19 replies to this topic

[Peter1]

Hello

Does this say anything about the CMOS battery's condition?

 

I saw two  3's so wondered if it meant anything regarding this battery.

TY

 

 

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[Digerati]

No, I see nothing there about the CMOS voltage. If you can start your computer in the morning and the date and time are correct and it boots to the correct drive, your battery is probably fine. If in doubt, go buy another. They typically cost just a couple dollars. Just remember to unplug the computer from the wall and touch bare metal of the case interior before reaching in. Then connect and boot directly into the BIOS Setup Menu to check/reset the date and time, and if necessary change the boot drive order. Then Save and Exit to boot normally.

[terry1966]

the vbat reading is your cmos battery i believe.

 

[Peter1]

I will hold off till I see signs as I have never seen this type of latch or retainer on the web including YouTube.

It is a Dell maverick device. You are supposed to push the spring clip away from the battery which I tried but it would not budge. As it is the positive part of continuity I don't want to break it.

So if and when I will use the tip of  plastic pencil with no lead to try again. I used a finger before. If I had not tried the fist time I would not be as concerned.

Many have tried to help but no one has found the exact clip and even the manual is of no help. It is not a current problem and may never surface.

I would submit  photo but it is running well so will hold off. No more Dells for me. 

Thanks very much to you both for replying.

[Digerati]

  Well, duh! That makes sense. I don't know how I missed that. I am guessing because it shows exactly the same as your 3VSB voltage and it is a bit high, I just skimmed past it. But yes, VBAT is indeed the voltage for the battery. As I said, it seems a bit high to me but I don't believe it is anything to worry about.

 

Thanks Terry.

 

As far as prying the battery out, it may be a two-handed job with one holding the spring clip back, and the other prying the battery out. You might look at those wooden sticks things ladies use to jam their cuticles back. They are pretty durable and non-conductive.

Edited by Digerati, 30 April 2016 - 08:34 AM.

[Peter1]

3VSB is what I looked at after terry pointed it out but it does seem high. The battery is 5 years old too. Oh well it is running. 

Thanks again guys.

 

 

@ terry

i just wanted you to know I am doing well in treatment - 4th tumor. I am in the hormone/oral pill stage and starting radiation soon.

I will be busier with the build when I kick C's  butt. Looking to make 85 at least.  

Peter

Edited by Peter1, 30 April 2016 - 09:36 AM.

[Digerati]

Well, those batteries will often last 10 years. But I have also seen bad ones right out of the new packaging. If you really want to test your battery, set the date and time, then shutdown the computer and unplug it from the wall. Leave it that way for a day or two and come back. The date and time should still be pretty close to being accurate. If off by days, months or longer, for sure, the battery needs replacing.

 

Best wishes for total success with your treatment.

[Peter1]

I appreciate that more than you know.
Thank you

[Digerati]

No problem. Both my parents had cancer and I am now older than my mom was and creeping up (too fast) on the age my dad was. She won her battles, he lost his. So I may not fully be able to stand in your shoes, I can sure appreciate what it means to.

[terry1966]

 

[paws]

Peter,

I have just seen your topic and wanted to wish you well with your treatments. There are many survivors of the big C around (old paws being one of them...  rectum, lung, bowel  all removed by operations at approximately yearly intervals, all chemos now completed and now 13 years since first diagnosis and  nearly 10 yrs since the last ( I hope!) ...... back to topic:

 

The sensors that report battery voltage for the coin cell (Often a CR3028 3v battery) are notoriously inaccurate, and the BIOS reports, although a little better, still leave a lot of room for improvement in terms of accuracy.

 

In the workshop we never take a lot of of notice of the sensors indications due to the above.

 

It's a simple job to use an relatively accurate digital multi-meter to check actual voltage....

 

When poking around in any machine its better to disconnect all, repeat all wires from the computer and check and double check that the mains voltage wire from computer to electrical wall socket is disconnected from both ends. (Don't rely on any switches, pull out the plugs!)

 

With all power leads removed hold in the "power on" button for 20 seconds then release it, then hold it in for 10 seconds and release it, one final hold in for another 10 seconds, and you can be pretty well assured that the capacitors are well and truly drained.

 Discharge any static electricity in your body by often touching a bare metal part of the computer's chassis, and don't move around.

 

If the CMOS batter is a CR3028 as many are then the "positive" + side will be uppermost, making it simple to connect the red probe+ of your multi-meter to its upper face + and the black probe to a bare metal part of the computers chassis that should be "Negative" -

 

The multi-meter should now indicate the true voltage, or pretty close to it.

 

A brand new battery should read around 3.2 to 3.3V

 

We replace them automatically if its down to below 2.8v as they cost only a small amount and take a second or two to replace but they will often work OK when the voltage is a lot lower than that.

 

You just need to flick/prise the battery out of its housing with a probe, its not a sophisticated catch.... just prise it out!

 

If your not happy working in the computer's insides or with multi-meters, then get a competent local computer technician to do it for you......

 

I hope Bill will forgive me for my "oversimplified" simple approach and my use of British terms rather than American, in my advice here... he is the real expert on this and could put it a lot better than me!

 

Remember though those important words:

 

"If it aint broke don't go a trying to fix it"

 

Regards

paws

[Peter1]

No problem. Both my parents had cancer and I am now older than my mom was and creeping up (too fast) on the age my dad was. She won her battles, he lost his. So I may not fully be able to stand in your shoes, I can sure appreciate what it means to.

 

 

>>Technology is moving along quickly - I am optimistic and also wish you a long healthy road.

[Peter1]

Hi Paws

Mine is the CR 2032. I will get it but it is a Dell oddity. It looks to be spring loaded.

Thank you for all the tech info and the health wishes.                                                                                                                                      We would be awful organ donors as i too am missing parts. Nephrectomy and lobectomy the worst. Bladder is tumor removal and followup treatment. prostate long term process.  Google "Camp Lejeune and contaminated water". Interesting reading.

We are still standing so, one day at a time with a good attitude.  It is a waste to let negativity consume a wonderful day.

Stay happy and keep tapping.

Peter

Edited by Peter1, 01 May 2016 - 02:36 PM.

[paws]

Hi Peter

We would be awful organ donors

 

I reckon you are spot on   ..anyways good luck with the treatments.

 

The CR2032 is the usual one..( sorry I got a bit of finger trouble when writing down the numbers previously!)

 

the designation means that it is Lithium based and the diameter is 20 mm with a height of 3.2mm hence 2032.

and its easy to prise out, don't think the spring loaded catch you mention is a sophisticated piece of engineering.... because its not!

 

Regards

paws

[Digerati]

Quote

I hope Bill will forgive me for my "oversimplified" simple approach and my use of British terms rather than American

 

I used to live on your side of the big pond back in the 80's so I can usually sort the terms outs. The pronunciation may get me - for example, how Bicester is a two-syllable word I'll never get. And my British neighbor telling my wife he would "knock her up" the next morning caught me off guard too!

 

At any rate, I agree the Dell spring clip should not be too hard to figure out. As I noted above, it could be a two-handed operation so the hardest thing is getting both hands in there and still be able to see what you are doing.