2x Acer Nitro 5 not charging, keep your gaming laptop clean if you want it alive, by Electronics Repair School on YouTube. 16 min 21 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 21 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Shut the laptop down, unplug the charger and slide the battery disconnect if your model has one. Work on a clean desk and keep the screws in order as you remove them.
Undo the screws on the bottom cover with a PH0 screwdriver, then lift the panel with a plastic pry tool. Do not force it near the vents.
Disconnect the internal battery connector from the mainboard before touching anything else. This protects the board while you inspect and clean.
Hold each fan blade still and blow dust out of the fans, heatsink fins and vents. Clogged cooling is a common reason a gaming laptop misbehaves on power.
Check the DC jack where the charger plugs in. Look for a loose barrel, bent pins or a cracked solder joint, and replace the jack if it wobbles.
Set a multimeter to DC volts and test the charger output at the barrel plug. A working Nitro 5 adapter should read close to its rated 19 to 19.5 volts.
Inspect the battery connector and its pins for corrosion, scorch marks or a loose fit, then reseat it firmly. Try a known-good charger of the same wattage.
Reconnect the battery, refit the bottom cover and plug in. Watch the charge light and check the battery icon in Windows for a charging state.
If there is still no charge, the fault is likely on the charging circuit of the board. That needs microsoldering skills, so hand it to a repair shop.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let compressed air spin the fans freely, since the bearings and blades can be damaged.
Use an adapter with the wattage Acer specifies for your Nitro 5 model, as underpowered chargers cause slow or refused charging.
Clean the fans and vents every six to twelve months if you game often, before dust causes overheating.
Take photos of the screw positions as you go, because the bottom cover screws are not all the same length.
Questions
Why does my laptop say plugged in, not charging?
Windows often shows this when the battery is above about 95 percent or when the adapter is not recognised. Test the charger with a multimeter and try a different outlet before opening the laptop.
Can dust really stop a laptop from charging?
Dust mainly causes overheating, which can make the laptop throttle or shut down and sometimes stop charging as a safety measure. Cleaning the cooling system is a sensible first step before suspecting the board.
Is it safe to open the laptop myself?
Yes, if you unplug the charger and disconnect the battery first. Stop and get help if you see burn marks, a swollen battery or damaged wires.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
