IBM Laptop Battery Articles & Tips
Upgrade my IBM Laptop Battery from NiMH to Li-Ion
NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion IBM laptop Chargers are all fundamentally different from one another and cannot be substituted unless the laptop has been pre-configured from the manufacturer to accept more than one type of battery chemistry. Please refer to your manual to find out which rechargeable battery types the laptop device supports or use our IBM Battery Finder above to find all the compatible laptop Chargers for your device. It will automatically list all of the battery chemistries supported by your specific device. If your device does allow you to upgrade the battery from NiMH to Li-Ion, you will typically get longer run times.
For example, if your laptop uses a NI-MH battery that is 9.6 Volts, 4000mAh and the new li-ion laptop battery is 14.4 Volt, 3600mAh, then you will obtain longer run time with the li-ion battery.
Example.
Li-Ion: 14.4 Volts x 3.6 Amperes = 51.84 Watt Hours
Ni-MH: 9.6 Volts x 4 Amperes = 38.4 Watt Hours
The Li-Ion is stronger and has longer run time.
Click here for information on calculating IBM laptop battery run time.
How can I maximize the performance of my IBM laptop battery?
There are several steps you can take to help you get maximum performance from your laptop battery:
Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the laptop battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion Chargers which do not suffer from the memory effect.
Keep the IBM laptop Chargers Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.
Exercise the Battery - Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time. We recommend using the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If a laptop battery has not been used for a long period of time, perform the new battery break in procedure described above.
Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the laptop battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCad, NiMH and Li-Ion Chargers will self-discharge during storage; remember to recharge the Chargers before use.
What is the run time of AtBatt's laptop battery?
IBM laptop Chargers have two main ratings on them: Volts and Amperes. Because size and weight of laptop Chargers is limited when compared to larger Chargers such as car Chargers, most companies show their ratings with Volts and Milliamperes. One thousand Milliamperes equals 1 Ampere. When buying a battery, select Chargers with the most Milliamperes (or mAh). Chargers are also rated by Watt-Hours, perhaps the simplest rating of all. This is found by multiplying the Volts and the Amperes together. For example:
14.4 Volts, 4000mAh (Note: 4000mAh is equal to 4.0 Amperes).
14.4 x 4.0 = 57.60 Watt-Hours
Watt-Hours signifies the energy needed to power one watt for one hour. This IBM laptop battery can power 57.60 watts for one hour. If your laptop runs at 20.50 watts, as an example, this laptop battery could power your laptop for 2.8 hours.<
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