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Most Common Laptop Battery Problems

Laptop Expert — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:16:51 +0000

What would we do without laptops? From those who prefer to do work on the go at a coffee shop to those who simply want a smaller computer to work on from home, laptop computers are the way to go. They are portable, easy to work on and the answer to many who wish for a fast method of jumping onto the Internet or performing work no matter where they are. However, as most laptop users know, it is not always possible to plug your laptop in, and you must be able to depend on your machine’s batteries. Batteries can be very expensive, so let’s take a look at the most common laptop battery problems that users experience and some tips that may help laptop users.

Laptop Battery Problems

It has probably happened to you before; you were working on an important presentation or perhaps a complicated Excel spreadsheet when your laptop suddenly warned you that the battery was low. You rush to save your work before everything closes down. Or perhaps you just charged your laptop, believed all would be fine and suddenly an issue occurred. It’s happened to all of us, so let’s take look at the most common laptop battery problems that people experience and what may be done to prevent them.

Batteries, as you probably know, can be extremely expensive. The main reason for this is that the manufacturer of any particular laptop is the only manufacturer for the battery as well. Each laptop will only work with one certain battery and most are not interchangeable as everyday batteries are.

Because of this, owners are not given the opportunity to shop around and compare prices. Many times, the battery itself is almost as expensive as the laptop. For this reason, we are discussing the most common laptop battery problems.

One of the most common problems is called memory effect. This is a term used to describe what happens when an owner constantly recharges the battery without it discharging fully. For example, you may have worked on your laptop all day and noticed in the evening that the battery had roughly half life left. You then charge the battery overnight and wake up to a fully charged one. This may seem like a good idea, however charging a battery that is not fully discharged and in need of charging will eventually cause memory effect and begin to last less and less time for you until eventually a so-called fully charged battery only lasts minutes. While batteries are not alive, this is referred to as the battery forgetting that it has unused capacity and it discharges faster each time that it is used. This can all be avoided if you only recharge your laptop battery when it truly needs charging.

Another one of the most common laptop battery problems is when a laptop is left sitting unused, with the battery still in it. Even while not in use, the battery will slowly be drained. You will then find that when you do finally try to turn on your laptop, the battery is dead . This can be avoided by taking out the battery if you will not be using your laptop for several days to a week or longer.

Another issue that is one of the most common laptop battery problems is an overheating battery. Have you ever been at work on your machine and realized that the battery was becoming very hot to the touch? If this happens, the battery would be removed and allowed to cool off. If this issue continues to happen, it may be a defective battery. It is then recommend to not use that battery as doing so could cause damage to your machine.

You can also experience battery problems if you allow your battery to completely discharge outside the laptop. You should check the battery while it in storage so it will not be allowed to completely discharge. This could also prevent the laptop from accepting the battery when you place it back into the computer.

If your laptop battery becomes hot to the touch you will need to remove the battery and allow it to cool off. If this problem continues when you replace the battery in the laptop, you will probably have a defective battery. It is best to remove the battery and replace it since a defective battery could cause extensive damage to the laptop. Check with the manufactured to see if your particular battery has been recalled.

Sony Recalls 440000 Notebook Computers

Laptop Expert — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:18:12 +0000

Sony Inc. said the recall involves 19 models in the Sony Vaio TZ series manufactured between May 2007 and July 2008. Two years ago, several computer makers were forced to recall almost 10 million notebook batteries made by Sony because of possible overheating. That recall cost Sony about $430 million.

Sony said that over 400 devices had been affected worldwide. Five people suffered minor burns in Japan and one each in the US and Italy.

It said that 373,000 of the notebooks were sold in 48 countries, including the USA, and the remaining 67,000 in Japan.

“Sony takes the quality of the products its sells very seriously and makes every effort to ensure that the products it develops meet all relevant regulations and standards. We sincerely apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.”

In 2006, Apple, Dell, IBM/Lenovo and Toshiba were among several major notebook manufacturers which recalled a total of 9.6 million Sony li-ion batteries after evidence that, in certain circumstances, the battery could overheat and catch fire.

Sony officials said at the time that the problems were caused by microscopic metal particles that mistakenly got inside the laptop battery, causing short-circuiting.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Asus Warns of Exploding non-certified Eee PC batteries

Laptop Expert — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:33:27 +0000

Asustek Computer has cautioned consumers against using third-party batteries with its Asus Eee PCs, and warns that it will not cover hardware damage due to the use of a non-certified battery under warranty. This follows a recent, unsubstantiated, report that a third-party battery exploded in China.

Second- and third-tier battery makers in China have begun to manufacture batteries designed to be used with the Asus Eee PC. Some vendors are offering batteries with capacities up to 10400 mAh, which can support up to 5.5 hours of usage, priced around $80, according to channel vendors.

However, reports claim that one of these “high-capacity” notebook batteries recently overheated during charging, and eventually exploded causing damage to the Asus Eee PC. According to the reports, Asustek has refused to repair the PC, but Asustek has denied knowledge of the damage, while stressing that in such an event, any needed repairs that were the result of using non-certified laptop batteries would not be covered by the company’s warranty.

