Batteries Plus / PB 170

[Scott Baret]

Does Batteries Plus carry laptop batteries for older machines? I know they stock them for older cell phones and I'd be interested to see if anyone here has ever bought a PowerBook battery there.

I've got a 170 that currently is getting about 20 minutes (maximum) from its original 1992 battery. I'd love to get this computer running without it again as it's turning into a very dependable (albeit corded) word processor in class. The simplicity of the machine is amazing plus it's been the subject of some interesting comments--someone asked me if it was even a real computer!

Along the same line I've also got an iBook G3 (clamshell) and a Toshiba T1200 that could use new batteries...does Batteries Plus ever publish catalogs? (The store is sort of out of my way so I don't typically get around to stopping in to look for any of these batteries--and it seems every time I drive past it I'm coming home from a Pittsburgh Pirates game at 10-11PM).

 

[tomlee59]

I don't know if this is an option you'd consider, but perhaps rebuilding that 170's battery is worth thinking about. Unlike batteries based on, say, lithium, the NiCds in that pack don't require particularly delicate handling. They're just cells assembled in a simple configuration. No "smart" circuitry; just a thermal fuse. That's it. So if you can find a source of decent NiCd cells, you can rebuild these packs very easily (more so if the cells come with tabs already spot-welded on). Long ago, I got a great deal on cells, and set about rebuilding many packs for myself and friends. They (packs and friends) lasted a good long time.

 

[Scott Baret]

What is a good source for the cells as far as price is concerned?

 

[sircabulon]

my powerbook 170 died, and i had bought a high capacity battery for it in 2005 i think. anyways, when it broke, i was getting 4-7 hours off of it depending on how i had it set up. If you give me $20 plus shipping, i will send it to you.

 

[retrogmr]

Here's a good source for inexpensive PB1xx series batteries:

http://www.ok-battery.com/laptop_battery/apple/nma001.htm

 

[sircabulon]

i think that is the battery I have!! Serisously, I will beat their price. It is just sitting and it seems like a total waste for me to have it.

 

[equant]

3 years is a long time for a battery to sit unused. It will likely not deliver 4-7 hours of charge anymore.

 

[flyingtoasteroven]

Here's a good source for inexpensive PB1xx series batteries:
http://www.ok-battery.com/laptop_battery/apple/nma001.htm

I'm a little worried about that one. Its a NiMH. and the 170 used a NiCad.

Today I opened up a malfunctioning 170 to get the disk drive and found it littered with spruce needles! After dissembling most of it to clean it, I opened up the battery. Being a decade and a half old it had leaked pretty badly.

Inside there were ten of these NiCad cells. They were arranged in the following improvised circuit diagram:

+               —
|               |
|               |
|  C-?-C-C-C-C  |
|  |         |  |
---|         |---
  |         |
  C-C-C-C-?-C

Wherein C represents a 1.2v NiCad cell, size AF (17x50mm), capacity 1250mAh or 1400mAh depending on the model. The 170 originally came with 1250mAh cells, apparently. The '?'s in the diagram represent tiny little parts attached between the batteries. They must be the thermal fuses you speak of.

I was contemplating re-celling the battery, but if cells are $2, and a new battery $25, it doesn't make too much sense, given the risk of failure and the time and effort. But seriously, can you replace a NiCad battery with a NiMH one?

 

[tomlee59]

But seriously, can you replace a NiCad battery with a NiMH one?

NiCd and NiMH cells are similar in their characteristics. If one is willing to operate them somewhat sub-optimally (primarily in detecting "end of charge"), you can interchange them. The 1xx series charging circuits are not particularly sophisticated (which is why the batteries wear out a bit sooner than they otherwise might), and so a NiMH substitute probably works ok. There's a slightly greater chance of overcharging NiMH cells, but if you don't leave it plugged in all the time (i.e., let it discharge once in a while), you should be fine.

 

[flyingtoasteroven]

http://www.pepiusa.com/modn.html

These appear to be the fuse in question.

 

[elbaroni]

Does anyone know if these third party batteries can be safely charged in one of the external battery chargers?

 

[equill]

If you mean such as the VST line of chargers, a cynic might suggest, and I believe, that they were smarter than Apple's PBs at managing batteries. It is even conceivable that Apple's M3050 external charger was also. Success depends as much on the wattage and condition of the AC adapter as it does on the charger. Keep tomlee59's caveat about overcharge in mind, and go for it.

de

 

[register]

Lindy made a dual battery charge dock that worked like a charm. I used it to recondition even half-dead batteries. The dock always completed a discharge and recharge cycle to avoid the memory effect of NiCd cells. Best results were obtained with batteries precooled down to 8 degrees centigrade before charging.

If you can pick up one for your PB 140-180, it will be a perfect companion to get best mobile use of the computer. If you switch to more recent NiMH cells, you might need some other kind of charge controller.