t42 battery life

[mikeh420]

I just got a T42 2373-K3U. How long should a battery last for this model? According to the Battery Mizer the battery has degraded. I have also deep cycled the battery three times. Still can't get the battery to go for more than 1 hour.

If this battery is no good, are there any available out there? I have tried to use the search on this site to find a battery for sale, but the search doesn't work no matter what I put in.

Thanx in advance

[killer]

@mikeh420: Welcome to the forums ... and welcome to the world of old batteries. I don't know how long it is since your T42 was made but I suspect at least 5 years. Batteries have a 12 month warranty so even IBM, in those days, didn't give them a long-distance chance.

The best thing to to is to bite the bullet and pay for a new one.

eBay is one option, although someone more local to you might have details of a supplier with good credentials. If so they will be along shortly.

[mikeh420]

killer: that's what I was thinking. The unit is about 5 years old. Guess I'll try for a new one.

Thanks and TTFN!

@mikeh420: Welcome to the forums ... and welcome to the world of old batteries. I don't know how long it is since your T42 was made but I suspect at least 5 years. Batteries have a 12 month warranty so even IBM, in those days, didn't give them a long-distance chance.

The best thing to to is to bite the bullet and pay for a new one.

eBay is one option, although someone more local to you might have details of a supplier with good credentials. If so they will be along shortly.

[mikeh420]

I found one on Amazon for $31 new.
Are all T42 batteries the same, or are there different models per FRU? Being familiar with larger IBM systems, they like to change part #s a lot!

The battery on Amazon is 10.8 V and 4.4AH, exactly the same as mine.

I've wanted a Thinkpad for a while, I worked for a company that was an IBM Business Partner a few years back, and had one for work. Built like a brick!

[ajkula66]

Beware of cheap Chinese knock-offs...you'll be wasting your money...original IBM/Lenovo batteries for your machine can still be found, both on eBay and Lenovo Outlet occasionally...

[Mike Blake]

One thing I'll say in favor of the Marketplace forum here as opposed to eBay: the Thinkpadders here are more apt to give you the true story on the battery, like how long they've had it, and what the readings for it are in the Battery Information tab of Power Manager.

As opposed to those eBay sellers who say things like "I don't know much about this battery stuff, but somebody could get a real bargain here."

[mikeh420]

Lenovo has some refurbs, they have 4, 6, and 9 cell batteries. 6 cell is $38, 9 cell is $43. Is the 9 cell worth the extra $$?

Do more cells give more battery life?

[ajkula66]

definitely worth the extra $5 if you don't mind the weight/size...

[GomJabbar]

This is what I got for a replacement for my T42. Recommended (however, doesn't work with docking station).

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=81968

[Mike Blake]

In the older thread you refer to, someone calls the extruding part of the larger batteries "the handle."

Now it certainly looks like one and it's tempting, but is it safe to actually use it that way? Seems risky to me. (But the large battery I have is for the z61t, not my T42, so what do I know?)

[mikeh420]

Is the 9 cell larger than the factory battery? I found a very inexpensive docking station and I hope the battery doesn't interfere with it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Docking stations don't work with the large batteries inserted (i.e. those batteries that extend from the rear).
You need to remove the large battery in order to use the docking station (or insert a standard, smaller battery).
BTW, both small and large batteries are factory made

[dr_st]

IBM/Lenovo original 9-cell batteries extend from the rear, and all their docking stations work with them...

Some aftermarket batteries may be even larger or have a different form factor - these are not guaranteed to fit...

[mikeh420]

IBM/Lenovo original 9-cell batteries extend from the rear, and all their docking stations work with them...

Some aftermarket batteries may be even larger or have a different form factor - these are not guaranteed to fit...

This is what the person selling it says too. I couldn't cancel the battery order for the 9 cell anyway.

At Lenovo a refurb 9 cell is $47 including tax, free shipping

http://outlet.lenovo.com/accessories/ba ... j0467.html

thanx for all the info

Mike

[ajkula66]

That's not the correct battery for your machine, BTW...

[mikeh420]

That's not the correct battery for your machine, BTW...

it's supposed to be for a 14.1" T model

what's wrong with it?

[dr_st]

It's for T60 and up.

