M1530 9 Cell Battery Life - 1 Year Later

I started looking at the XPS M1530 way back in early 2008 as a potential laptop to purchase as my first laptop, and I found that it was all around the best deal for a 15" laptop when I bought it in July of 2008. I originally wanted the 6 cell due to the slimmer design but ended up purchasing the M1530 when the 6 cell was not in stock and the 9 cell was a free upgrade. So I got it with the 9 cell. When I first tested it a few weeks after purchase I was able to get a little over 4 hours (almost 4.5) with Wi-Fi on and the screen at low-mid brightness. Today I tested again, I unplugged it from the wall at 4:50 today, and at exactly 7:40 the screen shutoff. That is 2 hours, 50 minutes. That is over an hour worse then what it got originally. Now it seems the 9 cell is longer worth hauling around if it is only getting just shy of 3 hours of battery life. So I am left wondering what other M1530 owners are now getting for battery life compared to when the machine was new. Got an M1530? Had it for a while? Please let me know, whether you have the 6 cell or the 9 cell or both. I know that batteries get worse over time, but it makes me worry about how bad the battery life will be in another year.

 

check the battery wear level (BatteryBar) or on the battery, press AND HOLD until the LEDs change... each LED that lights up here represents 10-20% of wear...

if you are close to the 1 yr mark(or over) and the batterf wear is bad, try to get a sympathetic rep to replace your battery...

 

DFI, I have the 1530...have the 6 & 9 cell. My 9 cell started doing similar to yours. And, wouldn't hold a charge.

And, I was a little over my one year warranty. I contacted XPS Tech Support explained that I had run all the Battery tests I could (unplugging) testing the batt' strip, etc., and they decided out of a *one time customer loyalty/courtesy* to send me a new replacement 9 cell battery for free.

I just had to return my bad 9 cell upon receipt of the new one.

Give Tech Support a call tomorrow and see what they say.

Cin...

 

Cin, what times do you get with the 6 cell? I am planning to buy a new battery for the 1330, and it seems that all of Dell's 9 cell batteries have a drastic wear rate after 1 year... Comparatively, the 6 cells have a longer usable life..

 

I've had my M1530 for a little less than a year with the 9 cell battery, and my battery is showing 39% wear and lasts just about 2 hours without being plugged in with vista in power saver mode and the screen brightness down a few notches from max, the same conditions that used to give it nearly 4 hours of life. Sucks!

 

1 year and 2 months since a new 9 cell, XPS 1330, the battery shows a 66% wear, and lasts 2 hours.. barely.. I get over 6 hours from a new one..

 

If you still have warranty call them up and they will send you a new one. Some dell reps will say its not covered under warranty so you have to find the right one. And after 11 months of my 9 cell I had a 20% wear on it.

 

I bought my 1530 a year a half ago with the option of getting 2 9 cell battery for the price. I'm still on the first battery and it lasts 3-4 hours. I also bought a 6 cell battery and that one only lasts for 2.5hrs. The 6 cell fits better on the included case. I've yet to start on the second 9 cell, hope it's still good.

 

Thanks, I did not know about holding it down, but I tried it and 4 out of the 5 lights lit up. More lights are worse or better?

 

More light lights are better.. Less lights are worse...that means you are getting more juice on your battery

But, I would still call and try and get a replacement one

Cin..

 

Ok good, that's what I thought, but I was thrown off by Paper Wastage's wording here:

 

Paper wastage is right.. more lights indicate more wear..

 

Thanks, looked into seeing if Dell mentioned anything about this on their website, and I came across this below...looks like you are right.


http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/batteries_sitelet/en/batteries_faq?c=us&l=en&cs=19

 

Woah.....then the battery that I just received, in January....
As a replacement. OMGosh...

Or, its all tied into the problems I'm having with my 1530 lately.

Sorry, DFI...I need to seriously look at my 9 cell when I get home... *sigh*



Cin...

 

Sessy, I'm still getting nearly 2.5 hours on my 6 cell..it's working pretty good for me for some reason...I think I got really rather lucky with the 6 cell.


Cin...

 

Interestingly I checked the 9 cell battery on my father's 1720 thinking that it is probably worse then mine considering he had his for twice the time I've had my M1530. To my surprise, none of the lights lit up. So either the 9 cell used on the 1720 is much better, or you could blame it on the fact that I probably go through more charge cycles then he does. I also leave mine plugged in more often.

 

it depends on the charge cycles used, how you treat your battery (100% use->80% then recharge to 100%, repeat every day = bad), how much heat you expose the battery to (heat - bad... m1330-m1530, the fans blow heat close to the battery...), and whether dell messed up something during the manufacturing of the batterf...

 

What cin? I thought you were just kidding but you're wrong. When you holding it, each light represents 20% battery wear. So if four out of five lights blink after holding it. Then you have lost 80% of your battery compared to when you first got it.

 

Actually, no.. 5 lights light up on mine, and I have 66% wear..
From what i have seen, a more accurate figure is around 12% per unit.

@ Cin' The 6 cell batteries seem to have less wear, across all notebook models from dell.. In contrast, the 9 cells all seem to lose capacity very fast after one year, almost as if they are designed to do that.. !

 

I already explained above...:*( Everytime I press my power strip....I get 5 lights...And, that is on a brand new battery I received in January from Dell...

Yeah, I know Sessy...the 6 cell seem's to be working really good.

Are you going to order one??

(Sessy, it's good to see you around)

Cin...

 

The battery indicator can be used for two tools and this needs to be clarified as what is said in this thread can be confusing.

If you press the button it will show the charge in the battery. 5 LEDs means it is fully charged.

If you press and hold the button it can show the wear of the battery.

This thread makes it sound like the indicator can only be used for one purpose.

 

Dell doesn't make batteries. They are a computer customization and assembling company.

 

well, i tried to make it more distinct... hold it down till the LEDs change, each LED represents an incremental 10-20% wear (bad)

yes, but they outsource their battery manufacturing to someone... they should make sure the quality is good instead of skimping on the quality for fewer cost