knackered laptop battery

[tycho]

My fiance "found" an old laptop from work which is a few years old and it works fine except for the battery. It stops charging when it gets to about 10-15%. This lasts about 1/4 hour and is really annoying. Does anyone know where to get second hand batteries or if it is possible to get it repaired/reconditioned as new ones cost about £120. The lpatop is an IBM thinkpad 600E.

Thanks

[pdV6]

Loads on eBay, including this one with a buy it now price of £22.95

[KITT]

Did you know sticking it in the freezer overnight can remove the "memory" of a battery. I've done it before with mobile phone batteries and it really works! Doesn't make them quite as good as new but loads better than before.

Just make sure you wrap it up in a freezer bag so it doesn't get wet. Also make sure it's fully defrosted before you try and charge it up.

[pdV6]

Li-Ion batteries don't suffer from "memory" in the same way as Ni-CD ones.

[annodomini2]

I would have thought Li-ion batteries would break down if you put them in the freezer?

[trevorw]

One can be found here www.interbatteries.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/124 £78, bargain if you have a free laptop, but the ebay one is alot cheaper!

[tycho]

Thanks for the help guys. Might try the freezer trick as a last resort.

[KITT]

pdV6 said:

Li-Ion batteries don't suffer from "memory" in the same way as Ni-CD ones.

In theory that's true but in practice they still go dead after a time if you don't fully charge/discharge them. I think the freezer thing works for Li-Ion too but don't come crying to me if it doesn't!

[tycho]

KITT said:

pdV6 said: Li-Ion batteries don't suffer from "memory" in the same way as Ni-CD ones. In theory that's true but in practice they still go dead after a time if you don't fully charge/discharge them. I think the freezer thing works for Li-Ion too but don't come crying to me if it doesn't!

Nope, the freezer trick doesn't work!!!