Battery does not take over when unplugging laptop

[Guest]

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop - only about 2 years old, and the last
year or so, every time I unplug it, the computer turns off - i.e. it does not
switch automatically to battery power. What can I do to fix this? Thank you!

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Charge the battery?

--
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop - only about 2 years old, and the last
year or so, every time I unplug it, the computer turns off - i.e. it does not
switch automatically to battery power. What can I do to fix this? Thank

you!

 

[Guest]

the battery is at 100%. also, if i were to charge the battery, is there
anything special you need to do other than just keeping the computer plugged
in? i thought it was automatic.

 

[Guest]

the battery is at 100%. also, if i were to charge the battery, is there
anything special you need to do other than just keeping the computer plugged
in? i thought it was automatic.

 

[Guest]

01:05 01-Jun-06 / "Battery does not take over whe..."

Looks like you need either a new battery (most likely - 2 years for a
battery is not to bad) or a new adapter for keeping the battery charged (it
may have failed).

Before you do any of the above, get someone to check for loose or broken
connection at the adapter input and output plugs. That is, check continuity
with an Ohmmeter. If that's the problem, it's the chapest to repair. There
could also be
a break at the Laptop power input jack.

If you get a new adapter, best is to get exact replacement from shop that
sold you the LapTop. If you can only get a compatible type (roughly same
output voltage and current) be sure to have technician check that the output
connector (the one plugging into the computer) is the same physical type and
is wired (or switched) to
correct output 'polarity' (one contact must be +; the other -).

Some adaptors (and computers may have a fuse. if so, check if it's blown and
replace w/ exact type and rating only.

Some adaptors may have an output polarity switch, to switch the output
connector
pins to +/- or -/+ polarity. This must be in correct position or you may
blow a fuse
or fry the adaptor or Laptop.

Some older type adapters may also have a switch for the AC input voltage
(115 or 230 Vac), which must be in correct position.

Not all laptops are the same and some may require an opposite polarity
input. If
you get this or the output voltage wrong, there is a good possibility
(depending on Laptop and Adapter design) that you will fry either the Laptop
or the Adapter, or both.

Best wait for other replies here before checking the above.
01:05 01-Jun-06 /

Looks like you need either a new battery (most likely) or a new adapter for
keeping the battery charged (it may have failed).

Before you do any of the above, get someone to check for loose or broken
connection at the adapter input and output plugs. That is, check continuity
with an Ohmmeter. If that's the problem, it's the chapest to repair. There
could also be
a break at the Laptop power input jack.

If you get a new adapter, best is to get exact replacement from shop that
sold you the LapTop. If you can only get a compatible type (roughly same
output voltage and current) be sure to have technician check that the output
connector (the one plugging into the computer) is the same physical type and
is wired (or switched) to
correct output 'polarity' (one contact must be +; the other -).

Some adaptors (and computers may have a fuse. if so, check if it's blown and
replace w/ exact type and rating only.

Some adaptors may have an output polarity switch, to switch the output
connector
pins to +/- or -/+ polarity. This must be in correct position or you may
blow a fuse
or fry the adaptor or Laptop.

Some older type adapters may also have a switch for the AC input voltage
(115 or 230 Vac), which must be in correct position.

Not all laptops are the same and some may require an opposite polarity
input. If
you get this or the output voltage wrong, there is a good possibility
(depending on Laptop and Adapter design) that you will fry either the Laptop
or the Adapter, or both.

Best wait for other replies here before checking the above.

--
Ted...
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop - only about 2 years old, and the last
year or so, every time I unplug it, the computer turns off - i.e. it does not
switch automatically to battery power. What can I do to fix this? Thank you!

 

[Guest]

Do you mean the charger/adapter is internal to your Laptop? You mean the AC
line power cable goes directly to your LapTop? or does it go to the external
charger/adapter first and from there to the Laptop?

 

[Guest]

i have an ac adapter that is plugged into the laptop at one end and the wall
at the other. thank you for your response and I hope you will have a
suggestion given this information.
-Liz

 

[Guest]

If you've read my first response (accidentally doubled up post), then that's
about all I can suggest myself. If you are not technical, you'll need to get
help from a technical person (or an Electronics Tech) to go thru that post
and check each suggestion oneby one.

An electrical student, TV repair shop or military type technical man might
help.

The only other thing I can think of is that maybe there is something wrong
with your wall outlet. Plug the adapter into another outlet or plug a radio
or light into current outlet and see if it works.

Let me know...

 

[Rick]

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop - only about 2 years old, and the last
year or so, every time I unplug it, the computer turns off - i.e. it does not
switch automatically to battery power. What can I do to fix this? Thank you!

This may not solve your problem but, I know that Dell recommends that
you not leave the battery in the computer when it is on AC. The battery
should have a 50-70% charge then be removed. Charge it to 100% when you
know that you need DC power.

--

Rick
Fargo, ND
N 46 53.251
W 096 48.279

 

[Guest]

Friday, 02 June 2006 / 19:06 Thailand Time)

Well it looks like Liz is not responding; so we don't know what's happening
with
her DELL. Also, she may not have given the full story.

In any case, looks like her Adapter is OK, as it appears to be running the
DELL
ok.

As for the DELL advice on the battery, this would seem to have its pros and
cons.
For one thing, it's rather inconvenient and could be a problem for some
users -
unless it's a quick and straightforward thing. Also, all the people with
LapTops
that I know, never remove their batteries and I've never heard of anyone
running into problems as a result (though we can't be 100% sure on that).

Mostly the battery should be removed if the host equipment is going into
storage
for several months or more; or, if the battery is of a type that might leak
corrosive chemicals (when hot or under heavy load) that erode the contacts
and any device circuit board connections in the immediate area.

In one sense, keeping the battery in place (though no longer than its
specified life
span) has it's advantages. It can be a bit like a safety valve if your
adapter
fails in a manner (probably extremely rare) that shorts the input AC voltage
to
the output. The battery can act like a 'short' and absorb the initial surge,
giving
time for any fuse to blow before the surge damages the computer itself.

Another thing batteries do is 'smooth out' and absorb any ac ripples,
overvoltage
and destructive voltage transients coupled thru the adapter from the ac
line. These
transients can arise from many sources - including nearby lightning strikes.
According to this school of thought, it would be ideal never to run a device
straight from an adapter, without the battery being in place.


For sure Liz should herself or have someone remove the battery to check it
and
all the contacts. It may have been abused or over-used or kept on charge too
long and died early. Hard to say. Just be careful not to accidentally short
out the
battery contacts with a metallic object, in case it is still charged for
some reason
and not working due to some contact problem within the compartment itself.

Such a short could cause a good battery to heat up very quickly and possibly
explode.

If a battery has been completely discharged and left dormant for a long
time, or
is partly damaged internally in some way, it may still be useful but it may
put
such an initial heavy load on some modern type adapters/chargers that it
either won't charge, or, it will keep some of those modern types of chargers
from starting up (not the case here because it's still running her DELL
w/battery OK).

In a case like that, we used to 'flash' the battery for a few seconds first
with an
adaptor voltage about twice as high as the normal battery working voltage.
This was usually enough to re-activate a still useable battery and cause it
to
start charging again on its regular charger.

Frankly, from what I've been reading here, the battery is probably dead and
just needs to be replaced. That's quite an expense for a LapTop nowadays -
which is why I suggested she gets it checked out first by someone in the know.