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    Random battery discharge

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by CryoBolt, Nov 21, 2012.

  1. CryoBolt

    CryoBolt Notebook Consultant

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    This has only happen 2-3 times over the 5 months or so, but I think it has happen enough to have some concern. In those few times, when I power up my notebook from shut-down (has a full charge when shutting down and computer has not be disconnected from the power brick) the battery has been discharged to some level. Today it was at 94% and there was another time where it was around 76%. It charges up fine, to my knowledge anyways.

    What do guys think?

    Edit: I'm not sure about the other times, but when it happen today, it took windows a lot longer to get running then normal.
     
    CryoBolt, Nov 21, 2012
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  2. leeshjnn

    leeshjnn Notebook Evangelist

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    So in short, even if your laptop is plugged in, the battery still gets discharged to some level? That's definitely interesting.

    Have you tried to completely discharge your battery and see if it still discharge randomly like that?
     
    leeshjnn, Nov 21, 2012
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  3. CryoBolt

    CryoBolt Notebook Consultant

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    Basically

    I have never completely discharged it, but if I can remember correctly; it seems to happen when I don't discharged it for a long period of time (I'm not sure about that though).

    Sent from my SGH-T999
     
    CryoBolt, Nov 21, 2012
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  4. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Could be your PSU is faulty. Then when the system is shut down, the PSU draws power out of the battery because of some internal short in it. Unfortunately, I don't know of any way to test for a short in the power brick other than cracking it open and doing a whole bunch of electrical engineering stuff. :confused:
     
    radji, Nov 21, 2012
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  5. CryoBolt

    CryoBolt Notebook Consultant

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    What do you suggest?

    Sent from my SGH-T999
     
    CryoBolt, Nov 21, 2012
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  6. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    When you shut down for the night, unplug the power adapter from the notebook. Then see if the battery has discharged at all when you power back up again in the morning. It should not be less than 98% the next morning.
     
    radji, Nov 21, 2012
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  7. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

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    Could be the battery charging programme in that it will avoid overcharging the battery and therefore stop charging when its full or near full. It should discharge a little bit, but not to 76% thats a bit worrying. My old macbook if it had 97% wouldn't charge to 100%, only when it dropped to low 90's would it charge again.
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Nov 21, 2012
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  8. ratchetnclank

    ratchetnclank Notebook Deity

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    This is normal batterys do discharge even when not in use. Things like temperature effect this.
     
    ratchetnclank, Nov 21, 2012
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  9. CryoBolt

    CryoBolt Notebook Consultant

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    Battery level read 99% once windows got everything running. It was in plugged for 11 hours.

    Sent from my SGH-T999

    The thing that gets me is that is that it happens on such a rare occasion. The rest if the time it acts completely normal.

    Sent from my SGH-T999
     
    CryoBolt, Nov 21, 2012
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  10. leeshjnn

    leeshjnn Notebook Evangelist

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    Try to drain the battery down to 0 to reset it, then charge it to 100% and unplug like radji suggested. See if the battery still discharge over 10%.
     
    leeshjnn, Nov 21, 2012
    #10