T400 Battery Questions

[mh9162013]

Looking to get a new battery for my T400. The old OEM battery was the 4 cell model and gave me about 3.5 hours of real world run time. It now gives me about 3 minutes.

I see some 6 and 9 cell third party battery models on places like Amazon for $15-$25, but from the reviews, users talk about getting 1.5-3 hours on the 6 cell and maybe 3-5 hours on the 9 cell models. Based on specs from OEM 6 and 9 cell batteries, this is really bad, since a 6 cell battery should give 5-7 hours and a 9 cell gives about 8-10 hours.

Based on my research here, using a third party battery at best, gives 50% of what the OEM analogous battery would give and at worst, won't even work. I've considered genuine OEM batteries off Amazon, but they're $55+ and I'm curious as to how well they'll work since lithium cells age, even in storage. I'm afraid I'd get a real OEM battery, but due to its age, it'd be junk.

Looks like I have 2 options: go with a cheap third party battery and take my chances. Or, place a WTB thread here and maybe get a well used OEM T400 compatible battery that still have some life left. Which option do you guys recommend? Do you have any other ideas?

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

[theterminator93]

You're... not going to get 10 hours of real world use on a 9 cell, that's not even possible on a T420 and the 9 cells for that generation have 10% more capacity than the T400 era cells, and those machines use less power too.. 7-8 hours of light use, maximum, would be my estimate.

The thing with aftermarket batteries is the QC on them doesn't really exist. Most of the time you'll find cells that work out of box, but after usually a matter of months they start to do strange things and fail. But it looks like you've already kind of done some poking around and may already know that.

The best bet, on a budget, is to keep your eyes out for a used Panasonic or LG celled unit. The Panasonics age extremely well - I've got Panasonic cell batteries with several hundred cycles on them manufactured in 2008 which still hold close to 90% their design capacity. LG cells are very good but not as good as Panasonics, but the Sanyo cells are junk.

While I'm on the topic, I do have an extra LG 6 cell for the T400 lying around, which holds about 85% its original new capacity... Should be good for 4+ hours.

[TonyJZX]

Not sure I'd recommend an ultrabay battery at well.

I believe they are 40,000mw which really isnt enough but to give you an extra 2hrs?

I got a genuine one cheap but its not cheap if you do find them.

[mh9162013]

You're... not going to get 10 hours of real world use on a 9 cell, that's not even possible on a T420 and the 9 cells for that generation have 10% more capacity than the T400 era cells, and those machines use less power too.. 7-8 hours of light use, maximum, would be my estimate.

The thing with aftermarket batteries is the QC on them doesn't really exist. Most of the time you'll find cells that work out of box, but after usually a matter of months they start to do strange things and fail. But it looks like you've already kind of done some poking around and may already know that.

The best bet, on a budget, is to keep your eyes out for a used Panasonic or LG celled unit. The Panasonics age extremely well - I've got Panasonic cell batteries with several hundred cycles on them manufactured in 2008 which still hold close to 90% their design capacity. LG cells are very good but not as good as Panasonics, but the Sanyo cells are junk.

While I'm on the topic, I do have an extra LG 6 cell for the T400 lying around, which holds about 85% its original new capacity... Should be good for 4+ hours.

What's your asking price?

[cadillacmike68]

Sanyo cells from china are junk, but the japan made ones are better.

Look in the HMM and try to fine ones on fleabay with matching FRUs. That's where I found several good (some new) bats for my T61s - which take the same bats as T400 and T500

[theterminator93]

Sanyo calls from china are junk, but the japan made ones are better.

Look in the HMM and try to fine ones on fleabay with matching FRUs. That's where I found several good (some new) bats for my T61s - which take the same bats as T400 and T500

The T400 and T500 batteries are different. T400 uses the same battery as 14" wide T61s. The 15" T61(p)s and the 4:3 T61s use the same battery as the T60 which also fits the T500.