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    Charge battery without the laptop?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by asincero, Jan 31, 2010.

  1. asincero

    asincero Notebook Enthusiast

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    Does anybody know of a device that can charge the laptop battery without the laptop? Specifically, a Thinkpad T500 battery. The idea is that I'd like to always have a charged battery on hand ready to be swapped in.

    I suppose I could get an old busted up T60/T61 off ebay that barely works to use as a battery charger. However, a device built for this purpose might be more ideal.
     
    asincero, Jan 31, 2010
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  2. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    That doesn't make any sense OP. Since if your charging a battery you'd have access to an outlet?

    In any event, why not just invest in an extended battery?
     
    Krane, Feb 1, 2010
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  3. ajengen

    ajengen Notebook Enthusiast

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    ajengen, Feb 1, 2010
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  4. SDreamer

    SDreamer Notebook Consultant

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    I don't know how IBM batteries are, but I just noticed on my HP 12-cell there's a power input where I can charge the battery away from the laptop. Biggest advantage I can see from charging it away from a laptop is heat dissipation since it's away from the laptop.
     
    SDreamer, Feb 2, 2010
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  5. greig12

    greig12 Newbie

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    The short answer is no. A laptop battery isn't like a flashlight battery. It's a complex thing that has sensors and electronics as well as the battery itself. It can only charge when under the control of the laptop circuitry so the charge rate, charge state, temperature, etc. can be monitored and fed back. Find someone else with a compatible computer and use their unit to charge yours up.

    You don't need to find the exact laptop as the battery will fit into a family of laptops. Go to any web site that sells batteries and look up your laptop. Look around and you will usually find a list of other models the same battery will fit into. Any of these can be used to recharge your battery.

    Fixing your old one to be able to plug into the wall may not be all that expensive. If the connector on the back of the unit broke off, then a new one can be soldered on or bypassed fairly cheaply ($50?). Sure beats buying a new laptop.

    Good Luck.


    :)
     
    greig12, Feb 3, 2010
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  6. Johnny T

    Johnny T Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Sounds like he has 2 battery and would like to be using one whilst keeping the other charged/charging at the same time. :)

    That looks to be the only official Lenovo option.
     
    Johnny T, Feb 3, 2010
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