How do I find panasonic batteries for x201?

[painiac]

I'm now the proud owner of an x201. I'm wanting to get a secondary 6 cell battery, and I've read on this forum how Panasonics are the best performing. Now I'm at a loss as to how to reliably get one at a reasonable price.

[EOMtp]

The premise of your question is questionable. Original X201 Lenovo batteries form Sanyo, Panasonic, Sony, others, are all virtually identical in performance and longevity. The big difference is whether you get an original battery or a third-party battery.

Note: Even if you get an original Lenovo battery, the most recent manufacturing date for X201 batteries will likely be circa 2012 ... and since Li-Ion batteries are like lettuce in that they deteriorate whether or not one uses them, it is very likely that one receives a brand new battery which can store less than 100% of the design capacity.

[Cigarguy]

I've noticed that Panasonic batteries far outlast other celled battery. Well worth looking for. How one distinguish one from the other though I don't know.

[painiac]

Does the part number distinguish the battery manufacturer at all? Or is it one part number regardless of manufacturer?

[RealBlackStuff]

If you had searched the forum, you would have noticed that X200 and x201 use the same batteries, and you then would have found this:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=737349
http://www.thinkpads.com/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=110378

[painiac]

I'd found and read that thread prior to posting. I didn't notice any posts in it, nor in any of the other battery threads in this sub-forum (I believe I read them all), about how to determine the cell manufacturer without seeing the label: what am I missing?

[EOMtp]

Does the part number distinguish the battery manufacturer at all? Or is it one part number regardless of manufacturer?

In this case, the question is moot, i.e., of no practical consequence, in both the specific and the general. Here is why:

Short, specific:
The only 6-cell X201 batteries Lenovo is shipping are FRU #45N1171 and FRU #42T4835, both manufactured by Sanyo.

Longer, general:
There are two Lenovo numbers: Part# and FRU#. The Part# is the generic description of the part, e.g., 6-cell X201 battery. The FRU# is specific to the manufacturer of the part, so an X201 battery from Panasonic will have a different FRU# than an X201 battery from Sanyo. Furthermore, there may be multiple FRU#s which are all manufactured by Panasonic.

Generally, the manufacturer of a given FRU# is not indicated ... and even it it were, it is not possible to ensure that one received that FRU# because, even if one orders by FRU#, the warehouse may/will substitute any part on hand whose FRU# maps to correct Part#.

[wackyD]

I have an x200 and an x201.

I have three 9-cells and one 3 cell.

I bought one 9 cell used, it is a Panasonic. One of my machines came with a new 6 cell and I bought the other two 9 cells "new" from Newegg. I say new as I think they were label refurbished, but when I have bought that from the Lenovo Outlet, they were effectively new batteries and these seemed the same.

9 Cells:
Sanyo Manufacture date: 2013-03-19 First used: 2013-10 92.12 Wh of 93.96 Wh (10.8V)
I'd ballpark it at 4-5 hours with the brightness pretty high in either, but that is off and on over a few uses/days. FRU 45N1170 ASM P/N 42T4695

Sanyo Manufacture date: 2012-06-08 First used: 2013-11 74.14 Wh of 86.58 Wh (11.1V)
I'd ballpark it at 4 hours with the brightness pretty high in either, but that is off and on over a few uses/days FRU 42T4694 ASM P/N 42T4695

Panasonic Manufacture date: 2008-10-20 First used: 2009-03 69.94 Wh of 84.24 Wh
I'd ballpark it at 3.5 hours with the brightness pretty high in either, but that is off and on over a few uses/days. FRU 42T4650 ASM P/N 42T4543

6 Cell:

LGC Manufacture date: 2011-05-13 First used: 2013-06 63.23 Wh of 62.16 Wh
I've barely used it, though it shows 32 cycles, I can't really recall the last time I ran it down. FRU 42T4837 ASM P/N 42T4836

I really should have put one or two in the deep freeze, but I have some many to guarantee power when away from an outlet and have used them as such and randomly swapped them around for daily use.


In T60's, I have had young Sanyos and old Panazonics suddenly give out. The initial wear on the Sanyos seemed sudden, but it seemed to level out and stay pretty solid, but I have not reset the thresholds in a while.


Back to your question, I don't know that you can get a retailer to sell you a new battery with your choice of cells. I am not sure if Panasonic cells were an option in the 6 cell battery.

If I were you, I would post in the marketplace and see if anyone has something to sell, or I would not worry about it.

With the age of any of them, they are all closer to failing each day and none of them are going to give 6+ hours of service, so use what you got and keep an eye open for a good deal.

BUT you should probably avoid over buying, like I did, but oh well.


Good luck,

Daniel

[painiac]

That all makes sense. Thank you for the info, guys

[LemarAntwanJackson]

The premise of your question is questionable. Original X201 Lenovo batteries form Sanyo, Panasonic, Sony, others, are all virtually identical in performance and longevity. The big difference is whether you get an original battery or a third-party battery.

Note: Even if you get an original Lenovo battery, the most recent manufacturing date for X201 batteries will likely be circa 2012 ... and since Li-Ion batteries are like lettuce in that they deteriorate whether or not one uses them, it is very likely that one receives a brand new battery which can store less than 100% of the design capacity.

Why is that? Are you saying when the x201 phased out due to the introduction of its successor, they stopped production of the batteries? Why wouldn't they continue to make spare parts?

[dr_st]

In the past, I know for a fact that they used to produce new batteries, long after the original machines were out of production. I don't know what the situation is today.