laptop batteries

straggler

Hi all,

For part of the year I live and work in Uganda. Mains electricity is very hit and miss and I get regular power cuts at home. I'm thinking of getting a spare battery or two for my laptop so I've got something to do when the power's off.

I could get a new battery on ebay or Amazon but am wondering whether it's possible to buy secondhand batteries. Does anyone know what happens to old batteries when laptops are recycled/refurbished? And whether they'd sell to the public?

I know a used battery wouldn't be as good as a new one but is the price was right I could buy 3 or 4 old ones for the same cost.

Thanks,

Straggler

robmar0se

Laptop batteries are iffy at the best of times, as they get older their ability to hold a charge becomes increasingly shorter. I could not in all seriousness recommend second hand batteries.

Even new generics from un-official sources such as ebay are frought with quality issues - not really practical to make a warranty claim from Uganda!

I would have thought, that upmost priority is to minimise any risk, hence just buy a branded battery as the safest option, and test it thoroughly before you go.

Richard_T_

another solution to a specific battery for your laptop would be a 12volt leisure battery ( or even car battery) coupled to a car charger for your laptop, or a mains inverter

molerat

Not exactly portable though

Enterprise_1701C

You can get a small UPS for around £60 for a couple of hours back-up power.

bikerchris

robmar0se wrote: »

Laptop batteries are iffy at the best of times, as they get older their ability to hold a charge becomes increasingly shorter. I could not in all seriousness recommend second hand batteries.

Even new generics from un-official sources such as ebay are frought with quality issues - not really practical to make a warranty claim from Uganda!

I would have thought, that upmost priority is to minimise any risk, hence just buy a branded battery as the safest option, and test it thoroughly before you go.

I completely and wholeheartedly agree with Rob.

I would also add that you MUST get some sort of surge protection if you haven't already. Because of this unusual situation I would even go so far as to recommend a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). This is effectively a pretty car battery and would extend laptop use in the event of a power failure/brown out. The price generally varies depending on "offline" power, i.e. a cheap UPS will give 5mins, but spend more and you'll get closer to several hours.

This might even be best for you, because when you do buy a new laptop, you'll keep this very useful protection.

I don't like to recommend companies, but APC have impressed me over the years, whereas I have had ONE Belkin UPS blow up (and I mean literally).

Good luck!

Richard_T_

molerat wrote: »

Not exactly portable though

not realy suitable to lug between the UK and Uganda, but 12v car batteries, and chargers for them should be easy to obtain almost anywhere where motor vehicles are common, also if coupled to an inverter may also provide power to other things.

straggler

Thanks for the replies.

I didn't know there was an issue with the quality of replacement batteries. I certainly bear that in mind.

The UPS thing is a great idea. Stuff like that is very expensive over here so I'd have to wait until I was next in the UK (as I would for spare batteries etc). As you say, can also be used for the next laptop I get.

The car battery thing is something I've looked at. In the UK I have a battery charger plus a car cigarette lighter socket wired up with crocodile clips. Car and leisure batteries are readily available here so will give it some more thought.

Another option is solar plus a battery and inverter. There's hours of sunshine almost every day out here (even in the rainy season) but, again, the hardware is very expensive. Would probably have to look at getting in the UK and brining it back, as long as it fits in a suitcase!

ada1988

Do not buy a secondhand battery.Just go and buy one.
Because battery is Loss products.

cit_k

Had hit and miss results buying laptop batteries - I definately avoid 'new' generic ones from ebay - always had problems with them.

Had low success rate with untested ones sold cheap, I would tend to avoid those.

Had good success with ones said to be working and holding 1 to 2 hours charge.