CF31 Media Bay Battery: I5?

Hi,

I have searched the forum for this already being covered; I'm not finding it. I've reviewed the Panasonic site with what is left of the 'configurator' and I'm not finding any definitive answer there either. Forgive me if it has been covered and please refer me:

I want a media bay battery for my new CF31, but I'm seeing "not compatible with I5 processor" on a number of the offerings out there. I have the I5.

Is there a 'special' media bay battery for a 31 with an I5? If so, does anyone know the specific model number?

Thanks

 

Panasonic only offers a media battery for the mark 2. not the mark 1. something on the mainboard wont allow the battery to be seen. ( I have tested this on several cf-31a and cf-31g models)

 

I remember reading somewhere that the main battery can be hot swapped. Might be the next best thing.

 

Thanks for asking this question antennaman (and TBtech29 for answering). I was curious about that too.
Unfortunately we mark 1 owners are alone on this one... :-(

 

As long as the unit is plugged in, there has never been any known issues regarding swapping batteries.

 

I meant while not plugged in. I goggled it. You can hot swap the main if you have the secondary battery. Not much help to the OP.

 

Hi and thanks.

Still confused:

I have a CF31-JLGAX1M MK2 here. I5 with discrete graphics card.

I'm told by several battery suppliers, and most recently by Panasonic that the media bay battery is not usable in this unit due to the discrete graphics card. But, the hard info stops there....are there work-arounds, I ask?

At Panasonic Customer Service I've asked for an elevation to the engineering guys on the question....will the battery just not be recognized but still provide additional running time, will it be ignored and unused, or will it damage the unit? I'm not sure that I will get the answer back intact through the customer-service route.

Frankly, I trust you guys more.

I've read that the discrete graphics card can be shut off in the BIOS, returning it to an essential I3 (????). Does that make the media bay battery now usable?

I'm fairly certain that there must a be some sort of conflict with this battery and the discrete graphics card.....but:

1. Is that overcome if I turn the discrete graphics off?
2. Is it something simple (like it doesn't meter it right or turn on the light) that still allows it's use?
3. Is it something serious (installing it will damage the CF31)?

It seems counter-intuitive that the higher-power-requiring discrete graphics card will PROHIBIT the use of the longer-power-supplying media bay battery.

I really hate to travel with an external battery like this

Mobile Freedom Power Series at Batterygeek.net. Sextuple your Battery Runtime.

just because I have the discrete graphics card!

Help!

 

All I have been told is that as long as its a mark 2, its compatible. Try calling Heartland and see if they can offer any help as they deal with this stuff alot

 

ISSUE RESOLVED:

Per Panasonic technical service, the presence of the I5 with the discrete graphics option on the CF31, MK1 or MK2 regardless, creates a "real estate" issue internally within the enclosure that does not allow for the simultaneous presence of the hardware needed to manage the media bay battery and provide for the I5 and discrete ATI graphics.

There is simply not room for both circuit modules; it is either one or the other.

They recognize that this is intuitively ironic: The I5 and discrete graphics features impose a greater load on the battery, and as such the media bay battery has a more significant need. Yet, there is apparently nothing that can be done.

They also recognize that there is a shortcoming in terms of customer notification when an I5 / discrete graphics option is ordered. They DO plan to do something about that.

My vendor has been very helpful in answering this and other questions. He has also provided me a very inexpensive option to allow me to externally charge and carry a spare main battery, which more/less gets me out of the woods on this issue.

If anyone wants a referral on a VERY price competitive, VERY customer-service-oriented, VERY good service-during-and-after-the-sale fully certified Panasonic Toughbook dealer, contact me and I will provide info. I'm thoroughly happy. I'm getting personal service and attention at prices lower than I was finding on e-Bay.