I'm **back in** the imaging game...woohoo!!!

dugnsuz (Doug) · #1 14-02-2008, 11:19 PM

I'm out of the imaging game...

...for a wee while anyway!!!

Laptop is well and truly buggered!!

I've been a naughty boy with regard to the battery in the laptop - ran it pretty much off the mains. As a result battery life is pretty much non-existent and now the mains adapter input is knackered = no power.

So, no autoguiding for me until a repair is done.

I'm a bit worried as to how much such a repair and labour is going to cost - I'm pretty certain off the problem, but I'm apprehensive - aren't IT hardware techs the new mechanics!!??

"Oooohhh Mate, it'll cost ya!!!"

ps...in the spirit of recent events - Sorry for stereotyping IT professionals and mechanics!!!!

Doug

Karls48 (Karl) · #2 14-02-2008, 11:59 PM

I have done same. Using power adapter all the time. Now the battery last about for about 5 minutes. It is almost cheaper to buy new laptop then replace battery.

Glenhuon (Bill) · #3 15-02-2008, 12:15 AM

Depends what make the laptop is Doug, and how old. If its got the round type of power plug with a hole up the middle, shouldn't be too bad. If its one of them Dell thingys with a square plug an 3 pin holes, could be a bit more. Possibly even just the soldering has let go on the board with plug being put in and pulled out, so just a resolder job. Having said that they are a bugger to pull down and get at anything. Yep and puter techs are a species apart, its all arcane knowledge, not to be divulged to the uninitiated

The batteries don't last long, mine gives me about 20-30 mins depending whether the cam is connected or not, but I can't complain as the laptop was a s/h Ebay cheapy to begin with. New battery is about $80 ex Hong Kong. Might get one, but planning to run it of a couple of 12v Gel Cells for field work anyway.
Best of luck with the repairs, hope it works out reasonable.

Bill

dugnsuz (Doug) · #4 15-02-2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Depends what make the laptop is Doug, and how old. If its got the round type of power plug with a hole up the middle, shouldn't be too bad. If its one of them Dell thingys with a square plug an 3 pin holes, could be a bit more. Possibly even just the soldering has let go on the board with plug being put in and pulled out, so just a resolder job. Having said that they are a bugger to pull down and get at anything. Yep and puter techs are a species apart, its all arcane knowledge, not to be divulged to the uninitiated

Bill

Hi Bill,
Yep round type - Toshiba laptop.
Doug

awesome · #5 15-02-2008, 01:58 AM

What lappy have you got Doug? My brother in law is a 'puter recycler and i get bits off him all the time for next to nix. Let me know what you need and i'll find out if he's got any bits.
Cheers , Leon.

dugnsuz (Doug) · #6 15-02-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesome

What lappy have you got Doug? My brother in law is a 'puter recycler and i get bits off him all the time for next to nix. Let me know what you need and i'll find out if he's got any bits.
Cheers , Leon.

Toshiba Satellite M50
Cheers leon
Doug

RB (Andrew) · #7 15-02-2008, 08:51 AM

Yep I've learned the hard way, I just replaced my battery too.
Found a 3rd party supplier so it was cheaper than buying original.

Lesson learn: Don't run lappy continuously off mains, if you have to then take out the battery first.

Hope you get it sorted out Doug.

Terry B · #8 15-02-2008, 09:08 AM

I had this problem in the past. It's worth checking the plug itself with a multimeter to check there is any power there rather than there being something wrong with the puter itself. I had just broken a wire in the power cable probably due to using it outside in the cold and rolling it up. I just replaced the cable at little cost and it worked perfectly.

dugnsuz (Doug) · #9 15-02-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry B

I had this problem in the past. It's worth checking the plug itself with a multimeter to check there is any power there rather than there being something wrong with the puter itself. I had just broken a wire in the power cable probably due to using it outside in the cold and rolling it up. I just replaced the cable at little cost and it worked perfectly.

Thanks Terry,
Yes it'll be one or t' other!
Hope it is the power supply itself as that will be a cheaper replacement cost than the labour and parts of opening up the laptop I reckon.
I'm taking it in to a local 'mechanic' today

.
Doug

dugnsuz (Doug) · #10 15-02-2008, 01:42 PM

Turned out to be the ext power supply as predicted by TerryB - WHEW!!!

New power supply purchased - laptop back in 100% working order (apart from crappy battery but that's for another day)
Cheers for advice/thoughts all

Doug

Terry B · #11 15-02-2008, 01:44 PM

Good on you

leon · #12 15-02-2008, 01:50 PM

Well this post Doug may save my Lappy as well, I always have it plugged into the mains, I thought that was the way to go if it was available.

So tell me this can you remove the battery and than just use main power, or should you use a bit of both

Leon

RB (Andrew) · #13 15-02-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon

So tell me this can you remove the battery and than just use main power, or should you use a bit of both

Leon

You can take out the battery and run it off mains when using it continuously.
Also it's a good idea to let the battery go low before charging it up again to eliminate any memory effect, especially in older type batteries.

iceman (Mike) · #14 15-02-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

Lesson learn: Don't run lappy continuously off mains, if you have to then take out the battery first.

Why? I don't understand this.

I always run my laptop off mains power (when at work, in the docking station or just connected to the normal mains), and never take the battery out.

My battery hasn't died and can go 2-3 hours before going flat, depending on how many programs i'm running.

RB (Andrew) · #15 15-02-2008, 05:08 PM

The battery will keep charging (trickle charge) even after it reaches full.
This diminishes it's lifespan, especially in older type batteries.

leon · #16 15-02-2008, 05:57 PM

Hmmmm, very interesting, I was never aware of that, I just figured if you had it plugged in it would work of the main, if not it would work of the battery.

I will check this out in the manual, as i have not noticed this advice before.

Leon

RB (Andrew) · #17 15-02-2008, 06:36 PM

Neither was I Leon but that's what I was told when I inquired.
I don't know about the newer model type batteries but they told me not to have the battery in all the time once it reaches full capacity and running off mains at the same time.

Also to cycle the battery, that is, once it's full to then run the lappy from the battery until it goes low, then plug in the mains and charge.

They do not recommend recharging from a mid charge state as this induces that dreaded memory effect.

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #18 16-02-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

The battery will keep charging (trickle charge) even after it reaches full.
This diminishes it's lifespan, especially in older type batteries.

Isn't this behaviour controlled by the laptops charging circuit? Any laptop that did as you describe would be considered faulty if it ruined it's own batteries...

chees, Bird