Laptop battery

[Skyzoomer]

I need a new battery for my Dell Studio 1537 laptop. It takes an 11.1 volt, Li-on battery and I want to go with the higher power 9 cell, 7200 mah battery.

I see a seller on ebay, novapcs, selling an AGPtek branded battery for the Studio 1537 for $51.95. Seller has a 99.7% feedback rating (sells other stuff besides batteries) but looking at the negative feedback, there are many that complain about the battery they received not being new and/or not holding a charge.

The high power battery Dells sells for the Studio 1537 goes for $155.99 (the one I want), with the low power one at $135.99.

Anyone know of a "GOOD" place to buy laptop batteries cheaper than Dell's inflated price battery? Or is Dell's price just the price one has to pay for a "good new" laptop battery?

Thanks,
Sky

 

[MadScientist]

Do a Google search on "How to break in a new laptop battery".

 

[Skyzoomer]

Do a Google search on "How to break in a new laptop battery".

I did the search and saw the charge/discharge break in procedure. I also searched on "Break in li-on battery" and finds said it's not necessary to break in li-on batteries.

But my problem now is getting user feedback in buying a good, reliable battery at the best price. Maybe Dell is the only choice, I donno.

Thanks for taking the time to help,
Sky

 

[RadNow]

i bought a battery for 50 for a dell off amazon.com and it was garbage. It didn't even last 2 weeks and it would only charge if my laptop was powered on.

Bought a battery from "batteries plus" which has stores all over the place and its great! Highly recommend them if you want to save about 30 over the cost dell charges. Battery plus uses rayovac made lithium cells. if you google them there are 10% or so coupon codes floating around to use on their website.

 

[thescreensavers]

Problem is, is the battery you are about to buy was sitting on a shelf for a year?

I personally bought a AGPtek battery for my laptop and it lasts 4h:30 min, were the OEM battery only lasted 2h:30, this is an extended battery but its great.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Been holding off buying a replacement battery, but will need to buy one now.

Any folks out there who bought a 3rd party battery at least a year ago that is still holding a charge to your expectations?

Thanks,
Sky

 

[corkyg]

Agree about Batteries Plus. Their stock moves - no long shelf life. In the world of LI-ion batteries, you sorta get what you pay for.

 

[Skyzoomer]

UPDATE: I read a PCWorld article that recommended laptopbatteryexpress.com. Laptopbatteryexpress' write up says they use Samsung batteries. The price for my laptop's battery wasn't cheap at $100.85 shipped but that's still about $60 cheaper than Dell's outrageous price. The $100.85 shipped is much more than the cheaper $35 batteries I've seen but I'm hoping I got what I paid for.

Shipping was fast and communication was good. After 2 weeks of use, the battery will power my laptop for about 3.5 hours which is what I was looking for. How long the battery will last will be the question but so far so good.

Thanks,
Sky

 

[uberman]

Agree about Batteries Plus. Their stock moves - no long shelf life. In the world of LI-ion batteries, you sorta get what you pay for.

Corky, you always seem to have some good ideas or be correct. Now, I've got a dilema.

I need a new battery for my ThinkPad T61. I looked at many and found them to be lacking in cells and millamphours. I then found a place that seems legit. 7800 mAh and its $83.69 shipped. I think this looks good. Linky follows:

http://www.atbatt.com/product/19722/laptop/lenovo/thinkpad-t61-6460/battery#tabs

Then you talk about Batteries Plus likely having fresher or better batteries. Batteries Plus wants $103.49 for their model, plus it'll cost me $15.00 for transportation to get it. Linky follows:

http://www.batteriesplus.com/produc.../ThinkPad-T61-(15-dot4-inch-wide-screen).aspx

I referenced compatability with my ThinkPad T61 15.4 inch using the FRU P/N 92P1133.

Anybody think that my $83.69 battery (Amstron...) from atbatt.com is good? I welcome any and all opinions. Thanks guys.

 

[corkyg]

Those are good questions, Uberman. I still am on my original two batteries for my T60. The 6 cell is somewhat degraded, but the 9 cell still works. I never got a 9 cell for my T510 - but the 6 cell is like new. I only use it when I travel. At home, I run AC only with battery removed.

When I was referring to Batteries Plus, I was not thinking of Internet. We have a B&M version not far away, and I would just go there and buy the battery.

The site you list seems OK. But, there is something to be said for sticking to OEM if you are a heavy battery user. I am not - I see battery power as sort of "emergency use only."

To be honest, I can't comment on atbatt.com - never did business with them.

 

[Lemon law]

I have another question that relates to this thread.

