Get battery status to update more often or on AC power/wake
An annoying problem I have is that upower will take a few minutes or more to update my battery status (This problem is similar to this post but I provide my laptop's details). That means if I wake my laptop from hibernation it shows the wrong battery percentage for a few minutes, and when I plug in my charger the battery icon does not indicate so (though the hardware charge light turns on). Other than those cases I don't mind the update time.
Curiously, when I unplug my charger, the icon updates immediately. I've come up with a temporary solution to update on wake that may or may not work but it seems to be there should be a good fix. Running Ubuntu 16.04 on Acer Aspire E5-575G-53VG.
acpi always shows the correct battery percentage and status. sudo service upower restart forces the battery status of upower to update.
Output of upower --monitor-detail when plugging in charger:
Monitoring activity from the power daemon. Press Ctrl+C to cancel.
[00:55:46.411] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.9157 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 6.6933 W
voltage: 12.562 V
time to empty: 7.6 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (rate):
1485928546 6.693 discharging
1485928537 10.856 discharging
1485928517 6.083 discharging
1485928504 10.423 discharging
1485928485 6.149 discharging
1485928466 21.190 discharging
1485928463 6.371 discharging
1485928449 7.071 discharging
[00:55:46.414] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.9157 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 6.6933 W
voltage: 12.562 V
time to empty: 7.6 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (rate):
1485928546 6.693 discharging
1485928537 10.856 discharging
1485928517 6.083 discharging
1485928504 10.423 discharging
1485928485 6.149 discharging
1485928466 21.190 discharging
1485928463 6.371 discharging
1485928449 7.071 discharging
[00:55:46.417] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.9157 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 6.6933 W
voltage: 12.562 V
time to empty: 7.6 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (rate):
1485928546 6.693 discharging
1485928537 10.856 discharging
1485928517 6.083 discharging
1485928504 10.423 discharging
1485928485 6.149 discharging
1485928466 21.190 discharging
1485928463 6.371 discharging
1485928449 7.071 discharging
[00:55:46.419] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.9157 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 6.6933 W
voltage: 12.562 V
time to empty: 7.6 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (rate):
1485928546 6.693 discharging
1485928537 10.856 discharging
1485928517 6.083 discharging
1485928504 10.423 discharging
1485928485 6.149 discharging
1485928466 21.190 discharging
1485928463 6.371 discharging
1485928449 7.071 discharging
[00:55:46.422] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ACAD
native-path: ACAD
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: no
has statistics: no
line-power
warning-level: none
online: yes
icon-name: 'ac-adapter-symbolic'
[00:55:46.422] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ACAD
native-path: ACAD
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:55:46 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: no
has statistics: no
line-power
warning-level: none
online: yes
icon-name: 'ac-adapter-symbolic'
[00:55:46.422] daemon changed:
daemon-version: 0.99.4
on-battery: no
lid-is-closed: no
lid-is-present: yes
critical-action: HybridSleep
Output when I unplug charger:
Monitoring activity from the power daemon. Press Ctrl+C to cancel.
[00:58:17.752] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.765] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.773] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.781] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.789] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.797] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.803] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.809] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT1
native-path: BAT1
vendor: PANASONIC
model: AS16B5J
serial: 2217
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: yes
has statistics: yes
battery
present: yes
rechargeable: yes
state: discharging
warning-level: none
energy: 50.838 Wh
energy-empty: 0 Wh
energy-full: 55.6554 Wh
energy-full-design: 62.16 Wh
energy-rate: 10.8669 W
voltage: 12.656 V
time to empty: 4.7 hours
percentage: 91%
capacity: 89.5357%
technology: lithium-ion
icon-name: 'battery-full-symbolic'
History (charge):
1485928697 91.000 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
History (rate):
1485928697 10.867 discharging
1485928672 0.000 unknown
[00:58:17.811] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ACAD
native-path: ACAD
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: no
has statistics: no
line-power
warning-level: none
online: no
icon-name: 'ac-adapter-symbolic'
[00:58:17.811] device changed: /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ACAD
native-path: ACAD
power supply: yes
updated: Wed 01 Feb 2017 12:58:17 AM EST (0 seconds ago)
has history: no
has statistics: no
line-power
warning-level: none
online: no
icon-name: 'ac-adapter-symbolic'
[00:58:17.811] daemon changed:
daemon-version: 0.99.4
on-battery: yes
lid-is-closed: no
lid-is-present: yes
critical-action: HybridSleep
What I noticed is that when the charger is plugged in, the battery state is still discharging. However, /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_ACAD reports online correctly. Any help with this problem is appreciated. I do not recall having this issue on KDE.