[mikeh420]

It's for T60 and up.

thanx for the heads up. I just cancelled the order but not without refusing to pay the 15% restocking fee to return the battery. They want to charge a restocking fee, but I told them they sent me the wrong part. Accoring to their website they have this part as a battery for all T, R, W, Z, and SL models, but once I got someone on the phone they admitted the battery is only for T60 and up.

Too bad they don't know their own parts! Should have kept the call center in the U.S.

[ajkula66]

mikeh420 wrote:

Accoring to their website they have this part as a battery for all T, R, W, Z, and SL models, but once I got someone on the phone they admitted the battery is only for T60 and up.

Too bad they don't know their own parts! Should have kept the call center in the U.S.

They were correct. That battery does work for all the above models.

You were wrong in assuming that the battery in question would work in a T4x unit.

End of story.

[mikeh420]

Not quite, a T model could be a T2x, T4x, or T6x. Not sure how I can tell if a T means only T60. IBM has several T models other than the T6x line.

[ajkula66]

mikeh420 wrote:

Not quite, a T model could be a T2x, T4x, or T6x. Not sure how I can tell if a T means only T60. IBM has several T models other than the T6x line.

While it's true that there were many different T series, it was your lack of basic research that had caused this situation in the first place...

Having said that, the batteries were not interchangeable between T3x and T4x generation either. I honestly fail to understand why anyone would assume that there's a battery that would cover a ten-year-span in any company's production...

Choke it up as lesson learned, and be happy that they gave up on charging you the restocking fee.

[mikeh420]

@ajkula66

Sorry everyone cannot be an expert such as yourself, no reason to be rude

I honestly fail to understand why Lenovo would assume that someone would automatically know that the T line spans 10 years, and that it has different batteries. Not everyone can be an expert on their product line, nor do they need to be. Even the Lenovo employee admitted their MISTAKE.

I'm just trying to get the correct battery for my Thinkpad. Your comments were not helping in this matter, unlike others who told me that it was the wrong battery in a more civil way.

Either way, I would not have paid the restocking charge, there is such a thing as a credit card charge-back.

[dr_st]

While it's true that one should do their research, it is also true that on the particular outlet page they did not bother to specify the exact list of products these batteries are compatible for. Clearly an omission on their part, as all their main pages for accessories give a very detailed list.

[ajkula66]

mikeh420 wrote:

Even the Lenovo employee admitted their MISTAKE.

Of course they did. That's called "the customer is always right - even when they're wrong".

I honestly fail to understand why Lenovo would assume that someone would automatically know that the T line spans 10 years, and that it has different batteries. Not everyone can be an expert on their product line, nor do they need to be

No expertise required. Common sense only. Find me a laptop manufacturer that hasn't changed the battery design over the past decade.

Your comments were not helping in this matter, unlike others who told me that it was the wrong battery in a more civil way.

My original comment addressing the incorrect battery issue was posted merely to inform you that you got the wrong battery. However, when you started bashing Lenovo for something that wasn't a mistake on their part, along with the comment on the call center, I felt that other aspects of this story needed to be pointed out...

BTW, I've posted hundreds of comments that are critical towards Lenovo both here and on their own forum. It's not that I have a problem with them getting trashed when they deserve it...

Either way, I would not have paid the restocking charge, there is such a thing as a credit card charge-back.

Of course there is. Doesn't it feel great knowing that one can make a mistake and that someone else will pay for it...

[goofyGAguy]

Doesn't it feel great knowing that one can make a mistake and that someone else will pay for it...

That's the American way!

[mikeh420]

That's the American way![/quote]

yes, but the call center was in India! Very un-American

[mikeh420]

thank you

While it's true that one should do their research, it is also true that on the particular outlet page they did not bother to specify the exact list of products these batteries are compatible for. Clearly an omission on their part, as all their main pages for accessories give a very detailed list.

[Harryc]

I think Lenovo could do a much better job with their battery descriptions at the Outlet too. Agreed ... at least provide a complete list of compatible machines for each one.

[mikeh420]

I think Lenovo could do a much better job with their battery descriptions at the Outlet too. Agreed ... at least provide a complete list of compatible machines for each one.

Agreed. Not all customers can be experts on Lenovo's product lines, but at least Lenovo should be.