You’re at 25,000 feet and the flight attendant informs the passengers that they can use electronic devices. You slowly remove the laptop from its case and put it on the seatback table. When you hit the power button, it is as lifeless as that cold airline tuna sandwich. If you are not anywhere near the wall-socket then the problem maybe on the battery itself or perhaps the battery charger, also the charger may not work properly the last time it was used.
These are a few troubleshooting steps you can do:
• Is the battery installed in the slot and connected to metal connectors? On most laptops, the battery is secured by a sliding latch or simple clip, both can be dislodged easily during travel. Sometimes, you may even discover that the battery falls off completely from the laptop. You should understand the laptop design and find out about the possibilities of battery incidents.
• Are you sure that the battery is charged? If you have an older battery type, the charge may be depleted even when it isn’t used. Before traveling you need to make sure the battery is charged overnight and if possible bring a spare or two.
• Is the laptop working when connected to the wall socket? If you are really at 25,000 feet, you have to be safely at the ground before finding out that is the real problem. If the laptop works when connected to the AC source but not under its battery, then the battery or the charger may be plagued by one of the following problems:
o The battery has reached the end of its useful life. Laptop batteries are not rechargeable forever. They always degrade slowly and lose their ability to store the power gradually. Sometimes, they die abruptly because of a catastrophic electrical short.
o The battery charger is not properly connected. Many chargers have interchangeable power leads to allow them match with various wall socket designs used in most countries. You need to be sure that the lead is attached properly to the battery charger and it is firmly plugged to your laptop.
o The charger isn’t getting the juice. Are you sure that the power outlet is working. Get a radio or a lamp to make sure that you have a live outlet. In some countries, especially in Europe and Asia, the power outlets are controlled by a switch.
o Bad battery charger. Although it rarely happens, your charger may be damaged by badly regulated current or physical factors. One of the common signs of bad charger is excessive heat. A charger charges 110/220 volts of AC to the DC voltage at approximately 5 – 20 volts; all electrical conversions are inefficient and produce a small amount of heat. The charger should be warm to touch even when after used for hours, also if you smell an acrid odor or see smoke, carefully unplug the charger and buy a replacement.
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