X100e Battery Info - 3 cell, 6 cell and 6 cell high capacity

[underclocker]

Unforturnately for Lenovo, they initially released the X100e with an AMD single core MV-40 cpu and with a BIOS version that wasn't optimized. While the battery life for a netbook with a large (11.6") LCD, ATI graphics and reasonably fast CPUs may never be exceptional (by 2010 standards), nearly every review dings the X100e due to poor battery life. Most list the six cell as providing 3 to 5 hours runtime - which is a rather broad range. Additionally, one of the X100e battery manufacturers had a bug in the battery firmware that reduced battery runtimes, see think link for info and the firmware update --> http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-75737

Furthermore, related to testing and early X100e reviews, apparently some X100e's have ATI HD2200 integrated video (like model 3508-24U) and most others have ATI HD3200 integrated video. I'm not sure how much impact this makes on performance, but it is another performance variable.

While looking for a source for a 3 cell battery, I noticed that reviews listed the capacity of 6 cells differently. My battery shows a 56.16Wh capacity via the Power Manager. If there are varying battery capacities for 6 cell batteries, this (plus the firmware issue) would help to explain some of the differences reported.

This info should be helpful for those with the lower capacity 6 cells and those looking for new batteries as they could take note of the part number before buying another 6 cell.

In checking a recent TABOOK, three battery types are listed, but only two are given as X100e peripheral options. I will list my battery info below along with the TABOOK and HMM info. If your X100e battery info varies, please post the info.

From TABOOK X100e models pages;
3 cell battery optional
6 cell battery (some models)
6 cell battery high capacity (some models)

From TABOOK X100e options page;
57Y4558 X100e ThinkPad Battery 17 (3 cell)
Lithium-Ion technology
Three-cell, rechargable system batter
Output Voltage: 10.8 V dc
Battery Performance amp-hours: 2.2Ah
Battery Performance Watt-hours: 24Wh

57Y4559 X100e ThinkPad Battery 17+ (6 cell)
Lithium-Ion technology
Six-cell, rechargeable system battery
Output Voltage: 10.8 V dc
Battery Performance amp-hours: 5.2Ah
Battery Performance Watt-hours: 57Wh

The X100e HMM lists the following battery part numbers:
42T4781 Battery pack, Li-ion (3 cell 17)
42T4783 Battery pack, Li-ion (3 cell 17) (42T4854 after battery firmware update)
42T4785 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17+)
42T4787 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17+)
42T4789 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17+) (42T4855 after battery firmware update)
42T4829 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17)
42T4831 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17) (42T4856 after battery firmware update)

EDIT: I also found this info here --> http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-74737

3 cell: 2.2 Ah, 10.8 V
6 cell: 2.6 Ah, 10.8 V
6 cell - Hi capacity: 2.8 Ah, 11.1 V

Clearly, each part number represents a manufacturer and the numbers listed with options are the item part number which could be any within a category. However, it does appear that there are two different 6 cell capacity batteries for the X100e. (I am aware that this was also done with the T4x and T6x/R6x 6 cell batteries.) If someone has info on the lower capacity 6 cell, please post the details.

My battery info;
42T4781 3 cell 17 (option purchase)
Sanyo
23.76Wh design capacity
24.83Wh full charge capacity (nice!)
3 cycles

42T4785 6 cell 17+ (came with X100e 3508-AAU)
Sanyo
56.16Wh design capacity
57.62Wh full charge capacity (nice!)
5 cycles

One more note, those 3 cells do not last long, maybe 2 hours. However, they do make the X100e look good. It also lightens the load. With a 3 cell, stock 250GB HD, WWAN adapter, BT adapter and two memory sticks, mine weighs in at 2 lbs. 15 oz. (With an Intel X25-M 80GB G2 SSD, the weight drops one ounce to 2 lbs. 14 oz.)

[slugg]

So what's your battery life like with the high capacity 6 cell?

[The Solutor]

So what's your battery life like with the high capacity 6 cell?

His battery is a standard 6 cell

[clinesr]

So are these batteries the High Capacity 6 Cell?

42T4829 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17)
42T4831 Battery pack, Li-ion (6 cell 17) (42T4856 after battery firmware update)


I get around 3.5 - 4 hours battery life on my x100e with a 95% charge with the processor set to Adaptive so I would assume the High Cap would add another hour to get the 5 hours battery life reported by some people.

Mine is the 42T4855 (17+) which still does just fine for my use.

