Did I got a broken ultrabay battery? - Solved

[Patrik28]

I just bought a new ultrabay slim battery to T42, but it seems to be something wrong, when Battery Management shows an error on the second battery (ultrabay battery). It wont recognice it and is not charging it.

Could I try some tricks, or just return the battery to the shop?

Edit. Yes the battery is an original IBM product (not a pirate or something else)

Edit2. This is my first ultrabay battery, so I cannot say, if the ultrabay slot works properly. There are no problems with dvd- burner or hdd-adapter, but the battery uses different pins than first ones.

[Padhead]

What's the error message?

[Patrik28]

What's the error message?

Just a simple "error", reading in the black slot, where the battery charge should be seen. And then a red cross on the battery symbol on the left side of black slot.

Edit. Here is the picture (hope that the language won't bother you):

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http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/P ... attery.jpg
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So "Virhe" means Error.

Note from Moderator: The pic warning needs to be in the subject line for the thread.

[Padhead]

My hunch is that since the battery MGT software is recognizing it, that you have a faulty battery.

Have them try it in another machine or give you a new battery to try.

[SHoTTa35]

i'd say it's cuz the battery self discharged and needs to be in there for a while before it starts taking a charge again. 24hrs. You can also take out the main battery, put the UB in and turn off the system and just let it try to charge it a bit. You should see the amber light to indicate it's charging or at least trying to charge it.

[Patrik28]

I bought the battery from a discount sales, so there is no quarantee, how old it is and where it is stored. But It has 3 months warranty, starting from today.

I don't have another machine, so there goes one solution...

Edit. No, there is a datum on the box, 20060816. It can't be too old.

[Padhead]

Shotta makes some good points (charging it for a while) that I had assumed that you had done already.

I would definately try his tips, although the battery should charge while the PC is powered on.

Had you put it in the Ultrabay to charge for a while?

[Patrik28]

Ok, now it works. The battery has been in the ultrabay slot about 10 h, and finally starts to charge.

But isn't that harmfull to keep new batteries so low charged? I have heard that Li-Ion cells will dead and therefore optimal charge is ~40%.

Edit. Fujitsu-Siemens spare-battery was charged up to 50%, when I bought it. But it was only a month old (from manufacture date).

[SHoTTa35]

well if they were sitting on the shelf for so long then that's why it self discharge dso low.They come from Lenovo at 40% but after month and months (August 2006 that says) they will run down till they are completely dead, at that time you gotta charge it for 12-24hrs continuously before it starts taking a charge as you found out.