This should have been fixed in 3.7-1 already. Could you please test it?

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