Dell inspiron 1525 will not charge the battery

1525 owners (possibly other models) DO NOT replace the mobo before reading this! Just read step 3 and 3a.

The Dell 1525, 600 series, and probably all other models using PA10 or PA12 power supplies have a power jack that uses the center pin to detect the presence of a genuine Dell power adapter. There have been considerable writings on the problems with this 3rd pin on the internet.
The symptom is that you can run the laptop when plugged in but the battery won't charge and you get a warning message that you are not using the proper power supply or it can not be identified.
The best place to see power supply status in the BIOS under battery status.
You MUST use a genuine Dell adapter, period. None of the non OEM supplies have the center pin enabled (proprietary chip).
CAUSES:
1. The power adapter sensing line can be damaged by static electricity but I find this to be rare.
2. The center pin in the power supply is loose or the wires are breaking (test by wiggling the power cord at the strain relief while holding the plug steady in the laptop - replace the power supply for $<20 on eBay.
3. The center pin connector on the laptop jack is loose - symptom is that it works sometimes and not others. Requires a full breakdown and replacement of the jack. Can be done yourself if you are very handy AND WILLING to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS which are excellent on the Dell web site. Does require soldering on most laptops.
3a. At least on the 1525 there is a sub board for the power and USB which you can get for $80 on eBay and just plugs in - still requires pretty much total breakdown. The board itself is usually the problem so replacing the connector won't help - it is in the multilayer trace from the power jack to the mobo connector. There is a bypass wiring method that requires super close tolerance soldering - I will post that if asked.
4. On some older models (P4 1 core) you can go into the BIOS and turn off Intel speed step to get the laptop running - it will run slower but you probably won't even notice the diff.
This whole mess is the result of Dell trying to protect the mobo and battery (life and fire prevention) but packing too much wiring into a too small package. They should have used a larger, 3 prong type power jack knowing how much strain is put on the power cord.

PROBLEM FOUND AND FIXED!!

The problem is as JCHUNTER identified. On my Inspiron 1525 I got the same dreaded message "plugged in...not charging." What I found is this: The problem is NOT the charger. the problem is NOT the motherboard (at least it wasn't) on mi laptop. The problem is the jack on the laptop that the charger plugs into. There are 3 metal contact parts on the charger jack that mates with three essential contacts in the charger input jack on the laptop. If you look at the charger tip you will notice (1) the outside metal piece, (2) the inside of that same outside metal piece, and, (3) (the metal tip inside that looks like a piece of bare silver wire (forgive me, I do not have the technical terms). If you look inside the power input jact on the laptop (does not require any opening of the laptop) you will see a rounded black piece in the center of the input. This iw where the problems lies. There are four metal contact points on that inside piece that must be in contact with the inside metal on the charger (#2 above). Over time, these four metal contacts gets pushed inside the rounded black center piece on the input jact so that they fail to maintain constant contact with the corresponding area of the charger, so you get the dreaded message.
Here are possible fixes:
1. replace the sub-board on which the power input jack & USB jacks are located (I do not know if all inspirons have this sub-board but mine did). To me it was not that difficult to open the computer and take that part out. P.S., I did not even have to remove the motherboard. OR
2. Replace just the power input jack (if you are good with soldering micro circuitry. Do so at your own risk. OR
3. This is what I did, and it worked like a charm. Find a way to pull out the four metal contacts on the inner black piece of the input jack of the laptop. This requires a little ingenuity and some patience. I took a straight pin and using a pliers bent the point so that it formed an "L' shape (the bent piece should be short enough so that you can fit it inside the powe jack and maneuver it around). Hook the bent end of the pin under each of the four contact pieces and gently pry them outward. It is my belief that as long as at least one pin gets contact with the charger that it should work.

(Some people suggested banging the laptop or wiggling the charger tip and some strange other tactis, which appear to work for some people. I have tried them and found that some work intermittently at best. They will work only as long as there is contact of the two parts I mentioned above).

To arrive at my solution, I opened up my Inspiron 1525. I put a multitester on the power input jact and realized that there was no problem with the sub-board or its connection to the mainboard. I tested the charger and that was fine also. Next I checked the power input jack and the contact points I identified as 1 and 3 above had good contact. It was difficult to check no 2. For this, I used a piece of tin foil placed inside the charger tip before inserting the charger tip into the power input jact on the laptop - and WOW, IT WORKED - NO MORE MESSAGE. I unplugged and removed the foil and.. you guessed it... the message was back. So, I knew that this had to be the problem. Since I used method 3 above, my laptop has been working like a charm, even after multiple times reinserting the charger into the power input jack on the laptop.

This is only my experience. I am no expert. I am just some one who uses self to save tons of cash.
HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE!!

Hi! i think i know whats wrong with your notebook, since the new ac adapter replacement did not work and you were able to charge your battery on a friends laptop, there is something wrong with mother board, to check this out, upon turning the computer on keep tapping on F2 under BIOS check "Battery Info" if it shows AC ADAPTER UNKNOWN and the BATTERY is IDLE it means mother board needs to be replaced. if you are still under warranty call dell for a mother board replacement.

if this helps please rate.

thanks
PJBHOi

VanDeretto has it exactly right... a loose screw. Follow the Dell instructions to remove the top cover http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1525/en/SM/cntrcont.htm#wp1180201
Then find the small phillips head screw that secures the connector.. it'll be loose.
Tighten it and close 'er up.. you're done!

Hi,

I had the same problem with a friends 1525 and solved it by doing the following.

Remove the battery from the bottom of the laptop and remove the 2 small screws that are under the battery.

