what battery?

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spoon
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what battery?

#1 Post by spoon » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:37 am

Hi guys,
the sony battery of my T42 has become almost useless. After 2 two years it only lasts 5-10 minutes. It has only 75 cycles, is that normal?. BTW my laptop is still under warranty.
I just was wondering what kind of replecement should I get. I've seen in ebay brand new batteries for the T42 for 45$. Are the reliable?.
Thanks. -S

NS
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#2 Post by NS » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:43 am

2 years with 75 cycles... Emm....

Did you always charge it up to 100%. Did you adjust the TP battery threshold?

Batteries on e-bay might not be original IBM TP battery...! :-)

As the years go by, battery will aged and slowly become like your TP battery present state even though it is left unused or maybe i should say used infrequently...

bill bolton
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Re: what battery?

#3 Post by bill bolton » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:26 am

spoon wrote:the sony battery of my T42 has become almost useless. After 2 two years it only lasts 5-10 minutes. It has only 75 cycles, is that normal?.
It depends on the exact history of battery usage, but in general if you get a couple of years out of a battery there's not a lot to complain about.
I've seen in ebay brand new batteries for the T42 for 45$. Are the reliable?
From the user reports posted on ThinkPads.com about buying batteries off eBay, it seems to be a bit of a turkey shoot. There are some good experiences and some not so good experiences. You have to make up your own mind whether its worth taking a chance.

Cheers,

Bill

spoon
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#4 Post by spoon » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:44 am

thanks guys. I think I'll buy a new one in ebay. The price of an original one is more than the double. I guess the worst can happen is that the new battery doesn't last much.
Thanks

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#5 Post by rainab68 » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:35 am

He ~~
Your battery is kept too poor :shock:
You can exchange the Li cells to take another use.
If you want go for it

spoon
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#6 Post by spoon » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:07 pm

exchange the Li cells ?. It's the first time I heard that. Is that possible?. What would be the result?.

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#7 Post by christopher_wolf » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:15 pm

Difficult at best; it is far easier, and safer in most regards, to simply get a new battery rather than refilling an old one with new cells.
IBM ThinkPad T43 Model 2668-72U 14.1" SXGA+ 1GB |IBM 701c

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She does the things you do.
But she is an IBM.
/~o ---ELO from "Yours Truly 2059"

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#8 Post by Kyocera » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:08 pm

Chris is right, (as usual) I read the procedure for replaceing the cells and it is not worth the time unless you have lots of time and patience. I think it's posted in the t30 forum.

The %100 charge threshold really would not degrade a battery that bad, mine are still kickin for two hours or better after more than a year of use and charging to %100.

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#9 Post by kstuart » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:06 pm

Consider getting a "9 cell battery" (some Thinkpads shipped with them as standard equipment).

They stick out a little in the back and are slightly heavier, but you get ~50% more time.

I was able to get a brand new one on ebay for less than US$50 shipped.
- Ken Stuart

T40 (2373-12U) 1.3ghz, 1.5gb, 40gb5k80, 14"XGA, 2200bg, 9-cell, Infocase
600X (2645-5EU) 500mhz, 320mb, 10gb, 13"XGA

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#10 Post by Thinkpaddict » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:26 pm

I also think that refilling a battery with new cells is highly recommended against. Too much work, and too many factors to take into account. I read a while ago that if you are to do that you should get matched cells, because putting cells with some marked unbalance in voltage (due to manufacturing tolerance) will cause your battery to not last very long. I think all reputable manufacturers of batteries match cells in groups. That would explain noticeable differences in capacity (more so than if the cells were unmatched, anyway).

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#11 Post by rainab68 » Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:06 am

spoon wrote:exchange the Li cells ?. It's the first time I heard that. Is that possible?. What would be the result?.
It is possible to exchange the Li cells for new use. Just suggestion
You can have more power capacity by Sanyo 2400 mah Li cell(red package)

First you must make sure your battery control chip is not locked while it loses battery.
the next work is easy if the control chip does not make trouble,you just need to exechange all the cells in order (notice the way of battery link )

Of course you must have interested in that , and have DIY fun,otherwise it is convenience to buy a new one. Ha~~

Regards

rain
If you want go for it

spoon
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#12 Post by spoon » Sat Jul 29, 2006 6:55 am

ok! The exchange of cells looks quite cool and if I had more spare time I would do it, however I've not much time so I'll buy a new battery. Just an ecological question, what do you do with the old battery?, throw it away to the garbage doesn't seem very 'clean'.
Regads. -S

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#13 Post by Thinkpaddict » Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:40 pm

spoon wrote:ok! The exchange of cells looks quite cool and if I had more spare time I would do it, however I've not much time so I'll buy a new battery. Just an ecological question, what do you do with the old battery?, throw it away to the garbage doesn't seem very 'clean'.
Regads. -S
Easy...Just leave it on your doorstep, so that those really noisy toddlers that leave next door recycle it for you. Kids like shiny stuff. Ohhh, so shiny.. :P

rainab68
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#14 Post by rainab68 » Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:34 am

Thinkpaddict wrote:
spoon wrote:ok! The exchange of cells looks quite cool and if I had more spare time I would do it, however I've not much time so I'll buy a new battery. Just an ecological question, what do you do with the old battery?, throw it away to the garbage doesn't seem very 'clean'.
Regads. -S
Easy...Just leave it on your doorstep, so that those really noisy toddlers that leave next door recycle it for you. Kids like shiny stuff. Ohhh, so shiny.. :P
hah a nice idea :D :D
If you want go for it

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#15 Post by RDG » Sun Jul 30, 2006 7:44 am

I have a simillar question for experienced users. I have recently purchased a second hand T41. The battery needs replacing. The current battery lists two model no.s: ASM 08K8192, FSU 08K8193

A cursory glance at ebay reveals a range of model no.s for batteries recommended for the T41.

Should I restrict myself to those with model no.s exactly the same as my current battery?

Cheers,
RDG

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#16 Post by Thinkpaddict » Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:26 pm

RDG wrote: Should I restrict myself to those with model no.s exactly the same as my current battery?
Not necessarily, as long as you make sure that whatever part you buy is compatible (usually spelled in the auction as "replaces") whatever part you have. Also, bear in mind that there are more genuinely IBM parts compatible with your computer (the extended 9-cell battery comes to mind), and those will obviously have different part numbers.

If you buy a generic battery off of eBay, there is a number of sellers that offer 6-month (even 1 year) replacement warranties. I would definitely go with something like that, and read the terms of the replacement warranty carefully. That's what I will end up doing to replace my X24's recently defunct battery.

simms
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#17 Post by simms » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:39 pm

No, the differences between the FRU simply indicate the manufacturer of the cells. There are no known (or noticeable) differences between the 3 manufacturers (Sony, Pana, and another one).

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