Omnibook XE Battery problem

I have an Omnibook XE thats a couple of years old that has developed a
battery problem. As soon as I take the unit off the AC charger, the
battery shows completly dead and the unit powers down. I bought a
replacement battery thinking that was the problem, but I get the same
behavior.

I asked about getting it repaired by an HP authorized service center,
but the estimated repair fee is so high I'd probably be better off to
purchase a new machine.

Any suggestions on what to check for myself to isolate the problem
would be welcome. There's too much working on this thing for me to
consider it ready for the dumpster!

"Banjo" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I have an Omnibook XE thats a couple of years old that has developed a
> battery problem. As soon as I take the unit off the AC charger, the
> battery shows completly dead and the unit powers down. I bought a
> replacement battery thinking that was the problem, but I get the same
> behavior.
>
> I asked about getting it repaired by an HP authorized service center,
> but the estimated repair fee is so high I'd probably be better off to
> purchase a new machine.
>
> Any suggestions on what to check for myself to isolate the problem
> would be welcome. There's too much working on this thing for me to
> consider it ready for the dumpster!

Does it switch off instantaneously when unplugging the AC? If so it could be
something as simple as a blown surface mount fuse on the mainboard, or at
worst a major failure in the charging circuit. Whatever you do, I hope you
weren't serious about dumping it just because it doesn't run off batteries!
A laptop with a bad charging circuit would be very useful to many people who
aren't bothered about portability, and you might even get some cash for it.
Please don't throw it away!

Dave

I have the same problem with an OmniBook XE3-GF. I am looking for more info
before spending $150 for a new battery. I see that it did not work for you.
Good luck.

Toby


"Dave D" <> wrote in message
news:bf96j8$lkq$...
>
> "Banjo" <> wrote in message
> news: om...
> > I have an Omnibook XE thats a couple of years old that has developed a
> > battery problem. As soon as I take the unit off the AC charger, the
> > battery shows completly dead and the unit powers down. I bought a
> > replacement battery thinking that was the problem, but I get the same
> > behavior.
> >
> > I asked about getting it repaired by an HP authorized service center,
> > but the estimated repair fee is so high I'd probably be better off to
> > purchase a new machine.
> >
> > Any suggestions on what to check for myself to isolate the problem
> > would be welcome. There's too much working on this thing for me to
> > consider it ready for the dumpster!
>
> Does it switch off instantaneously when unplugging the AC? If so it could
be
> something as simple as a blown surface mount fuse on the mainboard, or at
> worst a major failure in the charging circuit. Whatever you do, I hope you
> weren't serious about dumping it just because it doesn't run off
batteries!
> A laptop with a bad charging circuit would be very useful to many people
who
> aren't bothered about portability, and you might even get some cash for
it.
> Please don't throw it away!
>
> Dave
>
>

I've disassembled the unit, but I don't see anything that looks like a
fuse. Where can obtain schematic / board layout info?


"Dave D" <> wrote in message news:<bf96j8$lkq$>...
> "Banjo" <> wrote in message
> news: om...
> > I have an Omnibook XE thats a couple of years old that has developed a
> > battery problem. As soon as I take the unit off the AC charger, the
> > battery shows completly dead and the unit powers down. I bought a
> > replacement battery thinking that was the problem, but I get the same
> > behavior.
> >
> > I asked about getting it repaired by an HP authorized service center,
> > but the estimated repair fee is so high I'd probably be better off to
> > purchase a new machine.
> >
> > Any suggestions on what to check for myself to isolate the problem
> > would be welcome. There's too much working on this thing for me to
> > consider it ready for the dumpster!
>
> Does it switch off instantaneously when unplugging the AC? If so it could be
> something as simple as a blown surface mount fuse on the mainboard, or at
> worst a major failure in the charging circuit. Whatever you do, I hope you
> weren't serious about dumping it just because it doesn't run off batteries!
> A laptop with a bad charging circuit would be very useful to many people who
> aren't bothered about portability, and you might even get some cash for it.
> Please don't throw it away!
>
> Dave

I'm new to this forum, but I've got an XE that just developed the same
problem. I also took it apart looking for some kind of fuse or
something, so far nothing. I saw on another Internet post where an HP
service center told a customer with at least a similar problem that
the DC-DC converter on the mother board was blown and they would have
to replace the motherboard to fix the problem (doesn't anyone actually
do component level repair anymore?). Anyway, I have found some
components on the motherboard near the battery connector that appears
to make up a DC-DC converter but so far casual poking around with an
ohm meter hasn't detected any obviously blown parts.

Oh, for some other information: I charged my battery externally a
little by connecting a power supply to the outer two pins with correct
polarity. I only charged it to about 16% (according to the HP battery
calibration diskette) because I am aware that Li-ion batteries have a
habit of exploding if not used properly. Anyway the computer still
thinks it is not charged enough and shuts down when I try to turn it
on under battery-only power. If I remove AC power from a booted
computer, it gently powers down as if a low battery.

The Charge light glows "amber" when the AC power is plugged in.

I only measure about 5 volts on the outer two pins of the battery
connector on the motherboard on AC power but with the battery
removed.

The battery monitor in both Win2K and Linux claim the unit is charging
(when it is not) and claims there is zero capacity in the battery.

The HP calibration diskette comes up showing 16% in the battery and
never changes for over 24 hours.

There is all kinds of circuitry in the battery too, with no battery in
the computer I wonder if I should measure 16 volts or more on the
outer two pins of the battery connector or does the battery's
circuitry need to do something to turn the charging circuit on?

I just found this thread. It seems that a FET on the motherboard
might be the problem. I'll have to check mine out.

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/f...hreadId=246024