SONY v. SANYO 6-cells: Info Here

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Kenn · #1 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:20 pm

OK, got my Sony 6cell. Getting it from IBM Hardware Support was a snap, I called the 1-800 service number on Friday, told them "I just bought a thinkpad, I want to exchange the battery for FRU 92P1011." Today (Monday) it arrived.

First, the pictures:
http://www.pbase.com/image/31282290.jpg
Overview - Sanyo 9C, Sanyo 6C, Sony 6C, another Sanyo 6C

http://www.pbase.com/image/31282291.jpg
Same but from the other side. You can see the Sony bar code sticker is a bit different.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31282293.jpg
The infamous rails. You can see the Sony rails are a BIT thicker on top (near the middle), a bit thinner at the bottom. Overall, I'd call it a wash.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31282292.jpg
The labels. FRU numbers should be visible. Both batteries are made in China.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31282294.jpg
Bottom texture. The Sony is smoother, and feels more like the bottom texture of the Thinkpad itself.

OK. So the big deal: Fitment. I currently have a couple of 15" T42s to test with. Does the Sanyo 6c wobble? Yes, a tiny bit. I would never have thought it a problem or generally out of tolerance, and I wouldn't have cared about it had I not heard that the Sony was better. The Sanyo does wobble a little bit at both sides when pressed, at the latch and at the opposite corner.

The Sony is ever-so-slightly better. It doesn't wobble at the latch. But you can tell it's also slightly looser on the side without the latch - more or less about the same as the Sanyo on the same side. A big difference? Not at all.

I also have a Sanyo 9cell. I mentioned above that the Sanyo6c and the Sony6c were both made in China. The Sanyo 9C (FRU 08K8198) is made in Japan. Its fitment is exactly like the Sony 6c - snug at the latch, a tiny bit of play on the opposite side. I actually cradle my arm under the laptop when I carry it around and I use the part of the 9c battery that sticks out as a stabilizer/handle, so fitment is more of an issue for me with the extended battery. Here, the Sanyo is just fine and I won't be replacing it with a Sony9c.

So what are my own personal conclusions? On my two 15" T42s, every battery I have is just fine. The extra play on the Sanyos are not excessive nor unacceptable, and the Sony didn't improve it much from there. This may of course be different with other laptops as manufacture tolerances vary, but it's just what I found. Also, those with Sanyo 9cell has a fitment every bit as good as the Sony 6cell. So unless you have a laptop where the fitment is so terrible that you're actually afraid it will fall out, I don't think you'll find too much of an improvement by exchanging for a different make.

Happy to answer any questions.

JaimitoBond · #2 Post by **JaimitoBond** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:39 pm

Interesting pics. I have a Sony 9 cell, and a Sanyo 6 cell. Both made in Japan. I guess they are assembled in China now to save cost. I recent got an ultrabay Li-Poly battery, and it was made in China, which was a surprise. I guess all batteries are no longer made in Japan.

The biggest diff I could see is what you mentioned on the bottom surface. The 9 cell Sony is smoother than the Sanyo 6 cell, and that suggest that they are made with different molds. You can also tell that the hook, althogh the same shape, has a different molding in the inner portions of the hook (view from the top http://cakeru.image.pbase.com/image/31282292.jpg ).

Why did you highlight those letters on the bottom right corner of the label, "JS" and "SEW"? Do you know what they mean? On mine, it says "ST", at least on the 6 cells. I haven't checked the 9 cell, but my dummy battery also has "ST" on it, and it is also made in Japan.

The best way to fix the vertical wobble, is to place a couple of double sided foam on the chassis, where the battery goes into. The totally removes any vertical play, and when I hold the laptop with one hand like you described, the battery and the laptop feels really solid with minimal flex. As for the lateral/fore-aft or horizontal movements, bending the hook a bit did the trick for me. I used a lighter, and quick heating will allow you the bend it one to 1.5mm.

edelrc · #3 Post by **edelrc** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:42 pm

Wonderful review. Thanks Kenn!
After all the critiques to the Sanyo measuraments, I am surprise that no one mention the texture, the Sony definetly has a testure more like the button of the ThinkPad.

Kenn · #4 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:45 pm

Good point regarding the different molds. Any statistical variation in fitment between the two brands probably will come down to differences in tolerance in the different injection molds used.

Also, sorry about highlighting the "JS" and "SEW" - I originally highlighted everything that was different on the labels, but decided against it as it was too ambiguous and some of the differences may not mean anything. I forgot the delete the layer with those highlights.

A little foam would be a great way to fix any annoying vertical wobble. I can see how bending the hook to increase tension when latched will fix any sideways play, but I'm a bit too chicken to play that game right now, especially since the wobble isn't as bad on mine or as troubling to me as to others!

eriqesque · #5 Post by **eriqesque** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 10:47 pm

JaimitoBond wrote:Interesting pics. I have a Sony 9 cell, and a Sanyo 6 cell. Both made in Japan. I guess they are assembled in China now to save cost. I recent got an ultrabay Li-Poly battery, and it was made in China, which was a surprise. I guess all batteries are no longer made in Japan.

The actual battery cells are usually made in Japan and assembled in china.

Kenn · #6 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 11:58 pm

I can buy that. Interesting that the batteries say "made in China" rather than "assembled in China" like the keyboards, though.

Daniel · #7 Post by **Daniel** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:31 am

JaimitoBond wrote:Interesting pics. I have a Sony 9 cell, and a Sanyo 6 cell. Both made in Japan. I guess they are assembled in China now to save cost. I recent got an ultrabay Li-Poly battery, and it was made in China, which was a surprise. I guess all batteries are no longer made in Japan.

I actually have a July 2004 manufactured, Made in Japan, Sanyo 6-cell. Who knows what they're up to?

Kenn · #8 Post by **Kenn** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 2:35 am

I guess it's settled. Multiple factories or assembly locations. No biggie, doesn't sound like it affects quality, and the quality difference is negligible to begin with.

#9 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 3:36 am

you guys are AMAZING..

you did an excellent job of reviewing this battery question..

with me and my pragmatic approach, i just bent the hook on the first T40p i got in and that was IT..!

thanks..

SONY v. SANYO 6-cells: Info Here

SONY v. SANYO 6-cells: Info Here

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