Thinkpads Forum

My new W700 isn't charging. When i got it, the battery seemed bad, so i got a new one.
The new one didn't charge either. I tried to run a recalibrate routine on it, and it still won't charge.
So now i have 2 dead batteries.

It won't charge with it running or turned off. I thought it might be a windows thing, since i run linux, but it seems like it would charge even with the laptop turned off right?

Is there a fuse or something on the charging circuit that could be blown? This is a very nice laptop otherwise, i would think it's worth fixing.

Thanks

I suggest to check the schematics, as well as the area around the battery connector(s).
Battery fuses are usually quite big, but I've never seen a W700 mobo.

Do you know if the charger works?

The charger you have is the gigantic 170W power brick, correct?

Yes, the charger works because i use the laptop no problem plugged in.

I use the 230W W701 charger. Works fine.

In the T60 15" they use an extender (a.k.a. interposer) between mobo and Ultrabay.
One connector on it is for batteries, one for optical drives and one for ports.
Cut that battery connector off the interposer, then cut that connector in half and solder 3"-4" long wires between the connector sides. Cover any open PCB contacts with some tape.
With that cable you can now use any battery from any T6x/R6x/X6x until and incl. T420/T520/X220 in any other Thinkpad with the same connector.
So try to charge/run your W700 battery in a T60 or whatever else you have.

PS: or use a matching dead battery and mobo and cut the connectors out of there.

What an interesting idea! Homemade battery charger adapters. I suppose an ultrabay battery would also serve as a test of the charging circuit on the laptop. I don't have one of those, i do have one of the interposers, but it's being used in a frankenpad right now. As i recall, it took me a while to find one too.

Anybody know the likelihood of the charging circuit being faulty? I've never heard of that before, but i suppose it's possible.

If it means anything, i was able to install TLP and force a battery discharge recalibration while on AC power, which worked just fine, when i pull the battery data from TLP or ACPI utilities, it tells me that the battery is not charging, and that it will never recharge at current charge rate. Also says it's got Sanyo cells and that the lenovo PN is 42T-something so i'm assuming it's a copied firmware from some other battery pack.

This is a generic battery from AGPTEK, i was unable to find an OEM that wasn't several hundred dollars.

My next idea was an external battery charger to try to check the batteries i do have, and found 2 on amazon both are double what i paid for the battery OR the W700. Those are also generic.

My suggestion is to make only a battery "extension cable" so that you can connect your W700 battery to e.g. your Frankie.
If it charges or works there, you have a W700 mobo problem.
If not, you have a wonky battery.
It's that simple!

The other thing that occured to me. Are any other batteries using the same laptop to battery connector? The multibladed thing that's on the battery and laptop.

Maybe i can check voltages on that at the laptop? Or will it not even give voltage unless it senses a battery is connected?

I do have a dead battery case for a T60, i'll see if i can make a connector off of that before i get too crazy like taking the motherboard out for exam. I've only had it down to the fans so far.

Edit: What about one of these gizmos? These can be had pretty cheap.

The ThinkPad External Battery Charger (40Y7625)

Modify the connector for the W700 battery?

Make that darned cable and be done with searching for other options!
Any dead T6x/R6x/X6x/T4x0/T5x0/X2x0 mobo will do, together with a dead battery.
Or buy it here: http://www.thinkpad-parts.com/41W1130-Thinkpad.html or http://acsparts.com/41W1130-ThinkPad.html (same outfit)

I'll see what i can find, but i'm not sure i even have a dead laptop sitting around. T43 maybe.

T43 won't work, different battery connectors
Check the TP list that I gave you!

Well, i don't have any of the right dead motherboards, my bad battery is missing the connector, and any items i need are ebay or vendor right now, so i'm going to table this for a while.

Just an update to this thread, for completeness:

I think my motherboard charging circuit is toast. Since i use the laptop plugged in most of the time, it's not been an issue.

I use an external battery charger from Lenovo to charge the W700 batteries when i need to be mobile for a bit.

This solution has worked ok. I am keeping an eye out for a motherboard, but they don't show up very often on ebay.

As i paid only $53 for the laptop, i'm not too upset about it.