Dimension 3000 -CMOS battery constantly dying in few weeks

Hi

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 - where the CMOS battery constantly dies
within few weeks/months.

It is really weird. I dont use it often, maybe once a month, and after
a few times of use - suddenly the CMOS battery is dead.

I have changed the battery 4 times now - using brand new batteries -
and still the symptom.

Any ideas?

Best regards

Jens Jakob

On 12 Apr 2007 03:10:05 -0700, "jj92_2" <jj92_2@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi
>
>I have a Dell Dimension 3000 - where the CMOS battery constantly dies
>within few weeks/months.
>
>It is really weird. I dont use it often, maybe once a month, and after
>a few times of use - suddenly the CMOS battery is dead.
>
>I have changed the battery 4 times now - using brand new batteries -
>and still the symptom.
>
>Any ideas?
>
>Best regards
>
>Jens Jakob

Are you unplugging the system from AC?

Where are you getting these batteries? If all from the same
source, I would assume they are old batteries and look
elsewhere for fresher batteries.

Hi,

Yes, I unplug the AC every time.

Batteries, Duracell - good source.

What can it be - I have never seen this behaviour in any other PC.

Best regards

Jens

Not the actual contacts by chance, contacts oxidised or badly
soldered... did you check them on a digital volt meter or digivom as
they are sometimes called, avoid the old analogue or pointer type's some
will flatten them in a wink..!

If it isn't as kony suggested or anything above then it's just gotta be
the bios chip or mobo.

I would certainly be wary if these cell's you get aren't bubble wrapped
or packed... if they are kept loose then there's every possiblility of
them shorting out.

davy

jj92_2 wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Yes, I unplug the AC every time.
>
> Batteries, Duracell - good source.
>
> What can it be - I have never seen this behaviour in any other PC.
>
> Best regards
>
> Jens
Something on the motherboard is drawing excessive current from the
battery; most likely a leaky capacitor. Finding the culprit is
likely to be time-consuming and repair might be difficult. I have
"fixed" this problem by replacing that tiny CMOS battery with one
having a much larger energy capacity: it lasts a year or two instead
of weeks. Make up a battery pack with the right number of AA cells
(or even D). Remove the button cell. If your m/b has a connector
for an external battery, connect the new battery pack there. Otherwise,
find a way to connect to the original battery holder. I used 2 AA
cells to replace a 3 volt button cell.

Very important: be certain you connect the new battery with the proper
polarity!

Not the actual contacts by chance, contacts oxidised or badly
soldered... did you check them on a digital volt meter or digivom as
they are sometimes called, avoid the old analogue or pointer type's some
will flatten them in a wink..!

If it isn't as kony suggested or anything above then it's just gotta be
the bios chip or mobo, are they actually duff?

I would certainly be wary if these cell's you get aren't bubble wrapped
or packed... if they are kept loose then there's every possiblility of
them shorting out, not sure if they are date stamped.

davy

On 14 Apr 2007 03:37:42 -0700, "jj92_2" <jj92_2@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Yes, I unplug the AC every time.
>
>Batteries, Duracell - good source.

If you say so, but the brand doesn't matter, it's how old
they are... to know you will HAVE to take voltage readings,
or at the very least sees some date codes to get a
reasonable expectation. Maybe you did but you only name a
popular brand.