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I have 2 Gateway T-1620 laptop computers. When the original 11.1v 4400mah batteries went soft I replaced them with 6600mah batteries to give longer off-line use.
Both laptops will charge either 6600mah batteries for a few minutes and quit. If you uplug and replug power they will charge a few more minutes. I can charge the batteries with a power supply set for 12.6v and 2 amp limit as per manufacturer specifications. After charging they work properly in the laptops but will not recharge after any battery use. I see a lot of complaints about the Gateway chargers.
Does anyone have a schematic for the Gateway charging circuit? I suspect it is software controlled but perhaps there is something I could do to make it charge the larger batteries.
Larry Eccleston
Posted 2013-08-18T18:00:47.133
Reputation: 1
So these are aftermarket batteries? – a CVn – 2013-08-18T18:31:27.210
1Most likely the charging circuitry is set up assuming 4400mAh and monitors the charging current based on that value. The larger battery produces what looks like an overcurrent situation (eg, due to a shorted cell) and hence the charger shuts down. Not sure what you could do about it, unless you can modify the circuitry. – Daniel R Hicks – 2013-08-18T18:31:35.330
@Daniel R Hicks I think you are right but the Gateway is supposed to be able to use the 6600mah battery. There is probably something in the bios but I can't find it. – Larry Eccleston – 2013-08-18T20:13:12.960
I have been charging these batteries on an external power supply when they get low. I usually just pull the battery and put it back when it's charged. After I posted this question I grabbed a battery that was less than 90% charged and put it into the laptop. However this time I had shut the computer off and after I put the battery in I turned it on. It came on and said the battery was 87% charged and that it was charging. This usually lasts about 3 minutes before quitting. This time it charged up to 100%. Testing I found it won't charge on a restart just on a cold boot. Any ideas? – Larry Eccleston – 2013-08-22T02:09:14.737
@Michael Kjorling, yes they are aftermarket batteries but designed for the Gateway T-series. But like I said they work well after charging and now if I do a shutdown and reboot they will charge. I wonder if the charger assumes they are 4400mah batteries and after a few minutes the charge slope doesn't match so it shuts down. On a cold boot maybe it appraises the slope and adjusts the charge rate. – Larry Eccleston – 2013-08-22T02:17:30.427