The China-based vendor said to have sold the 10400 mAh laptop battery has also refuted that its product caused the damage. The company commented that its batteries are in increasingly high demand, and as such rival companies have started the rumor in order to hurt its sales.

Source: digitimes.com

LG to Replace Laptop Batteries

Laptop Expert — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:37:42 +0000

LG Electronics has offered free replacement batteries after two users claimed that their notebook PCs exploded. Despite the recall offer, LG has so far described the incidents as “isolated “. The partial recall applies to batteries manufactured by LG Chemical for two recent laptop models, the LG Z1 and LG Z2.

Video shot in January showed a journalist’s LG Z1-AE007 notebook burning and then exploding.

LG stopped selling the Z1 last week after a second battery fire was reported, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. The first battery fire was triggered by “unusual heat and pressure”, a researcher from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute told the Korea Times. However, the researchers were unable to discover how that battery had got into such a state. The notebook’s owner claimed that it had been put into a backpack in sleep mode a short while before catching fire, and that there was nothing unusual about the storage conditions.

Common safety standards call for Lithium-based batteries to withstand at least 10 minutes at 130 degrees centigrade.

Full news – vnunet.com

Toshiba Recalls More Notebook Batteries

Laptop Expert — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:15:39 +0000

Toshiba has issued its second recall in a month of Sony laptop batteries that could overheat and burst into flames.

The latest recall, announced Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, affects about 1,400 notebooks. The models include the Toshiba Satellite A100 and A105, and the Toshiba Tecra A7, which sell for as little as $680.

The recall stemmed from three reports outside of the United States of laptop batteries overheating. No injuries were reported, but the CPSC is advising laptop computer owners to run the systems on AC power and send the batteries back to Toshiba for replacements at no charge.

Toshiba in July recalled 10,000 batteries in Toshiba Satellite and Toshiba Tecra laptops. The company reported in June that a Sony laptop battery was responsible for at least two notebooks bursting into flames. The CPSC has listed 16 reports of Sony lithium-ion notebook batteries overheating.

Apple, Dell, Lenovo, Gateway, and Acer America also have issued recalls of the faulty rechargeable batteries. The global effort started last year when power sources used in notebooks from several manufacturers began showing defects and overheating. Sony last year recalled 9.6 million batteries, making it the largest recall ever in the computer industry.

While the recalls haven’t hurt notebook sales, experts have said that even more battery problems could push some buyers to switch brands. A survey of corporate buyers and consumers found 15% would change their buying plans because of the recalls, according to IDC. While far from a majority, the number was high enough to cause a sway in market share, especially in the corporate segment where buyers purchase large numbers of laptops.

Model numbers for the batteries in the latest recall are:

Toshiba PSAA0U, Toshiba PSAA2U, Toshiba PSAA8U, Toshiba PSAA9U, Toshiba PTA70U, and Toshiba PTA71U.

News source: informationweek.com

Toshiba to recall Sony-made li-ion batteries

Laptop Expert — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:34:08 +0000

Toshiba said Thursday it will recall lithium-ion notebook battery packs made by Sony Corp.

Up to 5,100 battery packs are defective, but the recall will include 10,000 laptop batteries, as that is the size of the manufacturing lot involved, spokesmen from the companies said.

The recall is unrelated to the much bigger recall of Sony-made li-ion batteries last year.

A Toshiba spokesman said the recall would affect 10 different notebook models sold worldwide. He said the company knew of three separate incidents where the laptop battery packs had overheated and damaged notebooks, and all three came from the lot in question.

A Sony spokesman said all of the batteries involved had come from the same lot the company made in December 2005, and so the companies had decided to recall all batteries from that lot.

He said Sony was still investigating the cause of the problem, but that it was limited to that specific lot.

Both companies expect the financial impact from the recall to be minimal

News source: MarketWatch.com

Gateway Recalls Thousands of Notebook Batteries

Laptop Expert — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:25:18 +0000

Gateway today recalled 14,000 batteries used in its notebook PCs after four customers reported that their computers had overheated, a similar condition to the massive laptop battery recall that swept the industry in 2006.

Dell, Apple, Lenovo Group, and other vendors recalled more than 8 million batteries made by Sony when customers began complaining that the rechargeable lithium-ion cells could overheat and catch fire after being dropped. Gateway recalled 35,000 notebook batteries in that episode, beginning in October 2006.

However, the new recall affects battery cells made by Samsung Electronics and assembled into laptop battery packs by Simplo Technology, of Taiwan, Gateway spokeswoman Lisa Emard said today.

Gateway, the third-largest PC vendor in the U.S., expects both vendors to help cover the cost of the action.

“We’re working with our suppliers to cover the cost of replacement battery packs and other direct costs. We expect our costs to be limited to incidental expenses associated with administering the exchange program,”

Emard said.

Simplo and Samsung did not return calls for comment.

Full news

Just Laptop Battery.com » Battery Recalls

Most Common Laptop Battery Problems

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