Way to get laptop to use AC/DC first, then battery?

I have had intermittent battery charging problems (with two batteries, the original and one bought a few months ago) with my laptop, so I have simply started shutting it down before moving it, and using only the adapter to power it (taking the battery out).

I'm wondering, because occasionally the batteries would recharge--is there a way to get the laptop to use the adapter when it was plugged in, and only switch to battery, when it was unplugged? That way, my batteries would still get charged up whenever possible, and I could go back to putting the laptop to sleep whenever I moved it, isntead of shutting it down. The other day I tripped over the adapter, pulling it out of the laptop and shutting it down. If I could get my laptop to use the adapter first, but then rely on the battery as an alternate only, it wouldn't have shut down.

 

Paul what you're asking for is exactly what most (all?) laptops do. I'd suggest you look at why your batteries are charging intermittently.

EDIT: Obviously you'd need to leave the battery installed for this.

 

Too bad. I know that my battery was running down at times when it was installed, and when the laptop was plugged in. I took that to mean that my laptop was designed to pull the signal from the battery first, and that it was draining because the adapter's signal was not recharging the laptop.

 

You mentioned two batteries, that indicates it's not a battery issue but something more serious with the laptop.

Are you using the original power supply provided with the laptop or a replacement?

 

At home I use a 3rd party; when at work I use the original Toshiba branded charger. Both adapters work fine. With teh battery out I've never had a problem with either one.

 

Hi Paul, A silly question - how old is the laptop/original battery? Neil.

 

The laptop is three years old this fall. The original battery is of the same age. I don't recall when I bought the second one---it would be at some point 6-12 months ago.

 

Batteries over 12 months old have to be questionable. As Wildfire suggested, the charger connection into the laptop is always the weakest point. Is it firm (doesn't feel loose) when plugged in?
Some Laptop manufacturers advise calibration of the battery particularly if it's been flattened several times. Neil.

 

I'm pretty sure the connection to the laptop is secure. I've been running it on ac/dc only for the past few months, and it only shuts down when I've tripped over the cord.

 

I agree with TonyT. No way should a good battery run down with the charger connected (whether powered on or not). The fact you have two batteries that do suggests they are not really connected at all - which points to the charger connection.

"Occasionally "? Are you saying that some times the batteries DON'T recharge when the charger is connected? Then again, I would look at the notebook's power connector (or the charger's).

I also agree that broken connectors is a problem with Toshiba notebooks, but it surely is not limited to Toshiba notebooks.

 

Yes, there were times (perhaps for a day or two or three) when the batteries would recharge. I would tinker with things (swap out my original and 3rd party adapters, for instance) and for a day or two think the problem was resolved. Then, it would come back. So yeah, occasionally the batteries would get recharged and I'd be back to normal. Then, I'd see their charge (when installed, and with the adapter plugged in) drop steadily. This happened with both batteries.

I agree that its probably not the batteries. When I brought this up in this forum earlier, someone suggested that something on the motherboard was malfunctioning (as a cause of the battery not recharging), and I decided not to replace the motherboard on a unit that is this old, and is rather cheaply made--I'll just ride it till it requires a repair to even run.

 

It seems to me you need to carefully wiggle the connector while watching the charging status lights and when you see it is charging, don't move for the next 6-8 hours until the battery fully charges.

Or, get the connector fixed.

Most repair shops see this problem on a regular basis and may even have the necessary part on hand. I cannot see them charging for more than 1 hour's labor, plus parts. If parts are needed. I have seen where just the solder connection is broken and a simple touch with a hot iron fixes it. If handy, you can replace the part yourself. But having a shop do it puts the liability on them if they cause collateral damage.

 

Thinking out of the box guys...

It's unlikely to be a power supply connection problem as Paul has said it runs fine running from the charger only.

It could (probably likely) be an issue with the charging circuity on the motherboard.

OR (unlikely but worth a try) are the battery connections clean? Paul try giving those a wipe and see what happens.

To be clear I mean the connections inside the laptop as this is happening with multiple chargers and batteries.

 

Yeah, I may have downplayed that point in my mind while focusing (tunnel vision??) too hard on the "common" problem of a bad connector. My bad.

But since the charging/regulator circuits are integrated with notebook motherboards, and it is no longer economically feasible to replace the board, and since Paul really needs a good excuse for a new notebook anyway the point is moot now.

 

Some laptops use spring loaded connections to the battery, eg this HP (not the one in my system specs) is spring loaded. It has a known battery issue (laptop and battery are several years old) and occasionally the connection to the battery sticks.

Anyhow, if Paul is happy with his laptop just now it is worth taking a wee peek at those connections though agreed it's not worth spending anything to repair.

BTW @Tony I'll take those $100 if you're still standing by what you said

 

LOL, are you paying the air fair?