The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    who else thinks the T400 battery locking mechanism is flimsy?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by laggedout, Jul 7, 2009.

  1. laggedout

    laggedout Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have the extended battery and sometimes I carry the notebook by the back when placing into my case. I find it kinda flimsy and unsafe to be holding it. There is only one lock mechanism in the center and it seems kinda weak. There is also some give to the battery even when locked.
     
    laggedout, Jul 7, 2009
    #1
  2. JoshTrain

    JoshTrain Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have the 6 cell and I agree that the tolerances could have been a little tighter, but I have confidence in the mechanism itself. I don't find myself worrying about it failing.
     
    JoshTrain, Jul 7, 2009
    #2
  3. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    193
    Messages:
    733
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No problems with the 6cell in the 10 months I've had my T400.

    I also don't carry it by the battery; doesn't seem like a wise idea.
     
    Lew, Jul 7, 2009
    #3
  4. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

    Reputations:
    6,668
    Messages:
    8,224
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    231
    The 9-cell battery in my T500 has no wiggle, and seems very firmly secured, although I still wouldn't carry the laptop solely by the battery in any circumstance.
     
    MidnightSun, Jul 7, 2009
    #4
  5. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,266
    Messages:
    7,360
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I have the 6-cell on my T400 and there is quite a bit of wiggle.
     
    usapatriot, Jul 7, 2009
    #5
  6. BinkNR

    BinkNR Knock off all that evil

    Reputations:
    308
    Messages:
    1,000
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I concur—there is more wiggle room than there should be, but it hasn’t caused me any issue. It really is a display of poor craftsmanship/build process more than anything else for me.
     
    BinkNR, Jul 7, 2009
    #6
  7. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    193
    Messages:
    733
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just a random thought... is it possible some amount of "wiggle" is intentional to allow for different heat expansion amounts between the battery and the laptop? Same principle as why you see expansion joints in bridges and highways.
     
    Lew, Jul 7, 2009
    #7
  8. cloud_nine

    cloud_nine Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    127
    Messages:
    333
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I just fold a few pieces of post-its and wedge it in with the battery.

    Problem solved.
     
    cloud_nine, Jul 7, 2009
    #8
  9. huntnyc

    huntnyc Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    150
    Messages:
    543
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It is flimsy - sometimes if not careful my 9 cell battery will disengage. Just have to be careful I guess.

    Gary
     
    huntnyc, Jul 7, 2009
    #9
  10. pipspeak

    pipspeak Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    94
    Messages:
    1,041
    Likes Received:
    55
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I've not got my T400 yet but wiggley batteries and flimsy locking mechanisms have been a "feature" of thiknpads for a few generations now AFAIK. My T43 and T61 both had/have plenty of wiggle but the battery never fell off.
     
    pipspeak, Jul 7, 2009
    #10
  11. jaredy

    jaredy Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    793
    Messages:
    2,876
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    They all wiggle. I will carry my x200 with the battery sometimes to no adverse affect yet...(although it is lighter compared to a t-series so less strain).
     
    jaredy, Jul 8, 2009
    #11
  12. MastahRiz

    MastahRiz Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    179
    Messages:
    463
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Highly unlikely. The amount of heat needed to cause that much expansion isn't even capable of being generated simply by discharging a battery. How hot does your battery get? Mine barely even gets warm.

    Yup, all very much weight dependent. Some people can get away with it even on a T series, while I wouldn't even risk it on my W.
     
    MastahRiz, Jul 8, 2009
    #12
  13. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

    Reputations:
    1,581
    Messages:
    5,346
    Likes Received:
    126
    Trophy Points:
    231
    The battery in my dell does the same thing as my thinkpad, in fact every laptop except my averatec wiggled. I have beaten all of them to death and had no issues whatsoever.
     
    Thaenatos, Jul 8, 2009
    #13
  14. Lew

    Lew Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    193
    Messages:
    733
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Guess you must have a big gap on your system. Don't make the assumption that the same is true for everyone else. There's very little gap and only a little wiggle on mine.

    Like I said, just thought.
     
    Lew, Jul 9, 2009
    #14
  15. MastahRiz

    MastahRiz Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    179
    Messages:
    463
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok, then what I mean to say is discharging a standard 6 cell battery doesn't make it expand at all.
     
    MastahRiz, Jul 9, 2009
    #15