Its all well and fine to say the original low capacity battery on a laptop computer will give 2 hours of battery life, and if you buy a bigger higher capacity battery, be it OEM or after market, you might get 3.5 or even 4 hours of battery life before the laptop shuts down due to a depleted battery. In short, not enough time to keep me happily playing packman on a long and boring LA to NY flight. But there is a big assumption there, I have to start out with a fully charged lap top battery before the plane ride.

I have access to two laptop computers at home, both have 2 HR Lith-ion batteries, one runs Vista and the other Win 7. I always fire up both to keep windows and my security system updated, but mainly at home, I use desk top computers.

So after charging up both laptop batteries fully, I updated windows and all my security apps on patch Tuesday which was 10/12/2011. And then shut both off, unplugged all wall power, and did not turn either back on until patch Tuesday which was 11/8/2011. I booted off AC wall power, but as soon as the OS came up, I had 8% battery power remaining on the Vista system and 53% remaining power on the slightly more modern Win 7 laptop.

In contrast I have an much older cell phone also powered off a Lith-ion battery, and I quite frankly treat it like shit. It lives in the glove compartment of my car, through the heat of summer and the 20 below of winter, I don't use it very often, but three months after charging in the off state, I can turn it on, and it still will show 3 out of three bands of battery power.

In short, why should a lap top computer leak power in the off State, when the same battery technology in a cell phone does not?

And it has real world implications to me, because I live in a area with frequent ice storms and severe snow storms. And can lose wall power for a week and be unbale to move my car for a week because drifts clog all roads.

My land line phone allows me to get help in an absolute emergency, but I have to rely on only lap tops powered by batteries for internet access.

What good do they do me in my hour of need if all the lap top battery power leaked away. And I am totally screwed if my land line telephone also craps out.

 

[Emulex]

1. aftermarket batteries suck - you don't realize how much out of spec can reduce lifecycle (the power management is programmed for a specific battery)
2. aftermarket or failing chargers suck too - a 1% deviance (voltage) or watts could easily destroy a factory dell battery in 6 months or less.

3. RTFM on proper battery care - for every device there is a doc to tell you how the system was designed - charge cycle/hibernation(short term)/hibernation long-term. READ IT. I've seen folks roach a brand new battery in 3 months by storing them over summer break in a non- temp controlled room dead empty on the laptops.

i've seen folks roach batteries in less than 6 months due to a failing DELL charger.

Likewise the power management board is sophisticated - changing the battery architecture without consideration usually ends up in poor lifetime performance.

I followed the proper methods - my iphone (OG) and iphone 3G have 90% of their life still - 2007 iphone and 2008 3G - isn't that something? nope - it's a good quality battery - precisely designed battery management controller and power brick. likewise the macbook white i had from 2007 - battery died in 2010 december.

Dell battery? died in 2 years, put a batteries+ replacement in - it was shot in 1 year - why? cheap replacement charger - bought a dell real charger and batteries+ new battery still rocking out like new.

Ask an EE/CE if you really want to know the details - i'm not one - but they can explain how such a little variance can cause a catastrophic failure.

and yes im an old fart - with a family and house - which i'd like to keep.

 

[uberman]

Corky, you always seem to have some good ideas or be correct. Now, I've got a dilema.

I need a new battery for my ThinkPad T61. I looked at many and found them to be lacking in cells and millamphours. I then found a place that seems legit. 7800 mAh and its $83.69 shipped. I think this looks good. Linky follows:

http://www.atbatt.com/product/19722/laptop/lenovo/thinkpad-t61-6460/battery#tabs

Then you talk about Batteries Plus likely having fresher or better batteries. Batteries Plus wants $103.49 for their model, plus it'll cost me $15.00 for transportation to get it. Linky follows:

http://www.batteriesplus.com/produc.../ThinkPad-T61-(15-dot4-inch-wide-screen).aspx

I referenced compatability with my ThinkPad T61 15.4 inch using the FRU P/N 92P1133.

Anybody think that my $83.69 battery (Amstron...) from atbatt.com is good? I welcome any and all opinions. Thanks guys.

UPDATE: I definately needed a new battery so I went with the Amstron battery from atbat.com. Besides reading that it fits a thinkPad T61, it had the same voltage and millamphour rating as the 9 cell battery I was replacing. It arrived with a 70% charge already on the battery.

I use a utility called BatteryBar Pro v3.5.3 to monitor my battery condition, time l left, etc. It comes in a free and pro version. Linky:

http://osirisdevelopment.com/BatteryBar/index.html

Battery Bar indicated that there was between 0% and .08% wear on the new battery. My old battery was said to have 35% Battery Wear. I plugged in the laptop with the new battery and charged it to 100%. I looked at the control panel-> power options and everything looks as though its ok.

