Help: TOSHIBA Laptop AC Power Problem

[mjv316]

Hello everyone... I hope someone can help me in fixing this power issue problem in my Toshiba Equium A200 laptop. I have been searching every technical forum about this problem and I've seen many people having this kind of problem -- mostly toshiba laptops. However, none of them got this problem fixed or no one gave a good solution to this power issue. Well, here is the problem:
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   Since 2 months ago, my Toshiba Equium A200 suddenly freezes when AC power is plugged-in. When the laptop is in battery mode (meaning the AC power is unplugged), the laptop works fine and there are no problems within it. However, as Engineering student, I can't just work for few hours and recharge again the battery. I always work with my laptop for more than 3 straight hours. The lifespan of my battery is only 1 - 1.5 hours. To be more precise, sometimes my laptop won't boot at all when connected to an AC power. So what I did is to put the laptop in battery mode first and when it reached windows, I then connect the AC power. However, after few seconds, the laptop freezes and I cannot move the mouse anymore and I'll end up unsafely turning off my laptop.
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   I have already made many attempts to fix my laptop: do a memory test, hard disk test, disable dual core, have a new AC adapter, set frequency mode to always low. I already brought my laptop to the nearest Toshiba service center however, they told me that they'll replace the motherboard which will cost me about $500.00. Well, I do not have that amount of money for now and I am always hoping and praying that there will be a solution other than replacing the motherboard. Also, It would be ok for me if someone can tell me if there is a Toshiba battery (or alternative) that can give more than 3 hour lifespan.

   This is my final year in my Electrical Eng'g course and I am on the process of finishing my thesis and I can't work effectively with my laptop having this power issue. I am hoping that someone having this kind of problem was able to fix the problem and willing to share their solution. Also, as an Electrical Engineering student, I have some background in fixing electrical hardware. So I am ready to do something with the laptop's hardware as long as that will be surely the solution to this problem.. Thank you very much..

mark j.

[cruisin702]

Standard 6-cell available from Newegg
9-cell extended life available from Toshiba

[Aegis]

Will the computer boot and run while A/C power is plugged in?  (Have the A/C power already connected when you turn on the computer.)

[rthompson80819]

If a factory service center has told you that your mother board is bad, it's not good news.

A work around would be to buy a second battery and charge it overnight and use it when the first battery starts to die.  But it's not cheap, the ones I looked at for your laptop were in the $100 range.

Before I spent $500 replacing a mother board I would look at other new laptops.

[mjv316]

Hi.. Thanks for the reply guys..

@cruisin702: Thank you very much for the link.. It would be great if there are batteries for sale less than $100.00. It won't be practical for me if it costs more than $100. 

@aegis: There are instances that the laptop is able to boot when the AC power is plugged in. But most of the time, the laptop cannot boot when the AC power is plugged in. The computer will always be able boot when it is in battery mode.

@rthompson80819: Actually, according to the factory service center, there are possible ways to fix the laptop but they won't do it since it would put the laptop 50-50 state. That is, the operation will either damage more the laptop or it will cure the laptop. And of course, I will choose to charge/recharge and use my laptop every now and then compared to having no laptop at all. Instead, they suggested to replace the motherboard for $500. I don't have that money, and if I have that money, I will decide to buy new laptop. About the batteries, yes, they are quite expensive too. Below $100 dollars will be great for me. And hope I can find one. 

[cruisin702]

The 9-cell on Amazon for 109.95 with free shipping
Aftermarket 6-cell for 58.99 or 9-cell for 74.98

These are just the first couple I came to on a search for PA3535U-1BRS . Not endorsing any site or manufacturer.

[Geek-9pm]

In the UK that laptop now sells for less that the price of the motherboard!

Dear topic starter,
You are a Engineering student, here is your chance for some piratical training of a failing piece of equipment.
Tour Toshiba has a defect, but you can workaround it, as you have already found.

What follows is a general statement. Designs vary.
The typical poser source for a laptop is a external supply the provides abut 14 volts DC with low ripple,  down converted from 120 Volts AC . Output current can go up to 1500 ma before the converter wit shut down.  The internal battery may be 9 to 12 volts. Design may vary. Inside the notebook the power has to be put down to  about  3.3  volts, 5 volts and 12 volts. DC. Standard chips run on 5 volts. The CPU needs 3.3  volts. The 12 volts is for drive motors. .

You can resolve this problem with a new battery.

I have to get to bed now. If you  need more information about this, maybe someone else can tell you why replacing the battery solves the problem. 
 

[mjv316]

Thanks Geek-9pm..

