EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

Electronics => Power/Renewable Energy/EV's => Topic started by: BillMC on January 22, 2024, 09:26:29 pm

Title: Battery Powered v Mains Power Suppy
Post by: BillMC on January 22, 2024, 09:26:29 pm
I have a certain device (portable CD/mp3 play) which like many other devices can be powered from either battery or mains power supply. When I first used it I used batteries. I then found a mains power supply and used that, because the batteries power ran out. The device continued to work without any problems. I later used a new set of batteries, but for some strange reason the device would not work, yet when I plug the power supply back in it still continued to work.

Can anyone explain the reason why it no longer works with the batteries? BTW I tried a few different sets of batteries and I even tested them wil a meter and they all have a full charge.
Title: Re: Battery Powered v Mains Power Suppy
Post by: tunk on January 22, 2024, 09:34:23 pm
The power supply contact in the CD player most likely has
a switch that disconnects the battery when the power supply
is plugged in. It could be bad.
Title: Re: Battery Powered v Mains Power Suppy
Post by: BillMC on January 23, 2024, 12:34:58 am
So I take it then that this switch must have permently switched off the contact for the battery input?
Title: Re: Battery Powered v Mains Power Suppy
Post by: coppercone2 on January 23, 2024, 12:39:50 am
trace the battery circuit to the circuit board piece by piece and see if there is a circuit when you are probing a battery because consumer device battery cavities are often utter trash and the problem is compounded by small amounts of corrosion damage from burping cells etc. A dodgy switch is also a common problem.

its methodical probing that will find this problem most likely.