Which new battery for my laptop?

SunFlower

Dear tech peeps,

I own a Dell Vostro 1710 which needs a new battery. Alas, Dell's official replacements are beyond my budget (£110! :eek:)so I was looking to get a replacement via some other means. Some people have recommended getting one from Ebay, but other people have told me to be careful as some of the ones sold on Ebay that come from abroad can explode and damage your laptop. I decided to look for a UK seller on Ebay to see if I could get one, but a lot of the specs are slightly different to the one I currently have. As a result, I'm not sure if the would work/could damage my computer, and I was wondering if anyone could help?

Also, I currently have a 6 cell battery and was thinking that an 8 cell battery might be a good idea as it means that it should last longer. Again, I'm not sure about the specs for them.

Please take a look at the following links and tell me if they would be OK, or feel free to recommend any other sellers/websites that would sell appropriate replacements.

This is what I've currently got (I think - looks the same, same number of cells but not too many details on the page: mine is 11.1V, min 484 Ah (but I don't really know what that does/means)): http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&cs=ukdhs1&sku=451-10611&baynote_bnrank=2&baynote_irrank=0&~ck=baynoteSearch

This is what I have seen on Ebay that I think might be a suitable 8 cell replacement although some of the tech spec is different. Am I right? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8Cell-Battery-Dell-Vostro-1710-1720-P721C-P726C-T117C-T118C-312-0741-/220944902895?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item337157aaef

Here's another 8 cell: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220944902895?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

And finally: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220958675384?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Naturally, I would like to get something that has a 1 year (or better) warranty, for peace of mind.

What do you all think?

Thanks very much - I'm totally lost when it comes to this type of thing, and am desperate for a replacement as it makes using the laptop very hard as the power cable doesn't sit very well in the jack at the minute, so it just cuts out at random.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

andy2004

first i would download a little program called Batteryinfo http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/battery_information_view.html freeware, portable. nothing to install.
this will give you a lot of info about your current battery including life expectancy.

The batteries use mAh, the dell uses WH, conversion on this page http://wiki.answers.com/Q/56wh_equals_how_many_mah done for you. from Wh to mAh

found this while googling http://laptopsbattery.co.uk/dell-vostro-1710-battery.htm
Your Price :
11.10V - £ 42.56 4400mAh higher the mAh longer per charger, longer usage.
14.80V - £ 44.95 5200mAh

on price though i would go for this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8Cell-Battery-Dell-Vostro-1710-1720-P721C-P726C-T117C-T118C-312-0741-/220944902895?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item337157aaef

£10 less, year warranty, and the seller has 99.5 compared with the other one.
it might also be worth buying a new charger, as it may not be the battery thats going but the charger not charging the battery up properly.
use batteryinfo to find out.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-Vostro-1710-Charger-AC-Power-Adapter-PSU-fuse-POWER-CORD-/120869071833?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item1c245babd9 with power cord included, £6.99 1year warranty.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19-5V-4-62A-DELL-VOSTRO-1310-1315-1510-1710-AC-ADAPTER-LEAD-CHARGER-PA10-/160718708631?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item256b94df97 2 year warranty, but you need a clover lead. £6.49

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLOVER-LEAD-POWER-CABLE-MICKEY-MOUSE-3-PIN-COMPUTER-CABLE-LEAD-WIRE-UK-PLUG-/130654131611?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item1e6b97d59b
the lead required.

My brother bought a laptop charger via ebay same price as those mentioned, had it for over a year, uses it frequently, and seems fine, charges the battery perfectly. so his happy.

I've personally bought 4 laptop chargers via ebay but they where from hong kong / china for my neighbour. within 3 months. But i believe it was user error that caused them to fail. WHY?, it said on the box not to be used OUTDOORS, so one day she was outside with the laptop using a extension lead from her garden shed to laptop charger, and then complained the next day when it blew.
1. garden shed power supply was fitted by the father in law and has always been faulty.
2. it was a standard extension lead she used, only needed a power surge to blow the adapter.
how do i know father in law was bad at electrics. he blew up her dryer, the heater element had burned out, she used it on a daily basis, and i'd replaced it the previous year and machine was working perfectly up til that point, got her father in law to fit a new one instead of asking me to do it and she had to go out and buy a new dryer.
how many people know how to put a outside tap so that the tap is facing the ground like the sink taps. he put the tap so it was facing UP. LOL

another adapter was broken by her daugther. how many people know NOT to put adapters onto thick, heavy piled carpets because it would cause the adapter to overheat ? she didnt. and it overheated and burnt out, the external case was melted

3rd daughter was charging laptop up in front of her and playing on the playstation with one of those wireless ball controllers, playing bowling, and caught the charger wire with her hand and pulled it out with such force it broke the cable.
all user issues, as in not used correctly.

