Laptop drains battery when not plugged in?

[1EZduzit]

I bought a used laptop (HP DV9009US) from a guy and I find it drains the battery when it is just sitting there, not plugged in. Is this normal??It arrived with the battery completley drained, so the first thing I did was charge it up and see how long it ran and the battery lasted 2 hours before the 10% warning light came on, which I thought was pretty good for a 17" screen and a Turion 52.

So I left it sit unplugged overnight and on powering it up it showed 96% charge remaining. That was 8 hrs of sitting unplugged so i shut it down and let it sit another 16 hours (24 hr total) and when I fired it up it only had 91% of a full charge.

So I downloaded the battery check tool from HP and tested the battery. It showed the battery as having 97% of it's capacity and being in good operating condition. I fully recharged the battery took it out of the machine and let it sit for 24 hours, put it in the machine, powered it up and it showed a 97% charge. I recharged it to 100% and took the battery out of the machine and let it sit for 5 or 6 days, put it in the machine, fired it up and it still showed a 96% charge, so it's not the battery.

Anybody have any ideas as to what could be causing the battery drain?

Should I complain to the person I bought it from? He said everything on the conmputer was 100%, but when I told him about the battery drain he said they noticed that too. Also, the quick launch buttons don't work. All they do is turn the computer on when it is off and if it's on, the volume slider keys work and I can get the DVD button to open up the DVD player software. Like I said though, those are options I don't really care about, I'm more worried if I have a laptop that's got something seriously wrong with it and may die before it's time.

TIA

I like the computer but am worried about what the problem is. If it's not a serious problem I can live with it since I bought it for my wife and it will just sit on her desk 99% of the time and won't get used much.

 

[corkyg]

I don't see much of anything wrong or abnormal. Laptop batteries slowly discharge when not in use, and when in the laptop even though it is not "ON."

If your wife will use it only as a plugged in, desktop replacement, then an option is to charge the battery to 100% and then remove it from the computer. It will slowly discharge when stored, so it might be useful once a month to put it in and charge it up.

The machine will run fine with no battery on the A/C adapter.

Mt H-P and My Lenovo will not charge the installed battery until it is at 95% or below.

 

[dnuggett]

Nothing wrong at all here. Batteries lose juice even when not in use.

 

[Rottie]

Not bad..my old laptop has 98% when it is not used and unplugged.

 

[1EZduzit]

Thnaks for the advice guys.

Originally posted by: dnuggett
Nothing wrong at all here. Batteries lose juice even when not in use.

What I'm worried about is that a fully charged battery will go down to 91% in an24 hour period when it is in the laptop with the laptop NOT plugged in OR turned on, yet that same battery when fully charged and taken out of the laptop and sat on the shelf for over 5 days will still show a 96% charge when I put it back in the laptop and check it.

For some reason the laptop is draining the battery even though nothing is plugged into it and it hasn't been turned on?

I don't think that's normal but don't know how serious the problem is? I do know that the quicklaunch functions don't work properly and that's the only thing that I can see that would use some juice since your supposed to be able to play a music CD or a DVD without powering up the whole computer.

I've been doing as corkyg suggested, just charging the battery and taking it out of the machine to prevent it from being constanly recharged. The machine seems to run just fine without the batery in it so as long as nobody thinks there is a serious hardware problem with the machine I'd just keep it and not worry about returning it or sending it in while it still has warranty.

If anybody sees this that has an insight into the problem I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
If anybody sees this that has an insight into the problem I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!!

Note to self: Don't sell anything to 1EZduzit!

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
If anybody sees this that has an insight into the problem I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!!

Note to self: Don't sell anything to 1EZduzit!

I like things to work right if possible, especialy when told everything is 100%. Silly me.

It may not be anything serious, but then again maybe it is? That's why I'm asking about it. If you have some experience with the HP DV9000 models then please share it, but if you have nothing constructive to add why don't you just buzz off.

 

[Fraggable]

The problem with QuickPlay may be because QuickPlay was wiped out during a system restore/hard disk format. It's a Linux thing and I know virtually nothing about it, but I do know there are files that can be wiped out so it doesn't work anymore.

The battery problem doesn't sound like anything to worry about, but my laptop (DV8235NR) can be left for a weekend and have 98% charge when turned on. Yours may be using a bit more for some reason, but nothing that's an indication of a major problem. Maybe run a BIOS update and check around to see if not having QuickPlay installed has something to do with it?

