Main battery
Any laptop computer has a battery pack which provides power to the laptop while it’s not connected to the wall-plug through AC/DC power adapter. Laptop batteries come in many different shapes and they are model-specific.
The laptop battery life depends upon many conditions and circumstances: screen brightness, intensity of running programs, the temperature of the working environment, etc…
The same battery could last longer in the same laptop if you optimize the power usage settings in the control panel. You can lower screen brightness, reduce CPU processing speed, chance cooling method, and other settings available on your laptop. Some of these settings could be changed only through the manufacturer’s power management software.
In most laptops the main battery connects directly to the system board.
TROUBLESHOOTING LAPTOP BATTERY PROBLEMS.
Let’s say your laptop stopped running on the battery power. It works fine from the AC adapter but shuts down as soon as you unplug the adapter. If that’s the case, try reconnecting the main battery. Remove it from the laptop and install back. It’s possible the battery is not making good connection with the motherboard.
Unfortunately, the only reliable way to test the main battery is replacing it with another known good battery.
If the laptop cannot detect the battery, even though it’s installed, try replacing the battery with a new one. If you still have the same issue, most likely there is a problem wiht the system board.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:13 am
I have a Dell Latitude C840. The locking tab that holds the battery in has broken. I have been told I need to find a damaged unit so I can use the parts. Any suggestions would appreciated.
THANKS, ED
April 19th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Dave T,
Take a look at this disassembly guide for a Satellite P30 laptop: http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaP30/SatelliteP30_disassemble_laptop_1.htm
Maybe you should try tightening two hinge screws shown on the step 10.
April 19th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
I own a toshiba p30. about a year ago, my laptop’s charging capabilities started to dwindle. Eventually my pc would shut off with the battery installed, not charging. I had to remove the battery to use the laptop. I thought it was my charger (it was literally falling apart, and I had to find another tip since the original broke. I spliced it into the charger, but it would still not charge.
About a week ago, I finally got a new battery, popped it into the laptop…it still would not charge. I then ordered a new charger, which arrived today. I promptly plugged it in, and I was saddened that the battery charge light was still not going. I did some research on the net ( loose solder connection where the charger plugs into the laptop) etc…still nothing.
then…I wondered…..the connectors on the battery AND the laptop are copper…..well..copper corrodes VERY easy. I took a sharp knife and scraped the copper leeds on the laptop where the battery makes contact, makeing sure I scraped every one. I popped the battery back in…and low and behold…the battery started to charge!!!!!
I am leaving the pc off and plugged in overnight as I type this giving the new battery a full charge. Tomorrow I’ll put the old battery in and do the same.
Now…all I need to do is figure out how to tighten the hinges. I have about 2 inches of play on the LCD screen….anyone offer suggestions on how to fix???
Dave
November 27th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Using exclusion principle I can find out what in a motherboard can/could be blamed for draining the battery. The problem is to find some schema/spects of my motherboard and the test points. So, I guess, with a multimeter/voltimeter I can figure out who to blame. Thanks anyway.
November 26th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Luis Rakkan,
There are many different components on the motherboard. I cannot tell which one is draining the battery.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
quote: “The battery is connected directly to the motherboard, and it drains the battery even when the laptop is off” , can you explain why and/or what in the motherboard uses the battery when the laptop is off, please? Thank you.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hi! First, Thank you for answered my question. I turned the power off, turned off the windows (and ubuntu) alerts when the battery is low to make sure that it goes to 0%, charged back (ubuntu shows that it’s 100% full and the designed energy that it can hold is the same (a little ABOVE) of the normal. So, I tested it again: got to work and took off the battery from the laptop. I’ve put it back and… 100% full. Now, after some couple of hours with it completely sure that linux is turned off (no leds on, no device attached to any USB ports, etc), the battery is at 97%. Changed the place of it, ambient temperature is ok (checked the manual), so, I’m really lost. Anyway, if you want/need more information to make some kind of “debug” of my machine I can send you some pics of the main battery place and the battery itself. If you don’t have time, I’ll understand, your site is very busy. Thank you again.
October 10th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Luiz Rakkan,
The battery is connected directly to the motherboard, and it drains the battery even when the laptop is off. It’s normal and happens with any laptop.
Is it normal that your battery loses 10% of charge after 4-5 hours? Probably not. I guess the battery is getting old and doesn’t hold charge as it used to.
Here’s what you can try. Charge the battery 100% and unplug the power adapter. Use the laptop as normal until the battery discharges to 0%. How much time does it take to drain the battery while using the laptop? If the battery doesn’t last for a long time, apparently it’s time to buy a new battery.