For now, I am 85% sure to buy a new battery. But I am still on the process of finding a good one at a cheap price. Also, do you mean that replacing the battery will fix the problem? That is, the laptop will be then able to work fine with AC plugged-in? Or you just mean that there is no way to fix the AC problem and buying a new battery will be a practical solution? If its ok to you, please elaborate why having a new battery is the best solution. I also tested removing the battery, letting the laptop work in fully AC mode. Still, the laptop will not boot. There are instances the laptop will boot but after few minutes, the laptop will freeze.

[mjv316]

Thanks cruisin702.. I'm going for the 9-cell battery.. Hmm.. How many hours do you think this battery will last? It would be good if this will reach 5-6 hours..

[cruisin702]

That really depends on what you are doing. If your old battery (if it is the original and been charged many times) is lasting 1.5 hours, I'd say the new 9-cell would go to between 4 and 5 hours (just guessing).

[mjv316]

Hi cruisin702.. I've found this cheap battery from this link:
USBPhoneWorld
And I am planning to buy this battery. I have not yet experienced buying computer parts online. So tell me if the site is just ok or if there are any sites you suggest to be better than this site.. thanks..

[Geek-9pm]

Sorry I am late.

Here is an engineering problem.
Without experience with you machine, I do not know which battery will fix the problem. Gut feeling is the original should be the right one. But the newer batteries are said to be better and them are inside the manufactures windows of tolerance.

As I speculate4d earlier, the AC adapter might provide 14 DC with low ripple.
I don't knowthe details of your machine. It could be 18 volts.

The battery is part of the loop. The battery is a "sink" for the AC adapter and the internal regulators. It is either a porr design or a brilliant design, depending on your you r point of view.
1. Brilliant engineering, the battery stabilizes the system and reduces cost and component count.
1. Weak design. When the battery is at end of the the stability goes out the windows. Windows here meaning the tolorance windows. The internal regulators do nmot like the 14 volt DC with ripple and do not behave well.

If the battery fixes the problem, you now have a theme for a term paper. You have to add some diagrams and some math. I will let you do that.

The theme might be:
 "Windows of Tolerance in Rechargeable Consumer Devices."

[cruisin702]

Hi cruisin702.. I've found this cheap battery from this link:
USBPhoneWorld
And I am planning to buy this battery. I have not yet experienced buying computer parts online. So tell me if the site is just ok or if there are any sites you suggest to be better than this site.. thanks..

I had to hunt for it but I finally found the one year warranty on that site (listed under shipping and returns). That's what you get with most any aftermarket battery so I'd say your chances there are just as good as with any other website.

[mjv316]

Hi Geek-9pm..

Thanks for that very good idea  ... With that, I am now 99.9% to buy a new battery  . I have already found 9-cell batteries for sale ranging from $60 to $80 dollars.. Next, I'll be looking for their shipping fees, make some money and finally order them.. At this point, I see that buying batteries don't give me any cons at all.. If the battery will really solve the problem, I'll start making the term paper and research more.. I have no worries in buying new battery since whether it fixes the AC problem or not, it will make my laptop usable for a longer time (rather than 1.5 hours only)..

[Computer_Commando]

Check one more thing before you buy.
Remove battery, connect AC adapter and see if computer functions normally.

[mjv316]

Thanks Computer_commando but I have already tested removing the battery, letting the laptop work in fully AC mode. Still, the laptop will not boot. There are instances the laptop will boot but after few minutes, the laptop will freeze.

[Geek-9pm]

mjv316,
Glad to hear that you are now a happy camper.
I thanked you for your post.
But you can not thank me, my thank button is on hold for now.  

Ask your instructor about whet happens when a battery is part of a voltage regulation loop. An illustration of this is when you have a used car and you are checking out the electrical system. Your are racing the motor with the headlights on. The you remove one wire from the 12 volt automotive battery. POOF! The alternator soars to  24 volts and the lights go out!  

[dslgeek]

Geek-9pm, Stop being an Idiot! Nobody can see  their own 'Thank You' link.

[Computer_Commando]

Thanks Computer_commando but I have already tested removing the battery, letting the laptop work in fully AC mode. Still, the laptop will not boot. There are instances the laptop will boot but after few minutes, the laptop will freeze.

Onboard voltage regulator is shot or could be a partial short (excessive high current draw) somewhere.  New battery may not function any better than the old one.  You may want to consider throwing good money after bad.  Continue to use it and save up for a new one.  These issues in laptops are rarely fixable, even by trained factory service people.

BTW, in laptops, batteries are not part of a voltage regulation loop as in automotive applications.  Removing the battery will not cause the internal voltage to rise above limits.  The onboard voltage regulator controls battery output and AC adapter output.  There's also a charging circuit for the battery.

[Geek-9pm]

Onboard voltage regulator is shot or could be a partial short (excessive high current draw) somewhere.  New battery may not function any better than the old one.  You may want to consider throwing good money after bad.  Continue to use it and save up for a new one.  These issues in laptops are rarely fixable, even by trained factory service people.

