Battery question

[richk]

I bought what was described as a new, IBM 9-cell battery. The battery seems to be a real IBM battery. I put it into my machine (T42p) and turned it on. When I looked at the "battery information", it showed a first-use date of Feb, 2008 (manufactured in 2005), as if this was the first use, and a cycle count of zero, a charge capacity of 77.75 Wh (full) with no charge. It estimated 8 hours to fully charge. I went away and left it. About a half hour later I came back and the battery wasn't charging. It shows no current going to the battery. As far as I can tell, the battery will not take a charge. Any suggestions?

[USSS]

It might be that the battery is not propertly seated into the battery bay and/or one or more contacts (on the battery or the bay socket) is bent, broken, tarnished or corroded.

Worst case is that the charging circuit has been compromised either by an unexplainable surge (static electricity?) or one or more of the board components has become defective.

Seems like the battery should still be good, even if it was manufactured 3 years ago. But how it has been stored during that time might also be a factor in its demise.

[Stan]

I've read that Lithium- Ion batteries have an expected shelf life of three years from the date manufacture? Dependant on how they are used or stored.

If that is the case your battery may have no further charging capability, even though apparently unused.

I don't know if this is gospel, or if maybe, there could be a way to revitalise your unresponsive battery.

I do wish you the best of luck with it though.

[SHoTTa35]

you've probably had it going now for a while but those batteries once they sit around they self discharge all the way down. During that time you have to slap it with a charge for 24hrs or more BEFORE it start charging. So leave it in your laptop with power plugged in. Normally after some hours (8 in another guys case on here) it started charging.

That said tho, LiON batteries have a 3yr life generally... sitting around on the shelf doesn't help matters as they still will die. However maybe you can get some use out of it tho but i'd try returning it if you can get a newer one.

[richk]

As a follow-up, I tested the battery, as described in the HMM by checking the resistance across pins 4 and 5 (data and ground) and it showed a "reasonable" value. I put the battery back in, and the battery meter immediately began to show a trickle current (.15 amps) going to the battery with a message at the bottom saying the battery was completely drained and might take 10 hours or more to charge. The charging current stayed very low until the battery voltage got close to a normal 11 volts (normal for a drained battery), up from under 5 volts at the start. The charging current then jumped to a more normal value. After charging overnight, the battery shows up like a new battery, although I didn't do a run-down test. I don't know if putting an ohm meter (small current) across terminals 4 and 5 reset something or if it was a coinsidence.

[USSS]

Your battery's behavior reminds me of my ex-girlfriend's. Emphasis on "ex-".

Sounds like your battery is going to make it after all, Rich.