Reconditioning T23 (4000mah) battery

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skygodtj · #1 Post by **skygodtj** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:55 pm

I have two Panasonic 4000mah Li-Ion batteries that are failing terribly. One has only 28 cycles on it and holds 31% capacity, the other has 62 cycles and has 50% capacity. I have done the steps IBM has to recondition batts in the Help Tips (Batt Mizer) multiple times (putting more cycles on them) but nothing seems to work. They occasionally get to 100%, but thats only 100% of 30% and 50% respectively. They have April and May 2005 mfgr dates.

I have a third Panasonic that has 129 cycles and 60% capacity but it's got a mfgr date of Aug 2002, not a lot more life, but significantely better that the one with 28 cycles/31%!

A fourth battery... a Sanyo, this one is a basket case.. Sept 2000 mfgr date, has 49 cycles, and a full charge capacity of 18% (7Wh). This one... I dont even know why I keep it, but it's a good paper weight or door stop...

What can I do to these to improve their life, other than replacing the cells, which will cost lots more than a new $60 batt?

Any ideas? Thanks,

TJ

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:23 pm

Are you using the 72 watt power supply? If every battery you have exhibits this premature failure, then maybe your problem is in the charger.

skygodtj · #3 Post by **skygodtj** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:36 pm

Oops, yeah, sorry Ray, forgot to mention that, yes I have 4 different 72w chargers and they charge my other hi-capacity batts fine(including this T40)... XP Home, SP2, IBM Batt Mizer (I dont remember which version, but it's the latest d/l'd by IBM Software Installer) So, 72w chargers, check...

teege

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:40 pm

Have you tried charging them somewhere cooler than the "Surface of the Sun, Phoenix"?

Seriously tho'... are these genuine IBM batteries or aftermarket versions? I've read some stuff about non-IBM batteries not having the proper charging/monitor circuits inside the battery (can't remember if it was here or via a Google search) and of IBM BIOS updates preventing the charging of non-OEM batteries (which I did read here, but can't find at the moment). Another explanation is that there is a problem with the charging circuit inside the laptop. Here are two threads of recent vintage that might help if you haven't run across them:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=28178
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=23717

I'd assume if you had another T2x system that you'd try charging the batteries in there.

skygodtj · #5 Post by **skygodtj** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:33 pm

Hmmm, I think these are after-market, not genuine IBM batts. I have 4 different T23's, and the bad batts have been in each of them, checking for bad charging curcuits, but the vindication is that the fair battery (60%) has also been in each of these and charges fine and it's waaaay older.. it was the first batt I got when I moved from my 600X's to the T23's.

I wonder if chilling them (in fridge) before charging would make a difference, lowering the resistance?

Thanks Ray..

teege

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:40 pm

skygodtj wrote:I wonder if chilling them (in fridge) before charging would make a difference, lowering the resistance?

Careful.... when taking the batteries out condensation may form inside the battery and could cause a short. Hate to see a news item that in addition to Dell batteries overheating and catching fire, that one IBM user also suffered the same fate.

skygodtj · #7 Post by **skygodtj** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:12 am

I was thinking of < 10 minutes... to keep the chill down.. besides, no humidity out here to freeze up

I just picked up a T40 on eBay for $445, that has new warrenty until the end of January '07. It has a busted left arrow button, but thats it.. I seem to be moving into the T4x series a lot faster than I moved from the 600x to the T23's.. I should be able to get the arrow button from IBM under warrenty, and Recovery disks if I need 'em..

I think I'm gonna slip on my lab coat and return to my FrankenPad days and see what I can do to this one..

2373-75U, 1.5ghz, w/SecureChip, Intel Pro WiFi, 256mb ram, 20GB (I have a 40GB, 5400rpm on hand), and CDRW/DVD for $445. I think a 2ghz cpu, Atheros 5004 a/b/g and 512MB should do it..

I'll have two T23's to list for sale then...

teege

dsigma6 · #8 Post by **dsigma6** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:16 am

i was hesitant about it, but i wrapped a battery up and put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes after it wouldn't charge. i let it sit for a short while before installing it, and after being plugged in for 2 minutes, started charging all the way to 100% Previously it was stopping at 60%.

skygodtj · #9 Post by **skygodtj** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:38 pm

Thats what I thot... just keep the moisture level to a minumum (and in Phoenix, that's pretty easy), chill the battery, dont freeze it and it should lower the internal resistance enough to get it to take more current..

Thanks,

TJ

stone · #10 Post by **stone** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:36 am

Disable all the battery warnings and hibernate mode and let it run until your battery is totally empty.

My T21 still works for 90-100 minutes, even when the battery is at '0%'

Normally it goes from 100% to 93% in about ten minutes, then drops to 3% and shut down or stand-by.

So the problem has to do with the indicator. (in my case)

sry for the bad english

skygodtj · #11 Post by **skygodtj** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:29 am

Stone,

Thanks, but I've done that a lot, with no changes.

Cuda · #12 Post by **Cuda** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:02 pm

My old original T-23 battery was in bad shape, several hundred cycles on it, it would go to 100% but would quickly run down to about 60% then in a few minutes it would go to like 3% and then shut down, I did the paper in the battery connection trick so the laptop could not read the battery status, then it would power the laptop for another 30 min. or so, after I did that one time to discharge the battery fully it works a lot better now.

Sportler2k3 · #13 Post by **Sportler2k3** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:01 am

can u describe that trick?

Cuda · #14 Post by **Cuda** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:41 am

Sportler2k3 wrote:can u describe that trick?

Shut down the laptop, take out the battery, you will see 5 connection blades sticking out from the computer, 1 blade is separated from the other 4, take a piece of paper and cut it the same length as the blade and about 1/2" long, fold it into a "V" shape and drop it on top of the last blade of 4 that is near the separated blade, then reinsert the battery, if it's on the right blade everything will work fine but the battery indicator will be grayed out, if it's the wrong blade it won't start up, this will let the battery drain down a lot more than it normally would for a more complete discharge. After the laptop shuts down just remove the battery and the piece of paper will be stuck in the battery but it pulls right out, make sure it's out and the indicator is working before you recharge it as you don't want to overcharge the battery. This worked for me to get more life out of a battery but I take no responsibility for any damage that may occur.

Reconditioning T23 (4000mah) battery

Reconditioning T23 (4000mah) battery

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