MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: gazbutS3 on November 11, 2011, 05:47:22 pm
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The battery on my Sony VAIO has croaked, the Sony ones are over 100quid, anybody any other suggestions, am I right to be wary of the cheap internet copies? are they gonna fry my laptop???
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Do you actually go 'mobile' much with it Gaz? I use all my notebooks in the house with no battery and off the mains.
I opt for the upgrade cell when speccing / buying a laptop and just before warranty expires see if I can get a replacement (as advised by a tech assistance at laptop manufacturer! :surprised:) as a spare.
Mike
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yes do go mobile, and want to use vagcom for more logging so do need a battery really
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yes do go mobile, and want to use vagcom for more logging so do need a battery really
Got ya. If it's a hi end notebook Id personally be weary of cheap cells. Ive started using Nats Netbook for logging as the battery is loads better than my current Xps and her gash Dell
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yes do go mobile, and want to use vagcom for more logging so do need a battery really
Got ya. If it's a hi end notebook Id personally be weary of cheap cells. Ive started using Nats Netbook for logging as the battery is loads better than my current Xps and her gash Dell
theres a lewd comment in there but I'll leave it :smiley:
so you reckon its best to stump up for the genuine article
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yes do go mobile, and want to use vagcom for more logging so do need a battery really
Got ya. If it's a hi end notebook Id personally be weary of cheap cells. Ive started using Nats Netbook for logging as the battery is loads better than my current Xps and her gash below standard Dell
theres a lewd comment in there but I'll leave it :smiley:
so you reckon its best to stump up for the genuine article
:signLOL: I have a feeling Ifti may have a suggestion if aftermarket replacements are available a bit cheaper :happy2:
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yes do go mobile, and want to use vagcom for more logging so do need a battery really
Got ya. If it's a hi end notebook Id personally be weary of cheap cells. Ive started using Nats Netbook for logging as the battery is loads better than my current Xps and her gash below standard Dell
theres a lewd comment in there but I'll leave it :smiley:
so you reckon its best to stump up for the genuine article
:signLOL: I have a feeling Ifti may have a suggestion if aftermarket replacements are available a bit cheaper :happy2:
cheers mate :happy2:
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Have you tried exercising the battery? Run it right down till it turns itself off, then charge it fully then repeat? May have to repeat 5 or 6 times but I think there are only 2 or 3 batteries this hasn't worked on for me (done loads too)
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Have you tried exercising the battery? Run it right down till it turns itself off, then charge it fully then repeat? May have to repeat 5 or 6 times but I think there are only 2 or 3 batteries this hasn't worked on for me (done loads too)
it holds no charge at all pal :sad1:
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had same issue with my old sony gaz, won't even boot on battery :fighting:
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My vaio did the same thing and has to be plugged in to work
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did u try a new battery Matt, maybe its the charging system that goosed???
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Bloody replacement chargers arent cheep, last one I got from Maplins was £70 - £80 :fighting: Had changeable ends and changeable power levels (sure it was voltage but remember Amps were important) to work with different brand laptops though :happy2:
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the power cable also died after a few years but could do with a new battery for vag com duties but like you £100 for them is nuts
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An alternative would be to get a 12V inverter that you plug into the car lighter (if you has one) and just run the laptop off the inverter. A bit clumsy but it's cheaper than getting a £100 battery.
You'll have to remember to shut down windows before turning off the ignition as both sleep and hibernation functions need a power source.
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I've already had a power cable, and like Mike said they ain't cheap either, by the time you've bought a cable and a battery them cheap laptops at Tesco look tempting for vagcom duties
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An alternative would be to get a 12V inverter that you plug into the car lighter (if you has one) and just run the laptop off the inverter. A bit clumsy but it's cheaper than getting a £100 battery.
You'll have to remember to shut down windows before turning off the ignition as both sleep and hibernation functions need a power source.
+1
Good suggestion, fraction of the price.
I had a very good 'Ring' power invertor from halfords, into the 12v socket direct into a plug socket not like the ones with a lead and a invertor pack with the plug socket on..
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How often have you calibrated the battery?
All batteries have a limited life, usually referred to as charge cycles. MacBooks, for example, have a 3000 charge cycle I think, that means it can be charged 3000 times before it'll need replacing. Bear in mind that means full charge cycles, not part charges. As the battery is used, it starts to lose its full capacity, which is why laptops never seem to last as long over time.
With your Sony, if it's old and had a lot of use, it probably is time to just fork out for a replacement. However, I would try recalibrating (should be done once a month or so anyways) just to ensure the battery hasn't 'forgotten' it's full capacity. Charge your battery up until its full, and leave it plugged in for another 5 hours at least. This will get all the cells wizzing around nicely. Then use the laptop as normal until it completely dies. this doesn't mean you have to use it all in one sitting, just normally until it shuts itself off.
Because the laptop will probably hibernate at the last moment so you don't lose any work, leave the laptop with a dead battery for 5 hours, so it's completely empty. Then charge until its full again.
See if that makes any difference at all.
If not, then we know it's time for a new battery.
I tend to advise not to go for cheaper unbranded batteries. Although they are cheaper in the short term, the cells are of a lower quality, so the life of the battery will be nowhere near that of a genuine battery. Hence you'll probably go through 2 or 3 before a genuine one would have died. The genuine one will last a lot longer, both in a single charge, and in overall life.
Try to avoid buying a battery via eBay, or any other site where you are unsure of its status. In fact, it's even better to buy from somewhere where they are out of stock! Reason being, you want to try to avoid buying a battery that's been sitting unused and idle for a long period of time, as this also affects its overall life. When buying a battery, check the manufacture date to make sure it is only a few weeks or months old, rather then 6 months or a year. Batteries are expensive as the laptop manufacturer has you tied in to their non standard part, you want to make sure you are getting the most possible from your purchase!
Which way you want to go is up to you really. If you are happy with a cheaper battery for the meantime (you may only want to keep the system for another year or so anyway before replacing it) then go for anything available. If you are after a long term investment, it has to be a genuine original.
As for whether it will fry your laptop - a half decent battery shouldn't do this. I've never come across it in the past. I would avoid a completely unbranded battery though and go for one that at least has a brand name, even if it's not Sony themselves.
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Finally read the thread through properly, rather then just the first post, and realised it doesn't hold charge at all! Lol. In that case, ignore all of my calibration waffle above!!
Are you sure your charger is working OK? Does it have a light on it that comes on?
I'm assuming it's not the fuse or anything?
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its a new charger as the old one died, thats probably what killed the battery, not giving it a full charge