In this post I explain how to troubleshoot laptop battery charging problems. I will list most common battery failure examples and suggest some troubleshooting steps.
Example 1.
Laptop detects the battery but shuts off when AC adapter unplugged.
When you move the cursor arrow over the battery icon while the laptop is connected to AC adapter, it show the remaining battery charge and says “charging”.
The batter power meter utility (if available) also shows that battery is connected and charging.
But… as soon as you unplug the AC adapter, the laptop shuts off completely.
Possible problems:
1. The battery not seated correctly. Try reconnecting the battery.
2. The battery contacts got dirty or oxidized and the battery is not making good connection with the motherboard. Try reconnecting the battery a few times.
3. If reconnecting the battery doesn’t help, most likely the battery is bad and has to be replaced.
4. If you replaced the battery but the problem still exists, this is motherboard related failure. Apparently the battery charging circuit has failed. In this case the whole motherboard has to be replaced (or repaired on component level).
Example 2.
The battery not detected by the laptop.
The battery is installed and you know it’s connected correctly but there is a red cross on the battery icon.
If you move the cursor arrow over the battery icon, it says “no battery detected”.
Possible problems:
1. Most likely the battery is bad. You have a very good chance to fix this problem by replacing the battery.
2. If replacing the battery doesn’t help, this is motherboard related failure. The motherboard has to be replaced (or repaired on component level).
Example 3.
The battery discharges very quickly after it reaches some critical point.
The battery detected by the laptop and charges properly to 100%.
When you unplug the AC adapter, it take normal time to discharge until some critical point (let’s say 80%) but after that the battery discharges very quickly to 0%.
Possible problems:
This is battery related failure. The battery is bad and has to be replaced.
Example 4.
The battery charges only if the power plug positioned correctly.
You have to wiggle the power plug in order to charge the battery. After you find the right position, the battery charges properly.
Possible problems:
1. AC adapter failure. The AC adapter power cable is damaged. You can test your AC adapter with a voltmeter.
2. If the AC adapter works fine, most likely this is power jack (connector where you plug power adapter) failure. In this case the power jack has to be replaced.
In some laptop models the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard, it’s attached to a power harness.
In this case, you can unplug the failed power jack from the motherboard and replace it with a new one.
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February 21st, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Asif Nawaz,
Unfortunately, I cannot help you with that. I don’t repair motherboards on component level.
February 20th, 2011 at 1:50 am
i have a C700 Compaq laptop its work on battary but no power on with adptor
pls help
February 15th, 2011 at 2:03 am
I am laptop Technician.wants help in motherboard charging circuit to repair on component level.can you help me?If yes then i will start my question.or is there another blog you know to make this type of discussion.any help will be apriciated.
February 12th, 2011 at 11:19 am
Paul,
Sounds like your AC adapter is OK.
You said the screen looses brightness intermittently. Does it go from normal brightness to completely black screen or the screen just gets darker a little bit?
If the screen just gets darker, most likely it happens because the laptop switches from full power to battery mode.
Usually it happens when there is a problem with the AC adapter or DC jack.
February 10th, 2011 at 3:55 am
48
cj2600 Says:
February 9th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Did you test the AC adapter?
Find a multimeter and test voltage on the AC adapter plug. While testing the voltage, move the cord. If power cuts off, you have a problem with the cord.
A bad AC adapter cord can cause intermittent battery charging failure.
I have a compatible AC adapter, distributes various voltages.
I use set to 18V and the multimeter reading is 18.2V.
Can I try to set 19V? The reading multimeter is 19.4V.
Even if I move the cable and jack does not change anything, the voltage is not interrupted.
The load shedding is intermittent individually.
February 9th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Paul,
Did you test the AC adapter?
Find a multimeter and test voltage on the AC adapter plug. While testing the voltage, move the cord. If power cuts off, you have a problem with the cord.
A bad AC adapter cord can cause intermittent battery charging failure.
February 9th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
George,
The battery plugged directly into the motherboard. A new battery didn’t fix the problem, so it must be motherboard related failure.
It’s not virus related problem, that’s for sure.
You can try updating the BIOS if there is newer version available. If it doesn’t help, most likely it’s bad motherboard.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:12 am
Hi, I have a problem with my Compaq CQ60-118EL
The notebook With AC Adapter is operating normally, with battery operating normally.
When I try to charge the battery occurs the problem … namely, that the charging is intermittent and the screen loses brightness intermittently.
The Dc jack seems to be good.
Could be causing the charging circuit such as the faulty maxim chip?
I hope in your help.
February 6th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Hi all. I’ve Toshiba Satellite L500 with Windows7. Two days ago a red cross apeared over battery indicator and notice: 30% available, plugged in, not charging. Consider replacing your battery. And when I plug off AC laptop shuts down. I replaced the battery but the same action – when plug out AC the computer shuts down. Run some antivirus programs – no results. I instaled a batery tester who told me that battery is not instaled. Run SCF program – not bad files. Tried with power manager – no results. Pls help !!!
January 18th, 2011 at 4:53 am
Hello,
Thanks for what you are doing to community. I have a compaq CQ60-420US lap top, which was running fine until yesterday. It turned off abruptly. When I put it on adapter, the light which is close to plug point glows(confirming power comes from adapter). But when I turn on laptop do not come on. I tried taking out battery and replacing it several times with no change in behaviour. None of the light in front of laptop glows confirming power is not coming into laptop
Any help or suggestion is highly appreciated.