It's retro laptop time - TI TravelMate 4000 WinSX

[rubber_jonnie]

To quote an X-wing pilot from Star Wars: 'Almost there..'

Almost

[rubber_jonnie]

So a bit of digging today and I believe I have the pinout for the Travelmate power socket

This is the socket:

IMG20260508153459.jpg (204.2 KiB) Viewed 742 times

There are 3 pins, 2 large and one small and a concentric metal 'DIN' plug ground around the outside. The two bigger pins are clearly those carrying the main power and battery charge. I suspect that the 3rd pin is a sense pin to tell the PSU when the battery is charged, however I can't be 100% certain of that.

Looking at the socket from the rear as per the photo I believe this is the layout:

Power Socket.jpg (78.73 KiB) Viewed 742 times

However, when I supply 5.2v as shown to the indicated pin and GND the laptop powers up just fine.

When I apply 6.5v to the indicated pin and GND the battery is clearly being charged as I see a current draw on my bench PSU which drops to zero when I remove the battery.

I'm unlikely to charge the battery in reality, but I can at least sort out a suitable PSU now I know where to connect to.

It's very nearly done

EDIT: The battery is actually taking a charge!!

I'm watching it carefully in case of overheating, but I just turned off the bench PSU and the machine boots!!!

[rubber_jonnie]

Well I am a little surprised, shocked even.

After giving the battery some charge yesterday, the laptop ran for around an hour this morning on battery alone with no sign of dying, no low battery light, anything that might shout 'bad battery'.

Whoever specced the battery at TI did a very good job it would seem.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so one thing I did wonder if I'd be able to do was use this laptop as a terminal and hook up to the ST serial port. I'm happy to report I can

IMG20260512104144.jpg (276.23 KiB) Viewed 715 times

Not only that, but all running on battery

Next up I'll figure out a PSU/charging solution that is a bit more sensible and not just some wires stuffed in the back