OR

Is it the other way around and the one I and the OP own are the High Cap (17+)
I know this doesn't seem the case because my battery design voltage is 10.8v but, it's usually running @ 11.0v - 11.2v

[underclocker]

42T4785 6 cell 17+ (came with X100e 3508-AAU)
Sanyo
56.16Wh design capacity
57.62Wh full charge capacity (nice!)
5 cycles

As stated in the original post, my machine came with a 6 cell battery that reads 17+, so I assume it's the high capacity one.

The design capacity is certainly more than twice the capacity of my 3 cell battery, 57.62Wh vs. 24.83Wh. That is why my 3 cell barely gets 2 hours and my 6 cell goes 4+ hours.

It would have been really nice if Lenovo used the enhanced capacity cells in the 3 cell battery!

[clinesr]

I read that the High Cap batteries were also used in the first issues of the x100e. I assume you could get a High Cap 6 cell and pull the cells out then stick them inside the shell of a 3 cell battery. As long as you wired them up correctly it should work just fine.

So if mine is the High Cap it makes sense as I know other people with the same system that get an hour less, or more depending on settings, battery life than mine. I was just confused because mine, as yours, has a design voltage is 10.8v instead of 11.1v although when I check the actual voltage being used it's always well above 10.8v.

[underclocker]

Upgrading the cell may be an option when the 3 cell becomes useless, but for now, it's basically new! It is a good idea.

The only other explanation for the 6 cell mystery that I can think of is that maybe there is a third 6 cell battery? Maybe a 17++ or an improved 17+?

Actually, there IS evidence of a third 6 cell battery, see below!

From comments posted with an online review of the X100e, there is some indication that the 6 cell 17 battery only holds 47Wh, see here and quote below --> http://liliputing.com/2010/01/lenovo-th ... tinks.html

One explanation for the miserable battery performance could be: Lenovo prints on the six cell battery "57 Wh". But the energy manager says that the battery is actually only designed for 47.35 Wh. That at least in my case reduced battery life to 2-3 hours.

This article states that the 6 cell design is 63Wh --> http://www.laptopwifi.net/lenovo/lenovo ... x100e.html

The new ThinkPad battery is a 6-cell 63 Wh...]

So, six cells in 47Wh, 56Wh and 63Wh, it is possible. That, plus single core and dual core CPUs and different BIOS versions, would explain big differences in runtime.

[clinesr]

Thanks underclocker. Good finds.

My x100e is a refurb and the battery is over 1 year old but can still charge to the full design capacity. I actually had to do the firmware update for it myself. You would think Lenovo would have checked that when they refurbished this thing.

Under power manager mine says 56.16Wh for design capacity. It sure would be sweet to see 63Wh instead but, I feel lucky that I don't have the 47Wh one. I wonder if there is a way to specifically order a 63Wh 6 cell? Also, if the new 6 cells are 63Wh one would think that the new 3 cell batteries would be using the higher capacity cells too.

edit-
I think you are correct about the 17++. I do not see one listed on Lenovo website however, there are ++ batteries listed for other lenovo laptop models. This is a good indication that the 17++ battery does indeed exist but, for whatever reason isn't sold separately yet.

Lenovo does list the 17+ battery

part number = 57Y4559
Battery Voltage 10.8 V
Power 5.2 Amp/Hr

[The Solutor]

As stated in the original post, my machine came with a 6 cell battery that reads 17+, so I assume it's the high capacity one.

Your 6 cell battery (the same as mine) sells for 97$, while the 42T4829 one sells for 129$, so I assume the latter is the one with the higher capacity.

Maybe the equation more $= more Wh is wrong, but usually works.

[underclocker]

I think you are correct. I did even more research, and this is my new hypothesis;

-There are two X100e six cell batteries, one is 57Wh the other is 63Wh.
-The 57Wh battery is labeled 17+ and the 63Wh battery is labeled 17 (logic would dictate that the "high capacity" battery should receive the +, but logic was not applied at the battery naming ceremony).
-Reports of lower capacity batteries (around 47Wh) was a bug that was corrected with a battery firmware fix by Lenovo.

I believe 17 is just the size/design of the battery, since the 3 cell is also called 17. I don't know what the + represents, why it is used on the lower capacity battery or why there would be two six cell battery versions so close in capacity. Maybe + just means different.

[The Solutor]

I think you are correct. I did even more research, and this is my new hypothesis;

For some reason I was sure that this was your initial hypothesis, so understanding wrongly your (possibly) wrong assumption, I understood the (possibly) correct conclusion.

A bit complicate way to reach an happy end.

All in all thanks for sharing the 3 battery type info, whatever the battery are called, is an useful info.