Check Battery Charging?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.sys.pc-clone.compaq (More info?)

I just replaced the battery for a Compaq Evo N400C and it will not charge
(or is just dead) Any suggestions where to check to see if there is a flaw
with a multimeter?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 18:32:34 -0700, "davidg35" <davidg35@cox.net>
wrote:

>I just replaced the battery for a Compaq Evo N400C and it will not charge
>(or is just dead) Any suggestions where to check to see if there is a flaw
>with a multimeter?
>

If the laptop works fine otherwise, the problem is no doubt the
battery pack. Usually, the two outermost contacts are the main
power contacts on packs. So measure the voltage on those.

Presumably you know how to use multimeters i.e., the difference
between voltage and current ranges. You can damage the meter and
pack and even burn yourself. The normal at your risk cautions.

But a voltage there that's about at least 90% (roughly) the rated
pack voltage does not mean the pack is fine. The pack electronics
may be defective or sending a defective pack alarm to the laptop.

Going into the laptop contacts or electronics is beyond this
group. Presumably the pack female and laptop male contacts are
clean and not broken? The laptop's may be difficult to get at.

A new battery or another known working laptop are really the only
right diagnostic tools without getting into electronics .