BTW, in laptops, batteries are not part of a voltage regulation loop as in automotive applications.  Removing the battery will not cause the internal voltage to rise above limits.  The onboard voltage regulator controls battery output and AC adapter output.  There's also a charging circuit for the battery.

Let hi ask his EE classmates about this. People who think they are experts on this are running about 60% say its OK to run w/o and 30% say no way and the rest admit they don't know.

In any  case, the EE who does the desgin had to put a "Windows of Tolerance" on his design and decide how cheap he wants to make it.

[mjv316]

Onboard voltage regulator is shot or could be a partial short (excessive high current draw) somewhere.  New battery may not function any better than the old one.  You may want to consider throwing good money after bad.  Continue to use it and save up for a new one.  These issues in laptops are rarely fixable, even by trained factory service people.

BTW, in laptops, batteries are not part of a voltage regulation loop as in automotive applications.  Removing the battery will not cause the internal voltage to rise above limits.  The onboard voltage regulator controls battery output and AC adapter output.  There's also a charging circuit for the battery.

Before, I was thinking that the battery won't fix the AC power issue.. But regardless whether it fixes the AC issue, my goal is to make my laptop usable again.. As what I said, I can only use my laptop for 1-1.5 hours and recharge again... So I am deciding now to buy a battery to be able to use my laptop for 4-5 straight hours.. The laptop is able to charge my battery but freezes when turned on with AC plugged in. Also, with what you said, I see that there's no way to fix the AC power problem.. So my decision here lies between two:
use my $80 to buy a new battery (with longer lifespan) or save my $80 to buy a new laptop later.. Can anyone please tell me which should be better?  

[mjv316]

Let hi ask his EE classmates about this. People who think they are experts on this are running about 60% say its OK to run w/o and 30% say no way and the rest admit they don't know.

In any  case, the EE who does the desgin had to put a "Windows of Tolerance" on his design and decide how cheap he wants to make it.

I have great confidence with what Computer_commando says since he listed on his credentials that he's a M. Eng, Electrical Eng'g..  Now I am again confused whether buying a new battery is a practical decision or not..

[cruisin702]

Ask your instructor about whet happens when a battery is part of a voltage regulation loop. An illustration of this is when you have a used car and you are checking out the electrical system. Your are racing the motor with the headlights on. The you remove one wire from the 12 volt automotive battery. POOF! The alternator soars to  24 volts and the lights go out!  

I found your problem, your 12v alternator is putting out 24v. Where did you get your (mis)information?

[Geek-9pm]

If you don't want to buy a battery, borrow one!

[Geek-9pm]

The user manual says that it will work without the battery when the AC adapter is plugged in.

So it would seem there is a problem with the regulators on the motherboard. Buying a new board for this machine is not a good idea in view of the current price of this model.

Some users report that a laptop does not work right with the battery removed. But I have not found any that were Toshiba.

[cruisin702]

I think the OP had already established there was a problem with his motherboard when he came here to begin with.He is simply looking for a simpler more economical solution to hopefully get him through another few months of school from what I understand. The new 9-cell battery may or may not do that.

[Computer_Commando]

I think the OP had already established there was a problem with his motherboard when he came here to begin with.He is simply looking for a simpler more economical solution to hopefully get him through another few months of school from what I understand. The new 9-cell battery may or may not do that.

I agree.  The most economical solution is to do nothing at all.  If you just must have a laptop, then start shopping around and buy a new one when you are forced to, since the one you have is still functional.
If you insist on repairing, I have found this company to be fair and honest.  I sold them a broken Dell laptop for $100.

Just for the record, laptop hard drives are +5VDC, only.  They do not use +12VDC.

[laptopbattery]

maybe it's time to buy a newlink removed, you can got it at ExcelDigital, cheap and fine, it's good for you,

[patio]

No need to resurrect old threads trying to sell adapters.

[Geek-9pm]

No need to resurrect old threads trying to sell adapters.

One last parting shot. He is an Engineering student. He can buy an universal AC mains adapter that has adjustable output. He can set it so that it just charges the battery without running the laptop over the voltage  or current limit.

Quote from: Computer_Commando
Onboard voltage regulator is shot or could be a partial short.

The average user would not want to try this, but it is a good exercise for an engineering student.  Use an adjustable Power  supply that has one volts steps from 8 to 20 volts. He should find a setting around 12 volts that gives stable performance with battery in the unit.

[patio]

I wasn't speaking to the OP...i was speaking to the Spammer selling laptop batteries all over the Forum...

Sorry for the confusion.

[Geek-9pm]

I wasn't speaking to the OP...i was speaking to the Spammer selling laptop batteries all over the Forum...

Sorry for the confusion.

OK
Hey! Does he get paid to do that?
I need some pocket money to feed my Hobby.
Who is hiring now?