[Virtualacorn-list] Laptop battery

[Jeremy Nicoll - virtualacorn]

Chris Newman <cvjazz at waitrose.com> wrote:

> I bought a new battery for my laptop. Unfortunately, it would not start up
> my machine. The machine closes down again about 2 or 3 seconds into the
> start-up procedure. However, if I start the machine on the mains, the
> battery will keep it going for a couple of hours.

> The new battery is a compatible LI-ion Voltage 14.8 V, capacity 4800 mAh.

Are you sure it's compatible?

> The battery is giving 14.8 volts but my small meter only goes up to 100 mA
> so I did not try testing anything else.

> I think my old battery may be giving 4.9 or 5 V which is above the 14.8
> volt spec 

What did you really mean?

> I charged the new battery for 12+ hours before using it as per
> the dealers recommendation

How did you charge it?   If you did so in the machine concerned, and - say -
the electrical contacts are not in the right place, it probably hasn't
actually been charged properly. 

> The Power meter on the laptop reports that the new battery is being
> charged to 100% 

I don't know how much you can trust that; presumably the software is only
interpreting info from the battery, which might be wrong.

> The firm very quickly sent a replacement battery but the result is the
> same. My old battery will correctly start the laptop although now it only
> keeps it going for a few minutes.

When you look at the two batteries do they have the exact same size, shape,
electrical contacts etc?

> My laptop is a Clevo Model D27ES, supplied by Microdigital in
> 2003 with Virtual Acorn. I am presuming the computer takes more power to
> start up (spinning up the hard disc etc.) than it does to keep running,
> hence the phenomenon I am getting.

I doubt that's the problem.  I think the battery is not getting charged.

> Has anyone experienced this before? Apart from sending the batteries back
> & trying another firm, is there anything I could explore to improve the
> situation?

Contact whoever deals with Clevo these days?  A quick google gives, 
from the Clevo website:
  
 U.K. Service Center 
 ADD: Unit 39, Rainbow Industrial Estate, Trout road, West Drayton,
      Middx.  UB7, 7XT U.K. 
 TEL: +44-1895-430333
 FAX: +44-1895-438338
 E-mail: service at goldenstaruk.com


-- 
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.