How to Find Value in Replacement Laptop Batteries

One of the great advantages of using a laptop computer is its ability to operate it in a portable manner. This is achieved by the use of a battery as its power source. However, most users take the battery for granted and are unaware that it will eventually fail.

IBM ASM 08K8192 Laptop Battery
Li-ion, 4400 mAh, 10.8 V
Price: £36.00

Most laptops today are powered by Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. These are a great alternative to the older technologies since they have a much higher power to weight ratio, are not prone to the memory effect phenomenon and are inherently more environmentally friendly. However, much like the older battery chemistries, they do have a limited lifetime. Although the older chemistries rates of failure were proportional to the number of charging cycles, the capacity of today’s Lithium-ion batteries diminish with age.

When you find that your laptop computer does not hold its charge as long as it used to, or when your system’s power management utility software indicates that its charge level is decreasing, you will need to find a replacement laptop battery to maintain your computer’s operating time. Finding the correct battery is generally a matter of searching for a battery that will fit your computer’s make and model number. In addition, the specifications for the battery are usually found imprinted on the charger.

Dell Latitude D620 Laptop Battery
Li-ion, 4400 mAh, 11.10 V
Price: £44.99

With this information in hand, there are several sources from which you can purchase a new battery. These generally include the computer manufacturer, specialized electronic and computer retailers and a number of Internet sources. You will also find that, in addition to the OEM battery, there may also be a number of generic equivalents available.

Buying a replacement laptop battery directly from the manufacturer is the easiest choice, but you will be paying a premium price for this convenience. Secondary sources of OEM batteries will generally charge you as much as the computer manufacturer and in some cases you may even pay more.

This is true of both brick and mortar stores and online sites that sell computer batteries. But if you are a value shopper, you will soon realize that generic batteries will offer you the same level of performance at a substantial cost savings. Additionally, you may be able to increase your laptop’s operating time by upgrading your battery and choosing one with a higher milliamp rating in the generic equivalent. These higher capacity generic batteries typically cost much less than the OEM’s standard capacity battery.

DELL KG126 Laptop Battery
Li-ion, 6200 mAh, 11.1 V
Price: £60.00

Generic laptop batteries are produced at the same manufacturing plants that originally produced the laptop battery for the computer manufacturer; batteries are simply an out-sourced item for the computer maker. But these batteries may also be made at facilities whose standards are not as high as the primary plant’s and the only way to ensure that you have purchased a quality battery is to check the reputation of the supplier or the seller, make sure that they provide a liberal warrantee and test the battery by charging it in your computer soon after it is received.
The author performed a case study and examined the cost to buy a replacement laptop battery for a Dell Inspiron. He found that he was able to save more than 50% on a laptop battery that provided a higher capacity and offered an extended operating time. The shopping for a replacement laptop battery article provides the details. Please visit replacement laptop batteries for more buying tips and technical advice regarding computer batteries.