T23 Battery Recelling FYI (images)

[eric530]

Just finished recelling the battery for my t23 (pretty much dead, 100+ cycles, built 2003, would charge to 100%, and discharge within minutes) This is just some general info on what I did with the usual warning that if youre not completely sure what youre doing, .... don't do it... and I take no responsibility for anything that happens. I myself accidently shorted a cell or two for a second and I would say if you don't know what youre doing, buy a new battery... or thinkpad?

Instructions on a different battery pack
http://www.electronics-lab.com/articles ... index.html

The entire process wasn't too bad if you take youre time and are careful. (took about an hour) I really didnt want to pay 60+ for a cheap ebay knock off rated 4000mAh

The pack had 6x 18650's, I bought my 6 LG 2200mAh cells for $6.56 a piece (with tabs attached) total $46 with sipping.

The pack is held togethor with glue and many clips so I started prying from the side opposite of the connector, the two stubs that hold the battery into the laptop were the places I first pried to get the battery open, from then on its carefully working towards the front with a screwdriver, if you don't damage the case too bad it snaps right back togethor.

Once you get the battery apart you can pretty work off your existing battery pack and line up your new cells, (this probably won't make any sense until you open the battery so might try to put up some pictures later,) I presoldered the top row of two and the bottom four togethor using the pre attached tabs, (something about sticking a hot soldering iron directly to a li-ion battery scares me)

*a warning* on the pack of four batteries, only one end has all four of them connected, in the middle the two positive cells are connected and the negative cells are connected (A U shaped circut)

Otherwise i just clipped off the old cells, (packed them away nicely so they don't short, until i can dispose of them NOT THE TRASH CAN) soldered the circuitry onto my bundles of cells, making sure to use all the insulators that were attached to the original cells. Snapped the battery back togethor and stuck it in my thinkpad.

I fully charged the battery (the gauge showed 100% for almost 45 minutes but still showed the battery was charging) and am not dischargining it (currently running 1:30 on all timers off, max screen brightness, and a dvd running on and off. the gauge still shows 5%) I'm hoping discharging and recharging the battery completely will reset the battery gauge in the thinkpad. (I believe the battery reset part of the battery maximizer software only comes with t40+)

Anyways sorry for the long (very confusing post) I'll try and update more after I find out how well the battery works.

If you know what youre doing, I guess it's pretty simple, and I'm pretty happy with an 1hr 30min+ run time for 46 bucks

[eric530]

after discharging and recharging completely the thinkpad battery gauge has reset and I now have a 2003 100+ cycle battery that is in good health with 46.26Wh (43.20Wh the specified original)

[Bgradid]

Awesome, so your capacity is actually greater than the original?

Did you manage to get these figures from the battery monitor after doing the charge/discharge cycle, or are the figures on that kind of skewed now?

Sounds like an awesome project.

[eric530]

Got those figures after doing the charge/discharge cycle, before doing that, the figures were completely off, stating 25wH left in the battery, and the battery would read 100% but keep charging, or read 3% remaining and still run for 30 minutes.

Yea, my current capacity (according to the battery gauge) is higher then the original designed capacity. I used 2200mah cells i think the originals had a lower rating (its not labeled on the original cells) and while they sell 2400mah cells I didn't really feel like spending the extra money. I am planning on doing this same process to my t43 batteries in the future if I can't find a decent price.

some pics



original battery


quick image


A word of warning, the tabs and diy soldering of the old circuitry onto the new cells makes it really easy to short, especially if you have a bunch of cold solder joints that are sharp and can poke through the insulation. (I would cover all the connections with liquid electrical tape, once I triple checked everything was right, and tested it.) if you connect anything wrong, you'll either get sparks, and smoking or a battery pack that just doesnt work cause its not a complete circut. I just saw the thread about IBM certified used batteries, which seems like it could be a good deal, cheap, a warranty, and I have a lot more confidence in IBM QA, esp when compared to ebay)

[bri]

Where's the thread on IBM certified used batteries?

How about sending it here for about the same price:
http://www.batteryrefill.com/index.phtml

[awdark]

Oo awesome post. I might try that one day but for now my battery stiill has a bit of juice so ill wait until its really dead ^_^