[dfr200764]

I have just got a second hand laptop battery in a bid to try and save money - bit of a risk I agree but still there you are. I plugged it into my Dell Inspiron 1000 - the charging light didnt come on but it showed that it recognised the battery in the power options folder (in the control panel) AND showed it's charging. I left it charging all afternoon. I tried to run the laptop with just the battery and the laptop booted up initially then just shut down, presumably, due to lack of power ? Is it likely to be a duff battery or do I have to adjust any settings anywhere to get it to charge ? Replacement battery is identical to last one.

thanks

Dean

[thingie2]

From that, it sounds like the battery is dead. I would try and disscharge it as much as possible first, then charde it again, how familiar are you with electronics?

[dfr200764]

With an A level in physics, try me ! (but that was back in 1982 !). Admittedly, this is the second battery i have bought for this laptop and I am fast losing patience. Th e latest one was said to be working ! I refuse to pay £ 50 - £ 60 for a brand new one but dont want to have to carry the mains adapter everywhere !

[Hybr!d]

Leaving laptops plugged into the mains 24/7 kills batterys fast as the cells aren't being cycled.

So if you are doing that, that is why they stop holding charge.

Second hand batteys are also a waste of time as they too are likely to have been plugged in most of their life and will not last long.

[4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie]

Originally Posted by Dave Hybrid

Leaving laptops plugged into the mains 24/7 kills batterys fast as the cells aren't being cycled.

Why has no company thought of cutting off supply if its fully charged and still plugged in?

So then this wouldn't happen... I should go on Dragon's Den..

Can't get a patent now I've told you lot though!

[thingie2]

Well as you know about electronics, you could try putting a high wattage resistor accros the +ve and -ve terminals and leaving it for several hours (overnight if possible) but do check the battery doesn't get too hot, as this should remove any charge left in it, and try charging it back up again. I've done this several times with batteries (or atleast my dad has for me and he's an electrical engineer) and it works.

[Hybr!d]

Originally Posted by 4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie

Why has no company thought of cutting off supply if its fully charged and still plugged in?

So then this wouldn't happen... I should go on Dragon's Den..

Can't get a patent now I've told you lot though!

Auto shut off or not as soon as the battery level drops it gets topped up.

Cycling batterys means filling up to max , then draining down to empty.

A setting/dial to only charge when the battery level drops below a certain % would work better.

But then the makers want you buying batterys, so it probably is already patented by them an will never see the light of day.

[serverguy]

Originally Posted by thingie2

Well as you know about electronics, you could try putting a high wattage resistor accros the +ve and -ve terminals and leaving it for several hours (overnight if possible) but do check the battery doesn't get too hot, as this should remove any charge left in it, and try charging it back up again. I've done this several times with batteries (or atleast my dad has for me and he's an electrical engineer) and it works.

Yep, I've done this before.

I put it in the fridge for a few hours, with the resistor on it, and it only got warm to the touch.

[dfr200764]

I have looked at the battery contacts, where it interfaces with the terminals in the laptop, and not only are they extremely well concealed but you can't really determine where the posiitive and negative poles are. You have got this recess in the top left corner of the battery that connects with the laptop. In that recess are 6 plastic prongs located side by side and you can just about make out some metallic wires between.
I have tried to attach a picture but not sure if it will work !!!

thanks again !

[thingie2]

Well that will make it more difficult! however you should be able to get a wire to touch the metal contact, try googling the model of your battery for which terminal is which.