Anyone try to repair their laptop battery?

[RLP06]

I saw this program out there, and it requires some simple hardware, i'm not sure about the exact term for doing this, was hoping someone here would know a bit more and be able to elaborate.

http://www.sharewareconnection.com/smart-battery-workshop.htm

Thanks!!

[Jucius Maximus]

A software-only tool for "repairing" batteries? This honestly sounds like "snake oil" to me.

If a battery is not working, it is probably some sort of chemical problem. I would not want to mess with any noxious chemicals, especially with Li-ion batteries, which have a way of exploding when defective.


# Allows user to reset Smart Battery EEPROM to its initial values (this will erase all tracks of previous battery usage) except for ManufactureDate, which will be changed to current system date. All the Permanent Failure Flags if such will be found will be cleared (this will unlock the battery if it is locked) . So user will have a "brand new" battery after repacking.

Sounds like it's aimed at dishonest people who want to sell their used notebook batteries as "new" on eBay. Even if you overwrite this stuff, that does not change the fact that the electrochemical components inside have been "worn out" and the battery is not new.

[Aske001]

The discharge characteristics of a lithium-ion battery make it difficult to estimate the remaining charge just from monitoring the voltage, so what most smart devices do is to estimate the remaining charge by just timing it based on past performance. If the voltage suddenly starts to drop as the battery charge runs out earlier than anticipated, the remaining-charge meter will jump down to show almost nothing left. Next time around the estimate of battery life will be lower, and it will start warning you earlier. If it's a notebook computer, it may decide to shut down on you early to avoid running out the last of the battery charge before it can hibernate. That can be annoying if the estimate of battery life is wrong because it has been misled somehow by a previous short charge. That can usually be fixed by a complete charge/discharge cycle, but in some cases software that updates the charge estimate correctly could help fix it quicker.

[Kasakato]

I smell BS. The only way to get more life is to turn off auto shutdown and see how long it goes for. Other than that all you can do is recell it or buy a new one.

[RLP06]

I smell BS. The only way to get more life is to turn off auto shutdown and see how long it goes for. Other than that all you can do is recell it or buy a new one.

How would you recell a battery, and is that expensive?

[Aske001]

I smell BS. The only way to get more life is to turn off auto shutdown and see how long it goes for. Other than that all you can do is recell it or buy a new one.

Really, it doesn't look to me like there's any BS involved here. The software tool referred to above is clearly described as a program that lets you read, interpret and write the information stored in the non-volatile EEPROM of smart battery packs. It looks like it could be useful in understanding the state of your battery pack and figuring out whether it can be rescued or not. There's no claim that it's a magic solution.

[sonick]

How would you recell a battery, and is that expensive?If you're not apt to do it yourself, i've had a good experience with www.battery411.ca, $59 + S&H to recell any laptop battery.

[RLP06]

If you're not apt to do it yourself, i've had a good experience with www.battery411.ca, $59 + S&H to recell any laptop battery.

Seems pretty good, anyone tried this site?
Also, Plus we provide 1-month 100% money back, is that if its not refilled to the original level+25% as stated?, What do you do then? give your battery to them, lol

[acidbaby]

got a ibm 600x need new battery for it.
any place in canada west coast i can buy one from??
saw some 5000mah ones on ebay are those good? also many of the others are 4400mah
the stock one is 3200mah? will those others be safe??
anyone locally near vancouver???

also needed some replacemnt camcorder batteries. originals were nicad see some nimh replacements will those be fine in the charger that came with my camcorder that was origanally using nicad?

[guyarchangel]

If you're not apt to do it yourself, i've had a good experience with www.battery411.ca, $59 + S&H to recell any laptop battery.

thanks for the link ... been looking for a place to get a "refill, refurbish, repack, rebuild" for a dead notebook battery i have as opposed to a replacement battery

not a bad price too, the refill battery ($59) from http://battery411.ca/ VS. the replacement battery ($108) from http://intelligentbatteries.ca/

both located in BC, so s+h shouldn't be too expensive

[sonick]

Yeah, my dad bought a replacement battery for his Toshiba Laptop from IntelligentBatteries.ca, good experiences with them as well; picked it up in person.