Dell Optimizer Dual Battery Issue

Summary: Information about Dell Optimizer having multiple issues when using dual batteries on the Rugged Latitude 5430, 7230, and 7330.

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Symptoms

The following three issues can be seen when using Dell Optimizer version 4.0.111.0 and dual batteries:
Rugged Latitude Bottom, Dual Battery Slots
Dual Battery Example

  1. "About My Battery" will be missing:
    Dell Optimizer, About My Battery
    Dell Optimizer, About My Battery
     
    Battery Placement   "About My Battery" Present  
    Slot 1 + Slot 2 Yes - For the Slot 2 Battery
    Slot 1 Only No - Feature Missing
    Slot 2 Only Yes - For the slot 2 Battery
  2. Power features "Advance Charge" and "Charging Mode - Adaptive, Primarily AC, and Custom" are missing (Only affects Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet):
    Dell Optimizer Charging Modes Missing
    Dell Optimizer Charging Modes Missing
     
    Battery and Slot   Advanced Charge Present   Charging Mode Present  
    Battery 1 in Slot 1 Yes All Modes Present
    Battery 2 in Slot 1 Yes All Modes Present
    Battery 1 in Slot 2 No Only Standard and Express Charge
    Battery 2 in Slot 2 No Only Standard and Express Charge
    Both Batteries No Only Standard and Express Charge
  3. "Dynamic Charge Policy" and "Charging Mode" options are unavailable. There are two scenarios for this behavior.
    1. Scenario 1 - Set the charging mode to "Custom" in the BIOS for Battery 1.
      Then "Dynamic Charge Policy" is disabled and unavailable without tooltip "Dynamic charge policy is not supported when a custom charge mode is enabled" but "Charging Mode" is shown as set to "Standard" (the selected charging mode for Battery 2).
      Dell Optimizer, Dynamic Policy Grayed Out without Tooltip
      Dell Optimizer, Dynamic Policy Grayed Out without Tooltip
    2. Scenario 2 - Set Charging Mode to "Custom" in BIOS for Battery 2.
      Then "Dynamic Charge Policy" is ON and unavailable but still shows tooltip "Dynamic charge policy is not supported when a custom charge is enabled" and "Charging Mode" is unavailable and shows tooltip "Charging Mode is being managed by Dynamic Charge Policy."
      Dell Optimizer, Dynamic Policy Grayed Out with Tooltip
      Dell Optimizer, Dynamic Policy Grayed Out with Tooltip

Cause

  1. Missing "About My Battery" Issue - Dell Optimizer detects the first battery listed by enumerating the battery and slot 2 is the first one listed in Windows.
  2. Missing "Advanced Charge" and "Charging Mode - Adaptive, Primarily AC, and Custom" Issue - BIOS returning incorrect values.
  3. Grayed Out "Dynamic Charge Policy" and "Charging Mode" Issue - Dynamic Charge Policy checks the first battery on the SMBIOS, but charging modes check the first battery from the Windows API. The order from these two sources is different. From a Dell Optimizer aspect, we do not define the battery order for multiple batteries yet.

Resolution

Dell Optimizer Update

Update to the newest version of Dell Optimizer to resolve this issue.

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Affected Products

Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 7330 Rugged Extreme, Latitude 5430 Rugged
Article Properties
Article Number: 000210226
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 12 Dec 2025
Version:  3
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