Plugged in, not charging. HELP!!!

[K'Ehleyr]

Well the charger for my HP laptop finally fell apart dispite the sellotape and the random things used to keep it in place. So I purchased a new 'universal' one today and was very pleased when the light came on. But now it says those dreaded words ~ plugged in, not charging.

WHY?

I've 'googled' and done everything they say. Turn it off, take battery out, unplug, fire up again, plug in, turn off, put battery in... hey I've even turned round and round and put my left leg out, in, out and shaken it about ~ but it's still not charging

Please any advice gratefully received. It's a HP G6000 running vista.

K'Eh, beginning to eat her arm...

 

[Chaos Descending]

Does your universal charger have any kind of control, knob, switch, button, or other to set the output voltage?

 

[Haggis and tatties]

What charge is your laptop at, some only start recharging when they drop below a certain percentage.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Does your universal charger have any kind of control, knob, switch, button, or other to set the output voltage?

Ooh! Excellent call CD! There is a little arrow thing on the box that is currently on 15v. How do I find out what it should be?

 

[Hermiod]

If you get stuck, you can get a replacement charger here.

 

[Chaos Descending]

The bottom of your laptop might have a sticker, label, or stamp that has a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo, and somewhere on there it might list "Input 19.5VDC" or something akin to that.

EDIT: For what it's worth, my laptop takes 19.5V, and I found at least one site that says the HP G6000 takes 19V. So you probably just have the thing set too low.

 

[Hermiod]

Does your universal charger have any kind of control, knob, switch, button, or other to set the output voltage?

Ooh! Excellent call CD! There is a little arrow thing on the box that is currently on 15v. How do I find out what it should be?

Ah, might be able to help you there - the link I just posted says the output for the original one is 18.5v. Have a look at the sticker on the original to be sure.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

What charge is your laptop at, some only start recharging when they drop below a certain percentage.

It's at 0%. I even turned it off for 15 mins to try and get it and the charger aquainted but to no avail

 

[Omnius]

Why didn't you buy a new original HP certified power supply?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Hewlett-Packard-Adapter-Charger/dp/B0016A1XC2

 

[Chaos Descending]

Why didn't you buy a new original HP certified power supply?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Hewlett-Packard-Adapter-Charger/dp/B0016A1XC2

Because they usually cost too much and are not really technologically necessary, would be my guess.

 

[Hermiod]

Why didn't you buy a new original HP certified power supply?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Hewlett-Packard-Adapter-Charger/dp/B0016A1XC2

Because they usually cost too much and are not really technologically necessary, would be my guess.

In this case, an original one is £15. The universal one will be more complicated and cost more. The laptop in question is not exactly from some dead brand like my old one was, so getting an original charger is much easier.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I can get a universal one for US$7, and I can BUILD ONE MYSELF for less than US$3 (but then, I am an electronics technician).

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Does your universal charger have any kind of control, knob, switch, button, or other to set the output voltage?

Ooh! Excellent call CD! There is a little arrow thing on the box that is currently on 15v. How do I find out what it should be?

Ah, might be able to help you there - the link I just posted says the output for the original one is 18.5v. Have a look at the sticker on the original to be sure.

YES YES YES!!!! Thank you guys ~ I'm now at 5% and charging
Sends beers and cakes.
Many thanks ~ sanity has returned

 

[Chaos Descending]

Glad you got it sorted! Who said that there's never any happy news at TBBS?

 

[Hermiod]

^Realistically, the difference is a couple of pounds. Using a universal charger may also affect your warranty in some cases.

Anyway, the simple answer is to set the universal one to the same output - 18.5v - as the original. Edit - which seems to have worked.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Using a universal charger only affects your warranty if you bother telling anyone that you're using a universal charger. It doesn't actually leave a trail of breadcrumbs and fingerprints that give away it's identity.

I agree that the difference in price is scant, but for some people on short budgets, that may mean something. Besides, if you have three different things that run at three different voltages and you don't use them all at once, it's easier to have one universal PS than three dedicated ones.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Why didn't you buy a new original HP certified power supply?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Hewlett-Packard-Adapter-Charger/dp/B0016A1XC2

Because they usually cost too much and are not really technologically necessary, would be my guess.

In this case, an original one is £15. The universal one will be more complicated and cost more. The laptop in question is not exactly from some dead brand like my old one was, so getting an original charger is much easier.

*slaps her own wrist* With the blessed hindsight, yes I should have ordered one, but I prevaricated and paid the extra £5 for having one TODAY! But anyway, thanks to you guys it works
And as Chaos points out, is a chance to have a rare happy ending on TBBS!


*charger catches fire...*

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Good stuff.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I've had so many problems with laptops not charging. I'm glad this worked out.