CF-28 Battery Refresh (bios) with secondary battery

I made the mistake of having a fully discharged secondary battery, it has added so many hours to the process. I took this photo of the screen about an hour ago, and it's still going as I type this (it has been running 9hrs, 17mins according to what I just saw)

 

I remember the first time I started it. Did not know what to expect. I ended up letting it run overnight. There should be some kind of warning about it someplace (though I think there may be some info in the users manual - I'm not sure - of course that was just for the main battery on mine)

 

I've run it before when I got a new primary battery, but with the secondary battery, phew!!! Just make sure they are both fully charged otherwise you're going to add another few hours to it...

 

Yup... I did that on my 29 when I first got it... WOW... Takes forever!

 

Man it was beyond forever!

However, I am hoping I won't have to do that again soon, unless I'm fortunate enough to get another secondary battery. I'm running this now on my "new to me" CF28 that came today.

I really got quite a deal on it. Who says craigslist is useless

It is a CF-28PCJGZPM with 512m, 13.3 XGA Touchscreen, 800mhz, Ethernet/Modem, (no hard drive but complete caddy) with a DVD drive...

$150

All I had to do was reset the BIOS (btw, the seller did not tell me that the BIOS had a password on it, I guess he thought he was ripping me off and now I feel like I ripped him off.

I'm going to steal the display and put it on my gps-equipped model first. I have a question about the display controller in our CF28s... 48m of display memory is fine for 1024x768 with true color? (Now my lack of Intel expertise is showing)

 

Where are you guys finding these secondary media bay batteries?

 

Found mine on ebay, and it is still enroute. Seller was the Horizon Electronics store. Paid $89US.
Not sure if that was such a good deal but I went about two weeks before finding that seller.
So as soon as I found out they had some in stock I bought one.

I hope it gets here soon!!!

 

E-Bay. $79.00 + $10 shipping. They were labeled in the auction as "New, Unused" which probably means they've been sitting on a shelf for a long time.

So far mine seems fine, I've been able to run for just over 7 hrs on both batteries.

 

I scored mine on eBay for $69 + $10 shipping, so not a bad deal. The same seller had a few of them.

I'm still trying to find a good deal on an original Yellow tab. I'm not patient enough to wait for battery refill, even if they do have good batteries

 

Kusa - FYI http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-CF-VZ...ryZ11169QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I have gotten two from this seller - brand new and getting 2 1/2 hours out of them - quick shipper also -

 

Any suggestions for non-ebay purchase?

 

I second this, I have also bought one from this seller and it arrived quickly. The secondary battery was new (as specified) and it's working well. It might be old stock though which means it won't last as long but hopefully we can get batteryrefill.com to do these too.

In terms of non-ebay sources, everyone else selling parts and accessories seem to be scalping Toughbook owners. I guess they have that government contract greed (paid for by your tax dollars, they don't care... )

 

I got two of them from the william on eBay as well $69 & $51. Both are working great! He had some green tab batteries(new), I got one of them for $50 or so and it takes a good charge. Fast ship and will work with you on shipping.

 

I have to stop being so impatient and start looking for the better deals you guys seem to find, I could have saved $25 to $30, oh well.

 

He had green tabs too? Damn, I didn't see them!

I'll have to keep an eye on that guy. That's who I bought my second battery from. It looks and feels brand new!

Edit; Just found one of his green tabs with a Buy It Now of $69. It's mine now.

 

Do these "media bay" batteries come complete - no need to chase down a hard-to-find tray or anything?

 

Hi, they are designed to just plug right in.

I can take some close-up pictures later and post them if you like.

ETA: Added a picture.

 

Cool, thanks!

So for $70. - $90. one may double the operating time from 2.5-3.5 hours to 5-7 hours - given a willingness to work without the CD/DVD drive.

Compared to the flat underside LiOn batteries that sounds like a good deal.

 

Well I am sure this will degrade as time passes, but I did over 7 hrs the other day, alot of typing (via vpn and ssh connections to alot of servers), and web use. I find that amazing.

 

It's a great setup if you don't need a CD drive all the time (I don't).

I can't wait to get my new Green Tab! I'll have some excellent battery life!

 

I'm so amazed at our run-times on good batteries.

I'm also looking for little plastic battery boxes (to hold them while they're not in use) so I can carry some spares. I remember back in the early 90's you could buy little plastic battery boxes to hold spare batteries... I haven't seen them since.

 

Just to be friendly to the other guys here... I see bids on WilliamJ's other green tab and the other media bay battery. Is those bids from one of you guys? If so, I'll turn off my snipe on the other green tab.

 

Not me - already have mine

 

Just kibitzing on this but wondered - is there an external charger for the batteries? I was wondering about the 5-pin connector on the side of the battery, and I think I had seen some mention some place about a remote/external charger. Now that would be a find, to be able to plug an extra battery in someplace else.

 

Yes there is. I think Toughbook has one, but I may be wrong. I've seen them every once in a while on eBay, but they have always been expensive.

 

Does anyone - maybe one of the TBTechs - have an idea of the pinouts for that, or can some one think of a way to check it?

 

Found this:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=70167&surfModel=CF-VCBTB1U

 

Looks like one cable connects to the regular battery terminal and the other to the side terminal? Or maybe charges 2 different type of battery?


Maybe charge a primary and secondary battery together?!?!?

 

Forgot to add this to the search I found:

"Find out more about the features and specifications of our CF-VCBTB1U - BATT CHARG FOR CF28,48,50,72,34,73,18,29."

 

Looky here!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Toughbook-Battery-Charger-CF-VCBTB1U-CF-18-28_W0QQitemZ270178777360QQihZ017QQcategoryZ11168QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Seems a little pricey, no?

 

Hey, it's for toughbooks. What do you expect.

 

WOW! Found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Panasonic-Toughbook-Battery-Charger-CF-VCBTB1U-18_W0QQitemZ300203293599QQihZ020QQcategoryZ11168QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

and this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Toughbook-Battery-Charger-CF-VCBTB1U-WHOLESALE-LOT-20_W0QQitemZ320222094706QQihZ011QQcategoryZ11169QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

For something that will get little use, it's a bit expensive. Very few toughbook owners have a need for one.

If they were $20-30, I'd consider getting one just to "have one", but I've got a charger in my car, and three chargers in my computer "lab". I can't take extra batteries on the plane anymore (FAA regulations prohibit any battery not inside a device from going on the plane!), so taking extras isn't in the plan either.

That's why I think they are listed at way too much money

For the guys on here going to Alaska to work during the summer, maybe it'd work for them though.

 

These will also work - just plugs into your AC charger when you don't have your TB plugged in. I picked up a lot of four from the Blind Center - just got them and have not had a chance to test it. Very simple and cheaper price - like the thought - paid about $20 each http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Tough...11168QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

Yes, I really have been lusting for one. The way things are going I'm going to end up with 2-3 spare batteries per machine. I have spent way too much money lately on Toughbook stuff so they'll have to wait...

 

That sounds like a familiar problem...

 

Are the media bay battery part numbers the same for 28s and 29s?

 

I believe TB said it is - he's the one to ask for sure - to my knowledge they are the same.

 

TB,
Can you confirm or deny?

 

Its the same secondary battery for 28 & 29. I guess also for 27.


ohlip

 

Thanks Ohlip! I didn't want to take the plunge without someone more knowledgeble than I, to confirm.