 

[1EZduzit]

It has the latest bios installed and I have read up the proper methods and installed the drivers for Quickplay, but it is supposed to be on it's own partion and it's not. HP has a little program you can download that supposedly makes it's own partion (at the end of the disk) and reinstalls qucikplay, but it doesn't work for me??

The laptop came with WinXP Mediacenter 2005 from HP, and I was led to believe that was what was on it, but he has WinXP professional on it. I didn't realize that at first and installed all my programs and don't really want to go thru all that work again for a function I wouldn't use much.

He did ship it with 17 or 18 restore CD's that has WMC2005 on it, but I copied them to my main system and two of the discs have scratches on them. I can order restore discs from HP for $15 but just don't have the time or the desire to do all that, that's why I'm asking for opinions on how serious an issue this is. I didn't think it was too serious, but I'm no computer expert by a long ways and know next to nothing about laptops.

It does seem that nobody is too worried about this issue (which was my gut instinct also) so i think I'm keeping the computer and not going to worry about sending it in. The built-in webcam works great, which is the main reason i purchased this computer. My wife's sister moved halfway across the country and they were really close, so now they can talk "face to face" once or twice a week.

Thanks to all for their help. :beer::thumbsup::beer:

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
I like things to work right if possible, especialy when told everything is 100%. Silly me.

All kidding aside, my first inclination was that you were being a little cranky about this battery situation. However, it spurred me to do some (online) research.

I found a couple of excellent resources that you might be interested in:

Batteries in a Portable World & BatteryUniversity.com

They both offer some possible explanations, such as the circuitry in your battery (yes, batteries have circuits these days) is causing it to dischange while in your lappy - the CMOS battery is low and sucking juice from the main battery, yada, yada...

You might want to spend some time reading these articles - lots of helpful articles over there!

After doing some reading, I'd be willing to wager that NONE of us are maintaining our batteries properly...

 

[Shadmere]

Well, if by "properly" you mean "Keeping them at as full a charge as possible for as long a time as possible," you'd almost certainly be right. I'm not going to go to annoying lengths to extend my battery life by a few weeks. I bet batteries in my remote control die quicker since I leave them in the remote. If I only put the batteries in when I wanted to change channels, I'd probably extend their life. I'm not going to do that, obviously. =Þ

I don't think that the original poster has anything to worry about. The laptop isn't really "using up" the battery. Anytime a battery has a conductive connection, even if that connection isn't actively sucking down energy, there's going to be a little bit of leakage. The leakage might well get more pronounced with age, I'm not sure about that, but it would make sense. A brand new battery might be better at holding an unused charge than an older battery.

I do know this: If I charge my Gameboy SP to full, play for a few hours, and then turn it off for eight months . . . I can't turn it back on. Even without being turned on, eight months of sitting there was enough to discharge the battery. Similarly, if I put fresh alkalines in my old Palm Pilot, then put the device in a drawer for two years, the batteries end up dead. The only device that I've dug out over a year later and found it to still have a charge in its batteries is my Powershot G6. Perhaps the battery there was manufactured above and beyond most standards. I don't know. But in most devices, the batteries eventually die even if they aren't being used. I wouldn't be bothered by that, it seems to be normal.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Shadmere
Well, if by "properly" you mean "Keeping them at as full a charge as possible for as long a time as possible," you'd almost certainly be right. I'm not going to go to annoying lengths to extend my battery life by a few weeks. I bet batteries in my remote control die quicker since I leave them in the remote. If I only put the batteries in when I wanted to change channels, I'd probably extend their life. I'm not going to do that, obviously. =Þ

I don't think that the original poster has anything to worry about...

There you go - exactly!!!

The OP is an idealist, living in an imperfect world!

In his world, this battery would have been stored since day-1 (between usages) outside the lappy, at no more than a 40% charge, in a dark WARM place, yada, yada, yada...

In other words, the original owner probably did not play the battery optimization game any more than you, I, or any other reasonable person would have. However, the OP, lives in a blue-sky Fantasy Land where 100% means 100% (by golly) and he's now disappointed, once again, and resentful at having been taken yet another unscrupulous seller - hence, the need for social reinforcement, "Shall I return this lappy or not?"

If anything, the unaware and unknowing original owner made the mistake of saying the lappy was 100% - and the OP has parsed this declaration into meaning it had a 100% new battery, et cetera, which is virtually impossible, given the fact that it was in used condition, and subject to at least some sort of wear n' tear.

