Thinkpads Forum

Is it normal for the test to show capacity loss on a new compatible battery, I ask because I’ve bought this

BRAND NEW IBM 600 Series battery. These batteries are brand new and have never been used. They fit the IBM Thinkpad 600 600E and 600X laptops. These are non-genuine replacement batteries.

Doesn’t last any longer than the borrowed one that's in there now, that gives me about the same usage as the new one, just 80 – 90 mins, depending if I’m on the net or not.

Downloaded the tests, followed instructions on the Attended Test then ran the diagnostic diskette, it gives ‘ Battery shows capacity loss’. Did it a couple of times and get the same result.

When I ran the test on the borrowed one, a genuine IBM part, I get Battery has normal capacity for its age and usage.

As asked is this usual or have I indeed bought a duff battery.

EDIT.

Would the diagnostic diskette not be able to test the compatible battery correctly?

How long have you had the battery and what model are you using?

The thinkpad 600 series have a long, unpleasant history of terrible battery issues. There's been campaigns, websites and several posts and threads in this forum about problem batteries either IBM official or replicas.

I've read through the majority of this stuff and the general conclusion is that the batteries have a short lifespan after which time they lose capacity, won't charge or completely die. Some say this is around 6 months some say more, some less.

Apologies if you read all about this and are looking for specific help about the battery testing gear.

Thanks Manners, very helpful, i didn't know about the issue with the 600 batteries.

Brand new battery a couple of days old, 600E. I did follow all instructions on using a new battery, then used the IBM app to drain then recharged before using the diskette.

What actually concerns me is the fact that the test results say 'capacity loss' where-as, the older battery that's borrowed lasts around the same amount of time and the tests say it's good for age and use, it's from a 600X and well over a year old.

Was just wondering if the diagnostic diskette miss-reads the information from the battery because it's a compatible Fru number and not an IBM battery.

If it does read the info correctly then i more than likely will need a new one within a very short time, if that's the case then i may as well pay the full price now for an IBM one.

Also was actually expecting a bit longer on a full charge from this new battery than i'm getting from the borrowed one.