 rockotman...Blown On The Steel BreezeEmerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
kudos:2 | reply to Jackorama
Re: Need help reading a analog multimeter. said by Jackorama:I am getting a "plugged in, not charging" problem and I am checking to see if there is a problem with the adapter first. I have already done all the uninstall and re-installed drivers, etc. and none of that worked.
I get that often with my laptop supply. Mine has a bad connection in the data line in the plug (allows laptop to determine supply type). This comes from several years of flexing during use. I never bothered to fix it because this laptop is already 5 years old, and I can usually get it to work by unplugging from the laptop, straightening the plug near its strain relief, and plugging it back in.
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Shine on you crazy diamond... |
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DCV reading |
My laptop is a Samsung R580. I have had it for about 1 1/2 years. Gets used on average about once every two or 3 weeks for maybe an hour or two. Gets moved very little, like a few feet. The connection jack is not loose at all. I was wishing for it to be the adapter that was causing the problem. |
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rockotman...Blown On The Steel BreezeEmerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
kudos:2
1 edit | Ah - I see you added while I was typing my last reply. What you have added changes everything.
1-1/2 years is usually around the time that OEM batteries will start taking less and less charge, and not have a charge last as long. It sounds like you may have reached the end of life for your battery.
Does your battery have a test switch and some lights on it. The switch may just be a flat spot that says something like "press here to test".
If you don't use the laptop too often, and usually use it with it plugged in, I wouldn't worry about it. If you need it to be able to run for an extended time on battery only, you may want to consider buying another battery.
Also, check to see if you may have one of the batteries that were recalled by some manufacturers a few years back. I got mine replaced for free when it failed to take a good charge after only 13 months of service. |
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 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | He gets plugged in and charging at the beginning. Sounds to me like his battery is toast as he doesn't use it much. A bad battery in a laptop will never charge up and it will have limited capacity. |
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| reply to rockotman
Thank you rockotman for your help. I think I am understanding how to read the numbers now. I can power it on without the battery in, so I may have to just use it without the battery until I can get it fixed.
Thanks again. |
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| reply to Jack_in_VA
That is something else I will have to look into. I don't think you can test if a laptop battery is bad with a multimeter, can you?
BTW it is she, not he. 
Thank you for the info about the battery. |
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rockotman...Blown On The Steel BreezeEmerging Research
join:2000-08-06
DSotM
kudos:2 | reply to Jackorama
If your battery has a test switch, you can check the relative health of the battery using it. If, after the laptop stops charging the battery, you press the button and get anything less than all the lights on, the battery is in need of replacement.
Here is picture of a typical battery, along with the test switch and lights of which I speak.
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Shine on you crazy diamond... |
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| reply to rockotman
Yes, my battery has some lights on the back. I tried them and it lit up to the 80% light. I read somewhere that if you hold the button down the lights will light up, then go off. If any come back on, then there is something wrong with the battery. I tried it and no lights came back on, or I was doing it wrong. I'll check and see if there was a recall on it.
Thanks, again for the info. |
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