Put yet another way, lappy batteries don't have a ghost's chance in hell of surviving "normal" usage. To except otherwise IS silly, as the OP stated!

Hrm...

I'm back to the "cranky buyer" theory!

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
I like things to work right if possible, especialy when told everything is 100%. Silly me.

All kidding aside, my first inclination was that you were being a little cranky about this battery situation. However, it spurred me to do some (online) research.

I found a couple of excellent resources that you might be interested in:

Batteries in a Portable World & BatteryUniversity.com

They both offer some possible explanations, such as the circuitry in your battery (yes, batteries have circuits these days) is causing it to dischange while in your lappy - the CMOS battery is low and sucking juice from the main battery, yada, yada...

You might want to spend some time reading these articles - lots of helpful articles over there!

After doing some reading, I'd be willing to wager that NONE of us are maintaining our batteries properly...

That's a ton of battery info you scrounged up and was worth reading (well, scanning anyway). My laptop has a lithium ion battery and BatteryUniversity says it should be stored at only 40% charge at 59F. Nice info to know since I have it stored right now at 100%.

While capacity loss during a battery's life cannot be eliminated, simple guidelines minimize the effect:


Keep batteries in a cool and dry storage area. Refrigeration is recommended but freezers should be avoided. When refrigerated, the battery should be placed in a plastic bag to protect against condensation

Do not fully charge lithium and nickel-based batteries before storage. Keep them partially charged and apply a full charge before use. Store lithium-ion at about 40% state-of-charge (3.75-3.80V/cell open terminal). Lead-acid batteries must be stored fully charged.

Do not store lithium-ion fully depleted. If empty, charge for about 30 minutes before storage. Self-discharge on a depleted battery may cause the protection circuit to trip, preventing a recharge.

Do not stockpile lithium-ion batteries; avoid buying dated stock, even if offered at a reduced price. Observe the manufacturing date, if available.

Never leave a nickel-based battery sitting on a charger for more than a few days. Prolonged trickle charge causes crystalline formation (memory).

Always store a lead acid battery in full-charge condition. Observe the open terminal voltage and recharge the battery every 6 months or as recommended by the manufacturer.

I don't see how it could be the CMOS battery causing the drain though. I still have a P3-733 desktop system I built 6(?) years ago and I've never had to replace the CMOS battery in it.... or any other computer as far as that goes.

It has to be something in the computer and I have a suspicion it has to do with the quicklaunch buttons, but?? I guess I don't really know. I do know now how to properly store my battery, thanks for that.

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: VinDSL


In other words, the original owner probably did not play the battery optimization game any more than you, I, or any other reasonable person would have. However, the OP, lives in a blue-sky Fantasy Land where 100% means 100% (by golly) and he's now disappointed, once again, and resentful at having been taken yet another unscrupulous seller - hence, the need for social reinforcement, "Shall I return this lappy or not?"

If anything, the unaware and unknowing original owner made the mistake of saying the lappy was 100% - and the OP has parsed this declaration into meaning it had a 100% new battery, et cetera, which is virtually impossible, given the fact that it was in used condition, and subject to at least some sort of wear n' tear.


Hrm...

I'm back to the "cranky buyer" theory!

LOL, re-read the thread. The battery seems to hold a charge just fine when it's NOT in the laptop. However when it is in the laptop it loses 9% of it's charge in a 24 hour period (unless of course the laptop is plugged in). As compared to the battery only losing 4% of it's charge in almost a week of sitting outside of the laptop.

I guess it's just one of those great mysteries of life!?! LOL!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
LOL, re-read the thread. The battery seems to hold a charge just fine when it's NOT in the laptop. However when it is in the laptop it loses 9% of it's charge, blah, blah, blah...

You're still not getting it, bro!

According to those sites, you're NOT supposed to store your battery in your lappy, nor leave it on the charger all the time - exactly what everybody does, including yourself.

You're supposed to store the battery in a dark, warm, place between usage, at no more than 40% charge - and only put it in your lappy, and charge it, when you plan to use it. The rest of the time, you're supposed to remove the battery, and power the lappy with the AC adapter only (and perhaps a UPS).

I'm guessing the former owner didn't do this, making the battery less than 100%.

More to the point, I'm guessing YOU are not doing this either, hence the discharge...

How can you blame the former owner if you're NOT maintaining the battery properly (according to those sites)?

Get it now?

 

[corkyg]

And the farmer hauled another load away!

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
LOL, re-read the thread. The battery seems to hold a charge just fine when it's NOT in the laptop. However when it is in the laptop it loses 9% of it's charge, blah, blah, blah...