SO use the charger correctly and it should be fine.

SunFlower

Thanks, Andy - I'm going to have to read that over a few times, and then I'm bound to have questions about the mAh things, which are what confuse me, but thanks so much for taking the time to give me all that advice - you're very kind.

andy2004

mah in basic terms, higher the mAh longer the battery should last. aka if a 4400mAh lasts 3hrs continuous use a 5500mAh should last approximately 1hr longer.

I would suggest getting that freeware batteryinfo program first though and then using the charger run the program it should tell you the rate the charger is charging at. http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/battery_information_view.html

SunFlower

andy2004 wrote: »

mah in basic terms, higher the mAh longer the battery should last. aka if a 4400mAh lasts 3hrs continuous use a 5500mAh should last approximately 1hr longer.

I would suggest getting that freeware batteryinfo program first though and then using the charger run the program it should tell you the rate the charger is charging at. http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/battery_information_view.html

Thanks for that...is there any limit after which it would be bad for the computer (I don't think so, but this is the kind of thing I'm always paranoid about!). Also, the voltage seems to vary between different models. What should I be looking for, or is there a range that's OK?

Thanks once again for the help.

andy2004

usually there are only 2 mah sizes for laptops depending on manufacturer, the standard size and then the larger size which is actually slightly bigger not only in power but actual size.

standard size is exactly the same as the one that comes with the laptop, in mAh and actual footprint, so it looks right.
larger size is bigger than the standard, due to more internal batteries, and therefore sticks out further from the back, but gives a longer running period/ time.

if you do a google search for your model of laptop with battery at the end, most websites only list 2 sizes. some may put a different mAh on the larger size battery, but could be the internals are slightly better, or they managed to squeeze in more and keeping it the same size.

451-10611 and 451-10612 are both for your laptop. which is what i used to ebay search.
seen a 6cell and 8cell, ranging from 4400mAh 5200mAh and 5500mAh, weird, 4400mAh and 5200mAh are both 6cell where the 5500mah is the 8cell.
on the dell battery should say something like TYPE: and then a code.

ok, and i just found a 12cell 6600mAh 14.4v http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6600mAh-Li-ion-Battery-DELL-451-10611-451-10612-P721C-P722C-P726C-T117C-/260964714523?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cc2b5881b £48 i used the following 451-10611 which is the DELL battery model number.

the ones you mentioned are 4400mAh £34 and 5200mah £36.00

assuming you got 3hrs with your 4400mah dell battery, you'd get around the same amount of time with the £34 one, 4 1/2hrs with the 6600mAh £48, and 3 1/2-3hrs 45min with the 5200mAh £36 i think.
i found cheaper 5200mAh for you as well £26.99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-LAPTOP-BATTERY-DELL-Vostro-1710-1720-451-10612-P721C-P722C-T117C-T1-/280821923730?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item41624a7f92
lol, had a bit of a laugh when i saw this one on ebay, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laptop-Battery-Dell-Vostro-1710-1720-fits-451-10611-/120853560268?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item1c236efbcc £2499.99, and yes thats the right price, and you where shocked at £120.

oh, and there are 2 other freeware programs you may be interested in batterycare and batterybar. both would give you a better idea on how long the battery will last.

SunFlower

Cheers Andy!

I'll get ordering...

Thanks for spending your time helping the technically illiterate...this is charity work of the highest order.

Notmyrealname

If you are going to buy on Ebay buy from powercell_uk. They're based in Nottingham (actually are as I've been there) and their batteries work. Dell are fussy about batteries as the laptop polls the battery for info and if it doesn't get the reply it expects it will say there isn't one attached and refuse to charge it.

andy2004

link for the powercell_uk as mentioned in the previous post
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Powercell-Shop
PLEASE NOTE, THIS BATTERY IS THE 14.8V VERSION AND WILL ONLY WORK IF YOUR CURRENT BATTERY IS 14.8V.
LOL, just did all the Dell batteries with 1710 in the name and found 1 which is 11.1 all the rest where the 14.4V but at a cost of £39.95
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laptop-Battery-Dell-1710-1720-312-0740-312-0894-451-10611-P721C-P722C-11-1V-/290615492580?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item43aa087fe4
11.1V (Compatible with 10.8V)
Not compatible with 14.8V & 14.4V
Found this on the page. and assuming thats for every battery also via ebay. including those i mentioned.
would mean dont buy the 6600mAh, 5200mAh unless its a 11.1v like this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-cell-Battery-Dell-Vostro-1710-1720-P721C-P726C-T117C-/130660147737?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopsAccessories_LaptopBatteries&hash=item1e6bf3a219
and now i'm even more confused as i download and read the pdf file see here
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1710/en/index.htm