PLUGGED IN NOT CHARGING PROBLEM IN DELL

[Jeff Knox]

Hello,I have my laptop DELL XPS L502X. When I plugg a battery it gives a message plugged in, not charging.

Blow on it!
I had this problem. Did lots of internet research, then replaced the AC adapter. This solved the problem for a couple of months, but the other day I started getting the same message again. After checking all of the connections and making sure the battery was properly seated, I still couldn't get the system to charge. Back to the internet to see if anyone had any other clever tricks to get things working again. I was about to pull the machine apart and re-solder the power connector tot he motheboard when I ran across the silly advice to "blow on it." They said to blow into the tip of the little round plug, and into the port on the side of the laptop. What a ridiculous idea, but it was easy and free so I figured, what's the harm. I tilted the laptop up on its edge so the power port was close to my mouth, pulled out the plug and gave a couple of quick blows into the tip of the plug and a couple more into the port, then plugged it back in. Viola! It actually worked!
I don't know if it was a matter of a little dust or lint in the connector or maybe the moisture in my breath helped establish a better connection or if I have magical super-powers that I didn't know about... All I know is that it worked.
A couple of days later, I had to use the computer on battery power and when I plugged it back in, again "Plugged in, not charging." I pulled the plug out and put it back several times, but no help, just more failure messages. Again, I blew into the tip of the plug and into the port, and again, the system responded by showing the battery charging.
When I have more time, I plan to experiment with my old Dell adapter, and try using some good contact cleaner on the plug and port, but for the moment, Blowing into the plug and port seem to have solved the problem.
Try it. It worked for me.

 

[Berend Harmsen]

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

Since it's such a whacky and unlikely thing to do, yet it seems to work, I will add my testimony to the pile:
Same problem (no charging while connected to power - stuck at 83% in my case). Tried several different Dell chargers, no result. Performance of battery was excellent until this happened. Read the post at the office, where I use a docking station (so the power does not even come in at the normal connector) - same problem again, no charging. Out of sheer frustration, I blew on the connector, clicked it back in the docking station....and all is fine again.
I have no explanation, just the experience that the magic worked.

 

[orlbuckeye]

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

Since it's such a whacky and unlikely thing to do, yet it seems to work, I will add my testimony to the pile:
Same problem (no charging while connected to power - stuck at 83% in my case). Tried several different Dell chargers, no result. Performance of battery was excellent until this happened. Read the post at the office, where I use a docking station (so the power does not even come in at the normal connector) - same problem again, no charging. Out of sheer frustration, I blew on the connector, clicked it back in the docking station....and all is fine again.
I have no explanation, just the experience that the magic worked.

I have an Alienware (which is Dell) and it has protection which is supposed to extend battery life. The is built in when you use your laptop plugged in all the time. It's automatically treat the battery like it's charging mine sticks at 96%. the first time it did this a message popped up explaining what it was doing.

 

[jackwacksmack]

probably battery is dead. That's what happen when using AC adapter all the time without removing the battery. Battery is constantly charging. It is supposed to have charge/discharge cycle.

Did the same mistake that cost me $250 US to replace the battery.

I agree with the top part and the battery but, what battery cost you $250US.?

I have just had the same problem recently, I ordered a new battery and received it today. However the problem still persists, it does not charge the new battery either.

 

[phalanx7]

I ran into same problem on my dell studio 1558 laptop. I read an advice on blowing into the end of power chord and also into the power socket of my laptop. I blew once in both places and it worked! I can't still believe it! I had absolutely no hope when I was trying this apparently ridiculous advice.

I guess a layer of dust gathers over time and acts like insulation...

 

[Jakmode]

Wow.... worked for me! I cant believe it...like a NES cartridge!

 

[LSheffield]

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

My laptop is typically powered by the A/C adapter. This has worked for me in the past:
In Control Panel, under Power Options, select Desktop mode battery charge.
For me, it is on the left-pane. Enable and Apply.

 

[orlbuckeye]

I had the same issue the tech had me disconnect the battery and hold the power button down for 30 seconds then plug the battery back in. It's supposed to reset the battery. Then they had me disconnect the battery and just use the power brick and neither worked. So i sent it in for warranty work and it turned out to be the graphics card and mobo.

 

[Cerberus XX29]

Hello,I have my laptop DELL XPS L502X. When I plugg a battery it gives a message plugged in, not charging.

Try positioning the charger where it can charge ,maybe bend the cords of the charger slightly,because there are some chargers that have messed up circuitry and you have to do is close them by making slight bending of the cords.

 

[BradI]

FOUND A SOLUTION
1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

I am sitting here in stunned disbelief. I've got 20+ years in the business. Never thought this would work, but tried it and it did. mind=blown

 

[clauclauclaudia]

I really would not have believed it, but the "blow on it" solution just worked for me and my work laptop (a Dell Latitude E5440). It wasn't just the unplugging and replugging, because I'd done that repeatedly already. Go figure!

 

[kennypham227]

holy moly.. I can't believed that work!! AWESOME!!!! THANKS!!

This worked for me too. I simply took a can of air (Office Depot "Cleaning Duster"), and cleaned both the end of the cord and the hole in the computer that it fits into, and my Dell Inspiron N7010 started charging the battery immediately.

Wow, I never imagined this would ever work and most of the people here would also think the same and never try it.
It worked for me!! I just made a step more rather than just blowing since there was no visible dust, I used a household cleaner spray to clean the contacts and immediately it started to charge!

Thank you so much. This was so frustrating for me. i hope this is a permanent fix for me!

