Opened laptop battery to replace lithium ion cells (Lenovo X61tablet PC) -- Where do I get replaceme

Have you ever opened up your laptop battery to replace the lithium ion
cells inside (if so, I could use the help as I'm stuck).

Here are the pictures of the operation on a Lenovo X61 tablet PC 8-cell
4500 amp-hour battery kidney-transplant operation.

The outside of the IBM Lenovo X61 tablet PC battery pack has the part
numbers:
- FRU 42T4507
- ASM 42T5209

And the batteries themselves, seem to have numbers on them of:
- cylinders BCM 3A6 72653
- rectangles C 3 171353

Any idea where to obtain these lithium ion replacement batteries?

 

Here is a pictorial tutorial, of sorts, for the first half of the Lenovo
X61 tablet PC laptop battery replacement.
0. Short: http://yfrog.com/4ylenovox61tlaptopbatteryjx
1. Direct: http://img178.imageshack.us/g/lenovox61tlaptopbattery.jpg/
(the closing slash is required!)
2. Player: http://img178.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?
id=lenovox61tlaptopbattery.jpg

That tutorial has 18 pictures showing all the steps in breaking open the
dead Lenovo laptop battery pack seamlessly and easily.

The problem now is finding the batteries from the numbers on the
batteries and soldering them back in w/o destroying them.

Any advice/help if you've done this before, is much appreciated!

 

I fix about everything I can but not laptop batteries. Those have an
internal circuit that keep the batteries from over charging and
everything matches up with the computer BIOS to charge and extend
battery life. What I do is search the web and buy a replacement battery
with a decent warranty. I doubt you can even buy the new cells for what
the entire new battery costs.
Worst case of do it yourself repair would be a fire some day when
it's charging or being used.
Here's one on e-bay for 42 bucks says it has a 3 year warranty and the
dude is a power seller with a decent track record. Free shipping
http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-IBM-Len...77635?pt=Laptop_Batteries&hash=item35abb11be3

and a laptop fire,

 

Once I find the cells, I'll definitely get the ones with soldered tabs as
I'm OK (but just OK) with soldering.

I found this web site "How to rebuild a Li-Ion battery pack", implemented
for Fujitsu - Siemens Lifebook S- Series FPCBP25 battery pack at
Electronics-Lab.com.

They found Panasonic lithium-ion replacement cells at
http://www.AllElectronics.com

 

The question of why is a good one ... the answer is it's sheer cost!

The factory new battery is on the web for about $150.
I'm worried about the knockoffs which cost around $50 to $75.

BTW, I found some more references of successful rebuild DIYs which I'm
going through now as my biggest problem at the moment is finding the
replacement cells (later it will be fitting it all back together).

- HOW-TO: Rebuild your laptop battery by Engadget
http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/28/how-to-rebuild-your-laptop-battery/

- Rebuilding a Laptop Battery Oct 05, 2008 by Phil Hughes
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/rebuilding-laptop-battery

- Refilling laptop batteries! February 17th, 2007 in Projects, Technology
http://www.summet.com/blog/2007/02/17/laptop-battery-refill/

- Can laptop batteries be repaired? by Isidor Buchmann Cadex Electronics,
December 2001
http://www.buchmann.ca/article21-page1.asp

- DIY Laptop Battery Rebuild: by Kevin O'Brien, NotebookReview.com on
1/30/2008
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4224

 

Thanks for those references!

Jonesy

 

I thought batteries used in these packs had to be matched to avoid problems
with reverse charging etc that might cause them to explode.

Brian

 

Hi Isaac,

Welding the tabs without destroying the battery the biggest gotcha so
this home made battery tab spot welder DIY idea is great!

The Poor Man's Battery Tab Welder
http://www.philpem.me.uk/elec/welder/
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=763308

Build your own CD battery tab welder for $100
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=179937

DIY Capacitive Discharge Spot Welder, AKA Battery pack maker
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/MrWestie/7032

How to hack a dead laptop battery
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-hack-dead-laptop-battery-250860/

 

Hi Brian,

What do you mean by "matched"?

Note: All the existing electronic circuitry for the Lenovo x61 tablet
laptop lithium Ion battery is intact.

The only thing we're changing out is old cells for new cells.

What do you mean by "matching"?

 

I give up, what or where is "Mobile Track Power"