I did read in a computer magazine recently that manufacturers reccomend replacing batteries with genuine factory parts rather than aftermarket ones. This battery seems Ok so far. It is the large one with 9 cells for extended time.

Some reviews of batteries that were bought on Amazon.com sounded like people were ending up with wrong batteries and problems. Their batteries were cheaper. I got mine here. Linky:

http://www.atbatt.com/product/19722/laptop/lenovo/thinkpad-t61-6460/battery#tabs

I did email the company before buying to ask how old their batteries were. That question wasn't answered. What they said was essentially if things go wrong, they'll do what they can to make it right.

Things are OK now; however, time will tell. I shall post if this battery gives me problems.

 

[rsutoratosu]

BTW aftermarket battery will generate those this is not genuine battery on the lenovo power manager, just turn off the notices.

I have bought several "new" ebay batteries for cheap on laptops i'm about to sell, they never last as long as original battery and seems like they drain fast. Some ebay battery even start to swell up after a month of owning them.

Most ebay battery from china sellers are counterfeit, i got several dell ones of those but they were for laptops i was selling so I didn't care. They look exactly like original but what gives it away is the softness of the battery case

 

[corkyg]

Uberman, I think you will be OK with that battery. I have recently had to adjust my thinking on purchases due to a new law that took effect in Arizona. It is called a "Use Tax," and is applied to all Internet, catalog, etc., purchaes where state sales tax is not charged. It is on the 2011 state tax form, and I have had to go back and tally all my purchases for 2011. My tax man says not to ignore it - the penalties are severe. Fortunately, I do keep accurate credit card records and receipts. Looks like I'll owe over $350 for the year.

BTW, the Arizona Use Tax rate is 6.6%. So, now I have to factor that in for all Internet buys.

 

[Charlie98]

My 2005 Dell 6000 business laptop battery is still going pretty strong, it's the 9-cell, I believe. I pretty much hammered that battery for about 2 years, heat, dust, bouncing around in the cab of a big truck, and constant use including fully discharging it. I'm pretty pleased with the performance of it, and I would really have to weigh the cost difference between a gen-U-wine Dell replacement and a Batteries+ (I have a retail location just up the street! ...and an Interstate Battery retail location, which I think sells all sorts of batteries like B+ does.)

I don't know... a 'maybe' battery for $100 or a 'sure thing' for $160? I'll have to be making that decision pretty soon, I'm guessing...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hmm. I have an MSI A5000-040US laptop that needs a new battery, and I have a Batteries Plus store nearby. Do they actually keep various laptop batteries in stock, that I would be able to just go down there and get one, or would I have to have them order it and be shipped, either to me, or to the store?

Has anyone else purchased a replacement laptop battery from B+?

When I go to their web site, they don't have my laptop listed. And the closest one they do have listed, doesn't list a battery, only chargers.
http://www.batteriesplus.com/models/548-0/6498-Notebook-Laptop-Batteries/MSI.aspx

Edit: Found a USA ebay seller with a supposedly-genuine replacement for ~$75,

 

[dolbark]

There are some places that specialize in better than OEM at a cheaper OEM price. I found SafeBatteries.com not that long ago. I got a battery for my Dell 1537 it is a 62Wh 6 cell. Run 3.5 hours on a charge ... should be good for 3 years.

The Li-Ion cells are they use are Panasonic NNP ...suppose be the best (highest capacity and longest service life...ect). I been using my for 9 months now ... I still get 3.5 hours unplugged. I would recommend.

 

[dolbark]

My 2005 Dell 6000 business laptop battery is still going pretty strong, it's the 9-cell, I believe. I pretty much hammered that battery for about 2 years, heat, dust, bouncing around in the cab of a big truck, and constant use including fully discharging it. I'm pretty pleased with the performance of it, and I would really have to weigh the cost difference between a gen-U-wine Dell replacement and a Batteries+ (I have a retail location just up the street! ...and an Interstate Battery retail location, which I think sells all sorts of batteries like B+ does.)

I don't know... a 'maybe' battery for $100 or a 'sure thing' for $160? I'll have to be making that decision pretty soon, I'm guessing...

No need to weigh check out the performance graph of this battery vs Amazon vs DELL OEM ..... Laptop Battery Performance Comparison

BTW I stopped in to see what BatteryPlus had .... The batteries are branded by Rayovac (which doesn't make li-ion cells) and they are low capacity 4400mAh 6 cells ... so basically they are Amazon 4400 mAh that sell for ~40-45'ish... noting special ... 14 day return policy... and no warranty return policy back to the store! Need to call Rayovac! I hate retail locations that handle the product returns for what they sell. I mean if they don't do that then why buy from them?????