X31 Battery Advice

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middle14 · #1 Post by **middle14** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:08 pm

I have an X31 with original battery dated 2004-12, 10.8v 4.4 AH. My battery life has never seemed as good as it should be, and now is getting worse. Here are stats per the Battery Health info box:

design capacity 47.52 Wh
full charge capacity 38.51 Wh
cycle count 254

I'm assuming this means I need a new battery. Are there any higher capacity batteries for the X31? Any suggestions on best place to buy one? Any help would be appreciated.

brainpicker · #2 Post by **brainpicker** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 10:24 pm

Why would you need a new battery when your capacity is only down about 20% from new? If you haven't done so follow the battery health instructions to deep cycle once (or twice) and that will usually increase the full charge capacity significantly. I know, I know, there are those here who will scream from the rafters not to ever do this (never ever), but I perform one of these once every month or two and it always helps and has never caused a battery to fail or end it's life prematurely. Maybe I'm just lucky, but if the manufacturer of my laptops (and the warranty provider) recommends it, I listen. Besides, from my long-time experience it works. I make no guarantee this will help you as I can only speak from my experience.

Yak

middle14 · #3 Post by **middle14** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 11:49 pm

I end up deep cycling just by the way I use it, probably once a week or so. Only difference is about half the time I re-charge with the computer on rather than off, but still should do the trick. To me losing 20% seems like a lot, if I was getting 3 hours before that would be a loss of over a half hour.

From looking online it appears the stock battery was all that was offered, the only high capacity battery was the large one that plugs into the dock connector. Since I dock with a port replicator quite often this wouldn't be a good solution, I was hoping someone knows of a higher capacity battery that fit in the regular battery location. Any sites/brands that anyone recommends for a replacement?

RS_003 · #4 Post by **RS_003** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:24 am

Well...

I got the ultrabase (you know, the portable dock with CD-drive in it, and 2 speakers.. bla bla blah) and yes, it connect to the dockingport.
But under the dock is an extra room, where you can plug a seccond battery.

This way (with 2 orginal X31 batt's) I got up to 11 hours worktime.
And under heavy use 7!

I know it weights a bit more, and the thing is allot thicker... but why dont try it?

middle14 · #5 Post by **middle14** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:02 am

I have an ultrabase, but its never left my house. I travel a lot and the extra weight and bulk adds up quickly, I really don't want to carry it. An extra half pound for a battery wouldn't bother me but I don't want to carry a media base just to use the battery.

brainpicker · #6 Post by **brainpicker** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:15 am

When I owned X31's I always bought the "extended battery" which is a thin 4x8" or so battery that fit on the bottom using the dock connector. With one of those and my main battery even on a really bad day I could get 5-6 hours of heavy use at near full brightness, and much more with adjustments. From what I remember it gave a nice tilt to the unit too which aided in typing, and it gave a beter grip for carry. So yes, there is a supplemental solution for you. They are available from many sources and if I still owned X31's I'd give you a part number to go by.

I hope that helps address your question better.

Yak

middle14 · #7 Post by **middle14** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:52 am

I see one of those on Ebay right now, maybe I'll give it a try if it isn't too expensive. I guess it is easy enough to unplug it when I connect to my dock. Thanks for the info everyone.

brainpicker · #8 Post by **brainpicker** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:32 pm

middle14,
If you have trouble finding one PM me and I'll see if any of my contacts can help you out.

Yak

X31 Battery Advice

X31 Battery Advice

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