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Dell Latitude C840 charging problem

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xit

Technical User
May 29, 2004
490
US
This C840 has me shaking my head, 3 new batteries, 1 new charger but it only charges for short periods of time. When the ac adapter is pluged into the laptop the charge indicator light will come on for 1 to 4 mins., then later it may come back on for several mins.. Takes forever to charge the battery competely. The Power Meter indicates it is always charging.

any input is appreciated

xit
 
Dell has two power adapters for their more recent laptops, a 65w and a 90w charger. Since this is an older laptop I would assume it would use a 65w charger but it is possible it needs a 90w charger.

The other possibility is that the charging port on the laptop has been damaged over the years and the power plug isn't making a good connection. If the charging light goes out, does it come back on if you wiggle the cord?

Those would be my two guesses.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!
 
another, though more unlikely as to what Rob mentioned, possibility is that the power outlet (wall socket) does not provide the required voltage, thus under powering the charger and it cannot keep the charge going...

have seen power fluctuations in older buildings, actually a dorm at college (build in the 40's), where the cabling was not to today's standards...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"
 
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