FAQ
TL;DR: In 100 % of 20 tested Yoga-family laptops, swapping the 7.4 V 2-cell pack for an 11.1 V 3-cell eliminated flicker; “It has always helped” [Elektroda, kriss199031, post #18701710]
Why it matters: The right battery voltage restores stable back-light and saves the cost of a new panel or board.
Quick Facts
• Factory battery (L14M2P21): 7.4 V, 30 Wh, 2-cell [Elektroda, janusz.20, post #18704136]
• Recommended upgrade (L14M3P21): 11.1 V, 45 Wh, 3-cell [Elektroda, lisek, post #18704423]
• Typical replacement cost: €35–€50 [Batterybuy.co.uk, 2024]
• Flicker often starts below ~7.5 V back-light rail [Elektroda, lisek, post #18704423]
• Model lacks CCFL inverter; LED driver sits on the panel [Elektroda, sk1977, post #16737085]
What triggers screen flicker on a Yoga 500 when running on battery?
The back-light driver sees too little input voltage as the 7.4 V 2-cell pack drops under load, causing rapid dim-bright cycling [Elektroda, sk1977, post #16731291]
Why does plugging in the charger stop the flicker instantly?
AC power lifts system rail to about 20 V, giving the LED driver full headroom, so the back-light stays stable [Elektroda, medalik7, post #16730922]
Will replacing the 7.4 V pack with an 11.1 V pack really fix it?
Yes. Users report 100 % success across 20 machines after installing the 11.1 V L14M3P21 pack [Elektroda, kriss199031, post #18701710]
Is the higher-voltage battery safe for the Yoga 500?
Lenovo lists both 2-cell and 3-cell packs for the 80N4 chassis; the charge controller auto-detects either, so the upgrade is vendor-approved [Elektroda, lisek, post #18704423]
Which battery part numbers fit the Yoga 500-14IBD?
Lenovo FRU 5B10G78611 (L14M3P21, 11.1 V / 45 Wh) and FRU 5B10K90802 (11.1 V / 52 Wh) match the bay and connector [Elektroda, lisek, post #18704423]
How do I change the battery?
- Power down and remove 10 bottom screws.
- Lift the base, disconnect the old pack, and screw in the new one.
- Calibrate: charge to 100 %, then discharge to 5 %, then recharge fully. [Lenovo HMM, 2015].
Could the flicker come from the screen (matrix) itself?
Rarely. Faulty LED drivers on some panels can mimic low-voltage flicker, but the battery fix solves most cases; panel swaps succeed in <10 % [Elektroda, sk1977, post #17431939]
Does disabling the Automatic Light Sensor help?
It reduces flicker amplitude but not root cause; users call it a "half measure" [Elektroda, cezaro2, post #16732877]
Will a BIOS update cure the issue on other Yoga models?
For Yoga 2 Pro, the latest BIOS removed flicker without hardware changes [Elektroda, damian.kot1, post #20982876] Always flash on AC power.
Can Yoga 710-IKB owners use an 11 V battery?
No. Lenovo only offers 7.6 V packs for 80V5; the bay cannot fit 11 V packs, so flicker persists unless you change the panel [Elektroda, lisek, post #19056308]
How do I measure if my voltage is the real culprit?
Probe the main battery rail while on battery; if it dips below 7.5 V during mouse or video activity, flicker starts [Elektroda, lisek, post #18704423]
Edge case: external monitor fine, laptop screen dark—why?
HDMI bypasses the laptop back-light driver, so only the internal panel shows the low-voltage symptom [Elektroda, medalik7, post #16731146]
