Why are T430s batteries so pricey?

[Hans Gruber]

Even the generic T430s batteries are expensive. $36 for the cheapest ones on Ebay for generic. T430 batteries are much less expensive.

[TPFanatic]

It's because of the EC firmware battery whitelist. You need a marked 70+ (6 cell) or 70++ (9 cell) battery for T430/T530/L430/L530/W530 and an 81+ battery for T430s. Older Lenovos or generics won't work unless the EC is modded to delete the battery requirement.

I always try searching with the FRU number or the model number to find more obscure listings that may have lower prices. Good luck.

For T430s the numbers are....

81+ general model number.

42T4845 - Sanyo 6 cell
42T4847 - Panasonic 6 cell

45N1037 - Sanyo 6 cell
45N1143 - Panasonic 6 cell

I don't know why there's both 45N and 42T numbers for seemingly the same batteries but tis how it is.

[Hans Gruber]

TPFanatic,
Thanks for that useful information regarding the T430s battery codes. I did some testing with my T420s and the T430s. The batteries are interchangable between the models. I know it's not rocket science to plug in a battery to see if it fits and works but it does.

[TPFanatic]

I apologize for an error I made in my statement. Non-original batteries work in that they discharge fine in a **30 gen machine, and it recognizes them and takes power from them, but it will refuse to charge them.

[Hans Gruber]

I will roll the dice with the cheap batteries. Anything that doesn't work on the T430s will go to the T420s. I got the Nvidia graphics in the T430s. The T420s has integrated graphics. See what works.

[RealBlackStuff]

Read this (long) thread: viewtopic.php?f=69&t=120776
You can mod the EC-part in the BIOS to remove the battery-check.

[Hans Gruber]

Thanks RBS. I was planning on modding the battery EC. The good news the T420s and T430s take the same battery even if the manual doesn't say they do. So I can for a short time throw in a generic battery in my T420s if it doesn't take in the T430s until I do the battery mod. I have a couple of good T40s batteries to use on this T430s. I agree that generic batteries are not always great but for $16 with shipping, who cares.