Now remove the plastic cover from the front of the laptop by placing a flat headed screwdriver under the lip on the right hand side until it clicks. Open the screen wide open and the cover should pop off (be careful not to damage the ribbon that's attached).

You should now be able to see the back of the AC powere connector. In my case, the screw that hold the PCB board was loose - so I just tightened it and the battery started taking a charge again.

Hope this helps.


Cheers,
VanDeretto

I posted a very detailed blog about this problem. The idea is that you leave a comment about your 1525, and for every 100 people that have the problem I'll send another email and phone call in to Dell complaining about the issue. Hopefully we'll raise some flags on this and get a recall going! Here's the link...hope it helps some of you!

http://thetechguyblog.com/?p=174

I had this exact problem and it was solved by tightening the screw in Hoot1020's description. Others may have had different problems but this was exactly what was wrong with mine!!

Dear JCHunter 1525 owners (possibly other models) DO NOT replace the mobo before reading this! Just read step 3 and 3a.
Regarding the Problems faced related to Inspiron 1525. I would like to ask u the bypass wire connections from the DC Power Jack board and the Mother Board. Want to try that is that gonna work if I use the bypass wire connections. I hv tried to check the power supplies for the charger. Its 19 V DC. and dint get to know about the third pin potential difference. Wat does the 3rd pin exactly do in the charger connector. does it hv any potential difference of its voltage free. How does it acts as a detector for the Dell charger if its not hving any potential difference. I believe that u hv known a bit in deep for this solution so Im requesting u for the details and awaited. Im cant handle Soldering on the DC jack board and the charger. Thnx in Advance and ur reply wil b appreciated. Regards Amin.

Okay guys has stupid has this sound a loose screw is the source of all the problems follow solution #5 and if it still doesent work clean the inside of your power wire (Where The Needle Is) with WD-40 And problem solved worked for me ^__^ hope it works for you good luck

Battery not charge?

er...you can reference the artilc :1525 battery not charging
maybe it can help you !

Common culprits include a faulty motherboard, damaged charging circuits, and malfunctioning battery sensors. Your particular make and model of laptop will likely have its own unique issues, and a seasoned tech support operator will have seen all of them.

Regards,
Will

Dell Inspiron 1525 Power Jack Board
http://www.powerjackshop.com/Dell/Dell-Inspiron-1525.html

I didnt read all the answers so if this solution is already posted, i apologize! ive had the same problem with my 2year old dell, for about the past 6 mons. i read in another forum to try this:

shut down computer
remove battery
turn on computer(must be plugged in)
reinstall the battery(with comp on)
WALA!

magic, i know. im not technologically savvy enough to explain why this works, but it worked for me! my battery has gone from 1% to 12% in the minute it took me to write this :) good luck and hope this helps someone from searching google for hours like i did! :)

I had a Dell Inspiron 1525 not charging. It turned out to be a small inexpensive part that was only $39.99 to fix it yourself. I didn't really feel comfortable taking my laptop apart myself. I just mailed it to these guys and they had it fixed really quick for $99 including parts, labor, and return shipping. They have an article that will help you figure out what the problem is too. Check it out: http://njrefurbpc.com/magento/dell-inspiron-1525-not-charging
Hope this helps, and good luck. I was getting ready to toss my laptop out the window, but now its working great.

Just reflash/downgrade bios and you will back to normal. Bios update sometimes cause problem

Hi my son has a 1525 its just 18mths old and wouldn't hold charge, Dell have replaced the battery, put 2 new motherboards and 2 new chargers ( all reconditioned not new as per t & c's ) and were going to replace the hard drive, so a new computer, but they dont replace or refund, it has now charging but the software has been corrupted by the system keep shutting down invoulanterilly ( that's what i was told by the technician who's replaced the parts for dell ), the screen has now gone all around the edge and the facia bezel has broken, don't know about DELL more like HELL!!!!!.
If your laptop is not that old but out of warrenty and Dell wont do anything get in touch with Consumer Direct, who deal with all consumer complaints as it sounds like yours to is not fit for the perpose it was designed for under the sale of goods act 1977 and you should be intitelled to a repair replace or a refund.


hope this helps

regards Dean

This reminds me of a cell phone I used a couple of years ago. What happened with it was the battery completely discharged one time. Then the power management program it used didn't allow the charge to pass through to the battery. So, I used another charger, cut the end it off, pulled the red and black apart, and pressed it to the battery for 5-10 seconds on the coresponding + and - bars. Put the battery in immediately, and it would charge again. I wonder it this isn't similiar. I don't have an additional charger to try.

If you've replaced the battery, and charger and it still won't charge i would assume there is an issue with your logic board. Could be that the charging port is just loose. If you're out of warranty, somebody has to open the Laptop and replace the part. The part is available on ebay. Here's a guide on how to disassemble a Laptop. Maybe a tech savy friend can do it for you. If you want to pay to have somebody do it for you there are third party Laptop Repair Services.

This Is The Simplest Solution All You Need To Do Is Spray The End Of The Charger Cable (The Bit Where You Plug It In To The Laptop) If You Look There Will Be A Little Silver Pin Spray That With WD-40 It Works Like A Charm And Its Very Easy! Hope It Works For You

I solved this by removing and replacing the battery while connected to the power. After replacing the battery I got "Plugged in, Charging".

I found some tips "Dell Inspiron 1525 Battery Q&A"
May be some help

If the dell inspiron 1525 battery is dead, I suggest to buy a third-party one (Much cheaper than original battery)

How can resolve the charging problem dell 1525

Friends,
Problem with Dell Laptops?
For solutions for your problem you need to visit a site by just Click Here .
For any hardware problem with Dell Laptop you can Click Here

You should buy a replacement dell 1525 battery