Now I'm getting to understand why my laptop used to randomly shut off even when it was on AC with no battery.
The moment it tried drawing more power from the charger, it couldn't have due to bad contacts and would snap off.
For not charging battery, it must need more power than just running the PC, so obviously it was not able to do that and it was not snapping it off because it has the backup battery power. Now its all logical

Really good find!!

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

 

[telemarkturns]

Tried this method thinking I would give it a shot then move on. But it worked!!!! I had even tried unplugging and plugging in many times previously. Thanks for the tip. 🙂 😉

ha. i can't believe it. my inspiron had not been charging for days. as a joke more than anything, i removed the power cord and blew into the receptacle then blew into the power cord plug.

abraca-freakin'-dabra! the battery has gone from 68% up to 76% in the last half hour.

i troubleshoot and fix things for a living, but i never would have thought of doing that. no way i would have ever believed it could have worked. still don't understand why, but i swear to gods it did the trick!

 

[andy2015]

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

I just registered to confirm this works 110%, its too simple! i just blew once into the lead connecter and once into the charging bit for the cable and Kaboom the laptop is now charging. Thanks bud!

 

[bmount01]

Hello,I have my laptop DELL XPS L502X. When I plugg a battery it gives a message plugged in, not charging.

Hi there,

I found a fix which may very well work for you. It was a bit embarrassing that I didn't think of it before but here goes: I got the contact cleaner as suggested elsewhere here and went to town cleaning everything (power off, battery out!) and looked into the female A/C Adapter on the back of the computer and two of the four contact tabs (little copper prongs) that contact the inside of the male end were bent inward toward the center connector. I took a plastic toothpick and bent them gently outward and viola, I am now charging rapidly! I hope this helps. I shoudl have thought of the simple stuff first but hey, it's fixed now right?

Bill

 

[thedewed]

FOUND A SOLUTION

It seems there are several different solutons out there but this one did it for me. I have been working on computers for a living for about 15 years and was completely amazed that this actually worked for me.

1. Turn on the laptop

2. Unplug the power cord from the laptop and blow several times into the end of the recepacle that plugs into the laptop

3. Blow several times into the laptop where the power plugs into

After I did that it started working. I found this solution on another post and I am still in shock it worked.

I just registered to confirm this works 110%, its too simple! i just blew once into the lead connecter and once into the charging bit for the cable and Kaboom the laptop is now charging. Thanks bud!

I just registered to say that I, like many others, after having dealt with Dell concierge who said it was either my adapter cord or my motherboard, then trips to local stores to confirm the adapter cord was fine, and another store that insisted it must be the battery, finally back home to find this thread and try the blowing once, it not working, trying again a few hours later just out of sheer frustration blowing again, and voila, it's fixed. Thank goodness for the Internet and people willing to put this info out there for others. I'll let Dell know the scoop when they call me to follow up! 2 of these experts had me about ready to replace the motherboard for hundreds of dollars and further frustration.

 

[thedewed]

I will add that what threw me for a loop was that coincidentally to this problem the Dell remote personnel had installed a bunch of driver updates, etc., and I was convinced that there was some type of software issue that had been created, yet the blowing works!!! It does seem to me to be interesting that so many seem to be having this problem in just the past month, so somehow it may be related to some recent ms device update, etc.

 

[1END]

probably battery is dead. That's what happen when using AC adapter all the time without removing the battery. Battery is constantly charging. It is supposed to have charge/discharge cycle.

Did the same mistake that cost me $250 US to replace the battery.

I agree with the top part and the battery but, what battery cost you $250US.?

I have the same problem. My PC: DELL Inspiron 3537, WIN 8.1.
I checked power cable on another computer - OK
I checked my battery on another computer - charging OK

 

[graphsmith]

Many of the above bought new batteries and it didn't help. The battery should just start lasting a shorter time between charges. I don't think that it is the charger either. My computer runs on the charger but does not charge the battery and the battery never goes down unless the plug falls out--Something that Dell is so proud of. The battery is NOT plugged into the charger directly but goes through a cable that goes into the computer. My next attempt will be to go into the computer and see just what that cable goes into.

I think that, on a smaller scale, this is like my electric deep fryer. It's power cord was attached to the fryer by a weak magnet so that my non-existent children won't run into the cord and burn themselves. (or a mouse won't hang itself on my computer power cord because the cord won't stay in. As both of these items came out or wiggled around at the connector until it's connectors are so carbonized and burned that they fail to make good contact.

 

[JanOli4]

Hello,I have my laptop DELL XPS L502X. When I plugg a battery it gives a message plugged in, not charging.

Hello,
I had the same problem with my dell studio 15 and because my original profession was electronic designer I have search for the problem sometime.
If the laptop is running on net power and the battery is not charging, the most probable cause is that the sense wire or connection between the battery loader and motherboard is intermitted.
How to test it?
In case of the dell studio the blue led on the connector is burning but the battery is not charging.
Disconnect the loader from the mains a take a simple Ohm meter, there should be a connection between the very tiny central pin (sense) and the ground. (If you open the cable like I did the sense is the green wire, the white and grey wire are the 19,5 V supply).
Now start to bend the cable carefully from begin to end to see if you see changes in the resistance, if you found a place where the Ohmmeter change from zero to infinity you found the location where probably the cable is intermitted. To be sure cut the wire and pull the green wire, if you can pull it out the cable you have found the problem. Now replace the loader or solder the wires again.
Another problem can be the connector in the laptop.
As it is very hard to test if the laptop is open you better replace it. If you look on the internet you will find dozen of suppliers, don't chose a cheap one, use one of Dell or a trustable company. The cheap one's have lousy soldering and incompatible led's, so this won't help.
If your battery was performing well or other batteries have the same problem, don't replace them, as long as you don't get a warning from the dell hardware test software that cells are broken.
Hopes this helps.
Regards, Jan Olivier