Extra battery for my X24?

[DaddyLongLegs]

My head is going to explode from trying to figure this out. Just got a fresh new battery for my X24 and I'd like even more juice. I have a X2 UltraBase and I'd love one of those batteries that go where the optical drive should go. However, some IBM Wiki says the extra batteries do not work with the mediaslice/2000 bays. Is this true? Thanks!!

[rkawakami]

Yes, I can definitely confirm that the Ultrabay 2000 in the Ultrabase X2 does NOT have the battery terminals required for supporting an Ultrabay battery.

[DaddyLongLegs]

Yes, I can definitely confirm that the Ultrabay 2000 in the Ultrabase X2 does NOT have the battery terminals required for supporting an Ultrabay battery.

Thank you. Is there no way to have an extra battery in my X24? The idea of swapping out my optical drive when I need some extra juice was a great thought.

[sjthinkpader]

Have to go for the X3x and X4x series to use Ultrabay/Ultrabay-Slim batteries. The X3 Ultrabase goes one better. It can accept a 2nd main battery on the bottom.

[DaddyLongLegs]

Have to go for the X3x and X4x series to use Ultrabay/Ultrabay-Slim batteries. The X3 Ultrabase goes one better. It can accept a 2nd main battery on the bottom.

Are you saying my X24 can use an X3 Ulrabase?

[sjthinkpader]

Sorry, X3x series means X30, X31, X32. Your X24 can only use X2 Ultrabase.

[tom lightbody]

> X24 with an X3 Ulrabase

just trying it: the x24 sits precariously atop an unmodified
x3* base. Accepts power from the base but seems not to
recognize an x3* battery in the base.

Two modifications to the base might make it fit better:
1. remove the 2 locking fingers in front
2. remove a small protruberance in after righthand side.

another way, depending on your mobility requirements,
use a 12 volt car/motorcycle battery, and an IBM 12v=>16v
power brick such as fru 22p7051

[sjthinkpader]

The battery switching circuit is in the Thinkpad and not in the Ultrabase.

For the X3 Ultrabase, there is a mechanical interlock that prevent a 3rd battery to be attached, i.e. a plastic tab extends to block the 3rd battery once the 2nd battery is inserted, whether it be Ultrabay battery or a 2nd main battery. The 2nd main battery feature went away in the X4 Ultrabase.

DC adapter is a good idea and I also carry these in my cars.

[DaddyLongLegs]

Well I don't need THREE batteries total; I just liked the idea of being able to pull out my DVD Rom drive and pop in another battery if I'm running low. I'm guessing on the X24 I am stuck in this regard?

[sjthinkpader]

Yes, only 1 battery in the X2x series.

[paul*robertson]

Daddylonglegs. Whats the spec on your X24. Are you still using it on a regular basis. The reason i ask is i'd like on of the small 12 incl screen thinkpad, but am not sure if the x2 series is still useable today. It would be for internet and office.

[DaddyLongLegs]

Kinda stinks I can't have increased capacity; I'd love to get 4 hours out of this guy for my long daily commute.

Daddylonglegs. Whats the spec on your X24. Are you still using it on a regular basis. The reason i ask is i'd like on of the small 12 incl screen thinkpad, but am not sure if the x2 series is still useable today. It would be for internet and office.

The specs are that the RAM is maxed out at 640MB. It used to have a 20 gig HD but I upgraded to a 60 gig even though I didn't really need the extra room; though I doubt that helps with speed. Anyway, the thing is great. My friend just bought a brand new X series; spent like 1k on it, and I can't tell the difference. Mind you I am only doing web browsing, web developing, some Photoshop, MS Office stuff and so on, but it is definitely usable today. Install a clean copy of XP, don't install stuff you don't need, and the thing flies, I promise you. Right now I have like 30 Firefox tabs opened and it still runs great. Not to mention the physical abuse this thing takes (which is why I love IBM/Lenovo so much to begin with). Definitely purchase it. I got mine for like $250 or so.

[rkawakami]

Also, if you are really interested (and can afford it) in making an X2 system more rugged, and possibly last longer when running off a battery, then consider using an SSD (solid state drive). I recently put one into an X22:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=79702 (Transcend TS16GSSD25-S 16GB)

Responsiveness has improved a little bit over the previous Seagate disk drive - noticeable when going into and out of hibernation. However, I don't yet have any detailed data on any difference in battery life. However, going totally by the drive power specs, I have to believe that battery life is going to improve:

Transcend SSD25-S (typical / maximum current in mA)
Startup: (couldn't find any data but I have to think that it can't be any more than the Write current spec)
Read: 55.8 / 104.7
Write: 57.8 / 112.4
Idle: (couldn't find any spec)
Standby: 1.9 / 3.3

Seagate ST960815A (maximum values; originally quoted as Watts but converted to mA)
Startup: 1000
Read: 360
Write: 360
Idle: 120
Standby: 40

Assuming that Seagate is being overly conservative with their maximum current values and that their "typical" numbers are half those values, that still means the Transcend's maximums are half the Seagate's.

[paul*robertson]

Kinda stinks I can't have increased capacity; I'd love to get 4 hours out of this guy for my long daily commute.

And what do you get out of the one battery at present.

[DaddyLongLegs]

And what do you get out of the one battery at present.

No exaggeration: 10 seconds.

[tom lightbody]

> 10 seconds

is this the "fresh new" battery you mention in first post?
if so, then perhaps a fresher newer one would be a good start:
using linux, I get around 2.5 hrs on each of several batteries

[paul*robertson]

> 10 seconds

is this the "fresh new" battery you mention in first post?
if so, then perhaps a fresher newer one would be a good start:
using linux, I get around 2.5 hrs on each of several batteries

What would you expect with a good battery on win 2k, normal screen brightness (in my case thats full).

[DaddyLongLegs]

> 10 seconds

is this the "fresh new" battery you mention in first post?
if so, then perhaps a fresher newer one would be a good start:
using linux, I get around 2.5 hrs on each of several batteries

No, this is on the old battery. The $35 one I ordered on ebay has not arrived yet. At one time it did in fact give me a good 2 hours, but that was over a year ago.