You're still not getting it, bro!

According to those sites, you're NOT supposed to store your battery in your lappy, nor leave it on the charger all the time - exactly what everybody does, including yourself.

You're supposed to store the battery in a dark, warm, place between usage, at no more than 40% charge - and only put it in your lappy, and charge it, when you plan to use it. The rest of the time, you're supposed to remove the battery, and power the lappy with the AC adapter only (and perhaps a UPS).

I think you should re-read that too, they suggested putting it in a plastic bag and storing your battery in a refridgerator

I'm guessing the former owner didn't do this, making the battery less than 100%.

More to the point, I'm guessing YOU are not doing this either, hence the discharge...

We agree on one thing, your guessing.

How can you blame the former owner if you're NOT maintaining the battery properly (according to those sites)?

Get it now?

Uh, it's not a battery problem. Get it? I think the battery is fine, it's something else using the juice, the question is what and is that normal for this laptop? It seems like quite a drain to me?

 

[Shadmere]

That's true, it's not a battery problem.

It's the fact that all batteries will discharge slightly when they're installed into a device. Even if the device is not powered on.

At least almost all batteries will.

Dude, you post a "problem" on a message board. EVERYONE says "That's completely normal, all batteries do that."

And you argue with them.

I'm really confused now. Why ask a question if you will argue with the answer?

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: Shadmere
That's true, it's not a battery problem.

It's the fact that all batteries will discharge slightly when they're installed into a device. Even if the device is not powered on.

At least almost all batteries will.

Dude, you post a "problem" on a message board. EVERYONE says "That's completely normal, all batteries do that."

And you argue with them.

I'm really confused now. Why ask a question if you will argue with the answer?

Because in my mind I can't see how a laptop that's not even turned on can use that much juice from the battery? To my way of thinking it shouldn't be using any juice?

I understand that all batteries are going to lose some power just sitting there but I don't understand why this particular one loses so much?

Originally posted by: Rottie
Not bad..my old laptop has 98% when it is not used and unplugged.

Originally posted by: Fraggable


The battery problem doesn't sound like anything to worry about, but my laptop (DV8235NR) can be left for a weekend and have 98% charge when turned on.

 

[Shadmere]

So the battery might have a little bit of wear on it. Maybe it's been used some. It still doesn't seem like a big deal. It seems like it would only ever be noticeable if you were leaving the laptop unplugged for a week at a time, then picking it up and expecting to use it for a few hours.

 

[1EZduzit]

I agree, it's not a big deal if the problem is the battery, especially considering that we the laptop as a desktop replacement. I just wish I could be more certain that it is the battery, hence this thread.

 

[VinDSL]

Never hurts to have a backup battery, you know?

You could buy a 'spare' and see if it does the same thing...

 

[1EZduzit]

Yeah, and i'll be sure to store it in a warm place too.

 

[VinDSL]

Heh!

You're getting it now...

 

[1EZduzit]

I got it from the get go. I just think this laptop for some reason draws an excessive amount of power when turned off? I don't know why and thought I would see what other people thought. I might even have gotten lucky and found someone else who had the exact same problem with the exact same laptop, you never know unless you ask??

As far as your "cranky buyer" theory, you don't really know the whole story, but it's not your fault bewause I didn't bother whining about the whole thing, but since your still ribbing me you might as well get the whole story.

After the buyer and I agreed on the price he then "realized" that it had a 100 gig drive rather then a 120 as he had advertised. Then once I agreed to that he informed me that the laptop had the keyboard on it replaced, but everything was 100% He was supposed to have shipped the old keyboard with the laptop but forgot to do so. He was away when it arrived and told me he would send the keyboard when he got back home, that was ~10 days ago and no keyboard?

I was led to believe that the laptop had WMCE2005 on it with all the HP crap removed, but even that was false, it had WinXP Pro on it with no COA or activation key and 2 of the restore discs for WMCE2005 were damaged. Also, when the laptop showed up the battery was dead as a doornail.

Considering the way things went down between the seller and myself, yes I was a little leery of the laptop. I do appreciate the help/advice you guys gave me though. I just wish I had heard from someone who has a fairly new laptop that drains the battery at the rate this one does.

Instead of buying a new batery I think at some point in time I will purchase a second hard drive for it and then I will take the time to install WMCE2005 and put the quicklaunch software on it's own little partition (per HP) and see if that does anything with the battery drain issue?

So, thanks for the help guys.