Laptop Batteries

Railwaygun · January 06, 2018, 08:11:14 AM

You are not necessarily safe with OEM batteries!!

HP recalls 52,000 laptop batteries due to overheating, fire hazards – How to check if you're affected
International Business Times, UK Edition

The recall comes nearly a year after HP recalled over 100,000 computers due to overheating batteries. Read the full story

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2011/hp-expands-recall-of-notebook-computer-batteries-due-to-fire-hazard

http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/hp-information/recalls.html

Bealman · January 06, 2018, 08:24:39 AM

I must admit I do worry about laptop batteries. Mine is 10 years old this year, and while it's been a fantastic machine, it has taken to running hot every now and then.

NeMo · January 06, 2018, 09:57:58 AM

Quote from: Bealman on January 06, 2018, 08:24:39 AM
I must admit I do worry about laptop batteries. Mine is 10 years old this year, and while it's been a fantastic machine, it has taken to running hot every now and then.

Have you check the fan ducts aren't all blocked up with dust? Extremely common with old laptops, which causes the fans to work harder, resulting in more noise and heat. So long as you can open a laptop, cleaning the insides is easy.

Also, if the heat is most noticeable when you're using your web browser, it could be Flash. It's notorious for making computers work harder than they usually do because it's so clunky (or at least, pushed to do stuff it wasn't originally designed for).

Cheers, NeMo

Bealman · January 06, 2018, 10:24:02 AM

Thanks, mate.

Even though I don't understand a lot of your post, I will turn it over and check ventilation!

NeMo · January 06, 2018, 11:03:34 AM

Quote from: Bealman on January 06, 2018, 10:24:02 AM
Even though I don't understand a lot of your post, I will turn it over and check ventilation!

At the very least, see if when it runs hot, do you hear the fans whirring loudly? Is hot air coming out the ventilation holes? If the portable has never been opened, I'd be 99% sure the fans have picked up some fluff over the years, and ventilation will almost certainly be less good than it was originally. That would mean the computer would run hot.

On a Mac at least, it's relatively easy to disable Flash so that it only loads when you want it to. I've found this has dramatically improved things with my relatively old (late 2011) MacBook Pro, which like your machine, runs really well otherwise. Indeed, I'm a bit underwhelmed by the latest Mac portables, so not in a rush to update any time soon!

Cheers, NeMo

Bealman · January 06, 2018, 11:11:34 AM

Thanks, mate. That makes sense.

Clean out the vents with a toothpick or similar.

Cheaper than a new machine, and one I'm used to.

RailGooner · January 06, 2018, 12:28:17 PM

Quote from: Railwaygun on January 06, 2018, 08:11:14 AM
You are not necessarily safe with OEM batteries!!

HP recalls 52,000 laptop batteries ...

At least owners of genuine HP batteries stand a chance of avoiding disaster thanks to HP's recall. Anyone with a knock-off copy of the same battery won't get a recall.

NinOz · January 06, 2018, 12:42:14 PM

On a couple of toshibas I own the exhaust fans also collected some dust bunnies in the bearing cap causing slow running and extra fan noise.
Clean of both bearing and vents gave cool silent running.

ntpntpntp · January 06, 2018, 02:05:17 PM

Quote from: Bealman on January 06, 2018, 08:24:39 AM
I must admit I do worry about laptop batteries. Mine is 10 years old this year, and while it's been a fantastic machine, it has taken to running hot every now and then.

Does it actually retain a charge and run for a decent time on battery? 10 years is old for a battery, it probably is time to replace. I find laptops start to run hot on mains as the battery ages and the charging circuit is now continually pushing charge into the battery. Can you run the laptop with the battery removed? Some models will run on mains only, some wont.

Definitely also look into cleaning out the ventilation vents and fans as has been suggested.

Railwaygun · January 06, 2018, 04:31:36 PM

A compressed air can is great for blowing out the cobwebs

Or you can put your lips together and blow ( through the vent)!!

You should hear the fan whistling round.

NeMo · January 06, 2018, 06:45:39 PM

Quote from: Railwaygun on January 06, 2018, 04:31:36 PM
A compressed air can is great for blowing out the cobwebs

Not sure about this at all! That just blows the hair and dust back into the machine if the laptop is assembled. Of course, once the laptop is opened up, you can then blow all the dirt away from the motherboard and onto the table where you're working. Is that what you meant?

Cheers, NeMo

themadhippy · January 06, 2018, 07:08:27 PM

Also blasting the fan with compressed air can cause the fan to spin,depending on the motor type this can produce a voltage ,and if that voltage is the wrong polarity other sensitive components can get upset.

NinOz · January 07, 2018, 02:11:51 AM

Quote from: themadhippy on January 06, 2018, 07:08:27 PM
Also blasting the fan with compressed air can cause the fan to spin,depending on the motor type this can produce a voltage ,and if that voltage is the wrong polarity other sensitive components can get upset.

Learned that the hardway. Cleaning the fan on a PC mother board and allowed the CPU fan to spin up; effectively dead motherboard.
Could have been static but I always now disconnect fans and never had another problem with same cleaning methods.

MalcolmInN · January 07, 2018, 03:03:06 AM

Quote from: NinOz on January 07, 2018, 02:11:51 AM
Quote from: themadhippy on January 06, 2018, 07:08:27 PM
depending on the motor type this can produce a voltage ,and if that voltage is the wrong polarity other sensitive components can get upset.
allowed the CPU fan to spin up; effectively dead motherboard.
Could have been static

All very interesting, my initial thoughts are that the usual flyback diode (aka snubber ) should take care of this ?

More thinking after dawn is needed ! , , ,