Battery woes on my X21.

[Noblunts]

When I got my X21 (yes its finally fixored) I had a dead battery with it. It wouldn't charge and would constantly say 20%. I decided to get a new battery on ebay since I figured this one was dead. Well it turns out I got a Chinese replacement. This battery is less than OK.

First off, its from 2005, this means some of its useful life is already gone. Second, every time I charge it, the maximum charge goes lower and lower. I've only had this thing for a week and its already at 73% capacity. In linux, it goes from 40-50% to 0 right away and then charges up to a lower capacity. Its only had 8 cycles, wtf.

I'm contacting paypal to try to get my money back as the seller wants me to pay for shipping and send it back to him so he can "test it". I've already paid $16 for shipping and he sent it parcel post.

Now the question on my mind is there any way to reset these batteries. I cracked open my old on and the voltage on it seems OK, the power chip will not let it charge (it only has 127 cycles). Is there any way to fix this. Also, is there any way to reset my current battery so I don't have to fight paypal and send the battery back. I know these mitsubishi smart battery chips are very overzealous and seem to be killing the batteries prematurely. Any fix for this?

Mod edit: Changed post title. Please follow forum rules and maintain decorum. --gator

[gator]

Overzelaous is good - your safety is more important than a few dollars ...

I do understand your situtation, I had my T60 battery die out all of a sudden (out of warranty) after having just 20 cycles on it ... I was mad but I got a used battery at a great price from a forum member and have been very happy with it. My laptop and my safety is way more important than the money I spent on the battery. Maybe you can ask around in the marketplace if someone has a battery for an affordable price.

[Noblunts]

But I just bought this battery. I don't think its a safety issue as much as its a you have to buy another battery because we say so issue. The voltages appear fine on the old one. I don't think they will explode. I also don't think its fair to lose a few % of your maximum charge every time you recharge. If it goes on that way, this battery will be toast in 2 or 3 weeks and I'm not buying another battery every 3 weeks no matter how good a deal they have on them.

As far as I'm concerned these batteries should run until they are actually 0 and not whatever the power chip deems 0. I didn't have all of these headaches with NiMH or other Li batteries. I almost think I should jury rig a charger for the dead one and see if I can charge the cells up themselves. Outside of course so if they explode then it will just make a nasty stain on the cement. I can buy new cells and put them into either battery pack (when and if the new one dies) and I'd probably do that before getting another "new" battery.

[Noblunts]

Well.. I swapped cells on the old battery and now its still not charging, grrr. This one is down to 50% capacity and falling.