PowerBook 1xx Batteries -- Good Source / Rebuilding ?

[Scott Baret]

I have a PowerBook 170 and am hoping to take it to a conference in March. I don't have a working battery but am looking to either buy one or find the means to rebuild one over spring break.

What would be my best option and how much would either set me back? If I needed parts could I find them at a Radio Shack or similar store or should I order them online?

Finally, if I got a new battery or rebuilt one, what are the chances of being able to make it a longer life battery than the original? I'd like to get 4 hours or more per charge out of it if possible.

 

[Strimkind]

I bought a new one about 8 or 9 years ago when they were still available. It gave the laptop about an hour to two battery life. It was some oddball brand from Compucentre back when it existed.

I have only seen batteries for sale on ebay for some outrageous price.

As for recelling, I think there is another thread about that here.

 

[wally]

My old notes on that say the internal cells are .67x1.97 inches, 10 size A NiMH connected in a series parallel configuration for 6V at the terminals. Compare the results for a Google search on Powerbook 170 battery to the solder tabbed size A cell costs at http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3242

You might think this would yield 5400 mAH but this is probably computed at a ten hour discharge rate as opposed to a several hour actual use rate. It's likely the batteryspace cell capacities are only slightly (if at all) better than the 4200 mAH aftermarket spec would indicate when measured at the higher current drain of the laptop, so you have to decide whether to buy rebuilt or recell by other criteria.

Sometimes an impressive increased 10 hour rate capacity spec is achieved by thinning the support structure so much that the battery is shock sensitive (fails if dropped) and the voltage sags sooner than on a lower capacity cell design of the original spec when loaded down such that full discharge occurs in one to two hours on the original spec battery.

There's quite a spread in battery pack prices and it might easily be cheaper to buy a remanufactured pack. On the other hand this particular battery pack design is fairly easy to work with and is a good learning opportunity to learn recelling.