What are the implications of running a laptop via the battery connector instead of the DC jack? (feddit.nl)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by neidu2@feddit.nl to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Long story short, my laptops DC input is no longer working. Yes, I've tested every aspect of the power supply. I even measured the motherboard input voltage, and it is being properly fed. I suspect a faulty DC-DC converter.

So, I had this idea of removing the battery permanently, and instead emulating it with a power supply with matching voltage. I don't really need the battery anyway (I mostly use a laptop for the form factor).

In theory, the laptop will then think it's running off of battery power. Permanently. Are there any consequences in terms of performance that could arise from this? Of course, the power settings will need to be adjusted, but beyond that I'm wondering if there's a hardware aspect that I cannot control.

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[-] nicerdicer@feddit.org 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Since laptops are equipped with a battery anyway, they lack of a coin cell (mostly a CR2032 cell) to keep track of time. This means that your laptop will not be able to estimate the correct time and date when powered with energy outside of the original battery, and these settings have to be made manually each time your laptop will be used.

It will work fine without the correct time set, but you might have issues with files that are created "in the future" (from your laptops perspective).

I have an old laptop (still in use occasionally, because I have a scanner that is too old to be operated with current software) where I replaced its battery once. The sign the battery was dead was that the OS issued a warning the laptop was not able to tell the correct time.

[-] icogniito@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 months ago

A lot of laptops still have a coin cell

[-] nicerdicer@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

Really? My laptop doesn't. Maybe it depends on if the battery is designed to be removed by customer or if it is hidden inside the laptop, making it accessible only with tools.

[-] janus2@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago

that's more likely the deciding factor yeah
that and whether or not you're me. I always seem to have the bad luck that whatever model want to buy doesn't have a coin cell lol

[-] icogniito@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago

Actually even a lot of laptops with non easily removable laptops still have coin cells. My work requires me to sometimes to repairs and I’m surprised by how common it still is

[-] neidu2@feddit.nl 2 points 2 months ago

I was surprised to stumble across a BIOS battery yesterday when I was taking out the drives to copy out some data, so I guess that aspect of it all is OK.

this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2024

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