Aftermarket Laptop Battery?

Are these a bad idea?

My Toshiba laptop battery needs to be replaced according Windows 7 built-in battery monitor, and BatteryInfoView says the battery is at 39% wear level. The battery doesn't last as long as it used to, so I assume the info is correct.

 

What does your Toshiba Heath Monitor say?

That's normal. The question is, is the run time unacceptable now? I bought my 17" Toshiba new in Feb 2010. I get over 1 hour of run time on my battery and while that is about 1/2 of what it got when new, that's still fine for me. Toshiba Heath Monitor shows my battery is around 70%.

The problem with aftermarket batteries is not all equal the OEMs. Some are just plain, cheap rip-offs and I know of no way to know which is which before buying. And considering how dangerous Li-Ion batteries can be, I personally do not buy aftermarket notebook batteries. I want to get them from somewhere where I know US consumer protection laws will cover me, and from someone I know I can sue in US courts!

 

About an hour. Is that the norm for a lithium battery? I assumed a battery would last at least two hours or more, but I am not sure.

 

Can't seem to find any info regarding battery health / discharge status in the BIOS.

 

There are too many variables to answer that. These include screen size, screen brightness, and utilization of the CPU, RAM and drives - not to mention the efficiency of all those devices and the age of the battery.

But it is normal for battery run times to decrease as batteries age.

 

It says the battery is fine.

I'd like to have at lest two hours of battery time if possible.

I saw an article on aftermarket batteries, and the author recommended against using them for fear of fires. An eBay check features many of them being sold by sellers with high ratings. I asked one such seller about the possibility of a fire, and I never heard from him.

Seems like I am answering my own question here, but I wanted to ask this forum for second opinions.

 

Considering even the major brand name device makers have been plagued with Li-Ion batteries, nobody is going to be stupid enough to say they are perfectly safe. But at least if you get a replacement from the notebook maker, you can assume it is a correct replacement.

 

For what it's worth, I just installed BatteryCare, and it confirms the battery has lost about 62% of its charging capacity.

 

Hi James, I found this recommendation in MS Support - Battery saving tips:

Something to consider when you get a new battery. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20443/windows-10-battery-saving-tips Neil.

 

Great info, Neil. I found a few (new) genuine PA3817U-1BRS Toshiba batteries on eBay for around $25.00, but I hope they the manufacturing date isn't too old.

 

James, I switched on my HP Notebook 1000 when I read your Thread (12 noon NZ Time). I've been using it on battery for 3 hours 25 minutes when the warning came on the screen to plug in the charger as the battery was down to 11%!!!! When I switched the Notebook on - hovering the mouse above the battery icon on the systray showed 3 hours 58 minutes of life available. Pretty accurate assessment of power and battery life.
I would be sceptical about a $25.00 battery. They are usually twice that price for Brand name batteries. The same applies to cellphone batteries.

 

When I checked my HP battery. I created a Calibration Power Plan. I set the On battery power option for everything to Never on the plugged in option I left it to run normally. I plugged in the laptop let it charge fully then let it run on battery power until it shut off due to lack of power. I then charged the battery fully then used the HP health check software to check the battery's status. that's how I found I needed a new battery. I only use OEM replacements never anything from eBay.

 

3 hours and 25 minutes?? That's great, Neil. The best I could accomplish was about 1 hour, but this machine sat unfixed (broken screen) at my brother's house for a year or more before I took possession, so I assume that played a role in the diminished power capacity.

The batteries I am viewing on eBay are listed as brand new OEM batteries, although there are plenty of used OEMs and new aftermarket selections. You guys say you wouldn't buy a new OEM from eBay?

 

I ordered a HP power button board from eBay three times they sent me USB connectors. It's your call. I would visit the Toshiba website. Toshiba should have a list of Authorized Toshiba Service Dealers.

 

3 hours and 25 minutes is great but not a fair comparison to James' Toshiba. Do you have the same CPU, same RAM, same monitor? Are they the same age batteries. Are the batteries even the same capacities?

If retiredlearner's notebook used the same components and the batteries were the same age, then 3 hours and 25 minutes would mean something. My 17 " Toshiba had a rated run time expectancy of just 2 hours, 35 minutes when brand new.

 

Just got an email from one eBay OEM supplier, and he said that his current stock was manufactured about 7 months ago. A second supplier balked at the question.

 

I have bought a few from E-bay. They had the PC Manufacture name on them. Dell, Asus etc. Never had a problem with them. Bet that some of them at the manufactures have long shelf life on them also.

 

James, I think the low battery usage may be due to the SSD I installed - no moving parts. 1.8GHz Intel Celeron CPU and 8GB's RAM. HP suggest if the battery is not going to be used for periods over 2 weeks, that you remove the battery and store in a cool dry place and if the charge gets to 50 % - a recharge is required. This unit of mine has been used in a static position and always connected to the AC adapter (Bill's advice). I've used the Notebook to watch DVD movies when we fly to Aussie on holidays (3½hr flight). It plays the 2 odd hours of the DVD without trouble.