While working on one of my previous projects, I discovered that the power indicator on Unity indeed has apparently event-driven delay for updating, and it stems form UPower daemon, which is what the indicator seems to use to obtain power information. This gets in the way of custom scripts that try to monitor battery usage via the UPower daemon with certain amount of precision. However, the UPower service does have calls for updating/refreshing that information. The script below takes advantage of that dbus call. The script is to be copied and saved as a file, preferably in ~/bin folder.
Usage is very simple: ./update_battery.py <SECONDS> , where <SECONDS> is how often you want to refresh the information. Obviously, you have to keep in mind that very frequent refreshing will lead to higher resource usage, so I would recommend something more or less sensible, for instance 3 - 10 seconds.
#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import dbus
import time
import sys
def run_dbus_method(bus_type, obj, path, interface, method, arg):
if bus_type == "session":
bus = dbus.SessionBus()
elif bus_type == "system":
bus = dbus.SystemBus()
else:
return None
proxy = bus.get_object(obj, path)
dbus_method = proxy.get_dbus_method(method, interface)
return dbus_method(arg) if arg else dbus_method()
def find_battery_path():
call = [ 'system', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
'/org/freedesktop/UPower', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
'EnumerateDevices', None ]
devices = run_dbus_method(*call)
for i in devices:
if 'BAT' in i: return str(i)
def main():
bat_path = find_battery_path()
call = [ 'system', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
bat_path, 'org.freedesktop.UPower.Device',
'Refresh', None ]
timeout = int(sys.argv[1])
while True:
run_dbus_method(*call)
time.sleep(timeout)
if __name__ == '__main__': main()
Sergiy's answer worked, but it was causing some micro-stutter performance issues for me. I modified it to be more efficient.
first off, I modified update-battery.py to remove the sleep loop:
#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import dbus
def run_dbus_method(bus_type, obj, path, interface, method, arg):
if bus_type == "session":
bus = dbus.SessionBus()
elif bus_type == "system":
bus = dbus.SystemBus()
else:
return None
proxy = bus.get_object(obj, path)
dbus_method = proxy.get_dbus_method(method, interface)
return dbus_method(arg) if arg else dbus_method()
def find_battery_path():
call = ['system', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
'/org/freedesktop/UPower', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
'EnumerateDevices', None]
devices = run_dbus_method(*call)
for i in devices:
if 'BAT' in i:
return str(i)
return None
def main():
bat_path = find_battery_path()
call = ['system', 'org.freedesktop.UPower',
bat_path, 'org.freedesktop.UPower.Device',
'Refresh', None]
run_dbus_method(*call)
if __name__ == '__main__':
main()
then I made a separate bash script that calls update-battery.py every 5 seconds, but only calls it when necessary. I called this keep-battery-updated and added it as a startup script.
#!/bin/bash
#
# @version 1.0
# @script keep-battery-updated
# @description keeps the battery status updated
#
##
while sleep 5; do
badbattery=$(upower -i /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT0 | grep state: | cut -d ':' -f 2 | xargs)
case $badbattery in
discharging)
badbattery="Discharging"
;;
charging)
badbattery="Charging"
;;
fully-charged)
badbattery="Full"
;;
esac
goodbattery=$(acpi -V | grep Battery | sed -n 1p | cut -d ':' -f 2 | cut -d ',' -f 1 | xargs)
if [ $badbattery != $goodbattery ]; then
python3 /usr/local/bin/update-battery.py
fi
done
Now the battery is updated every 5 seconds, with no noticeable performance issues so far