Locating The Right Laptop Battery
Batteries used by Toshiba laptop computers are 6-cell, lithium ion, and rechargeable. They were first discovered in the 1960s when Bell Labs exchanged lithium metals for lithium ions. Following research by John Goodenough, a professor and physicist, who is the one responsible for identifying and putting to use the cathode that is used in lithium batteries, the first one for consumer use was released in 1991 by Sony.
The lithium ion battery radically changed electronics making them much more user friendly to the general public. Because lithium is the third lightest metal the use of this element made in possible to make more portable electronics.
Toshiba laptop batteries do not suffer from memory effect. Which basically means that if you use your battery, charge it, use it again, charge it again it is not being fully discharged and will probably forget that it can be fully discharged. This cuts down on the life of the battery. Since the laptop batteries used by Toshiba do not do this they last longer before having to be replaced. They are also more friendly to the environment because they do not contain cadmium or mercury which are very toxic materials.
Weighing in at 11 ounces, most batteries for the Toshiba laptop are priced at a little over one hundred dollars. They usually come with a one year warranty. The replacement battery for this laptop is a little more pricey, costing around $150. However if the battery is maintained properly and manufacturers instructions followed these batteries can last a long time. Used normally the average battery life is approximately 2.7 hours before having to be recharged. The recharge time can be anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours. Sometimes a battery will say fully charged after as little as 15 minutes, however it requires more time than this and you may have to unplug and plug it back in. The Toshiba web site sells the 6-cell battery and the replacement battery, with shipping usually within 1 to 2 days. They have a bill me later option that allows you to make payments of only 10 dollars a month. Directron.com is a discount computer store that sells the battery for Toshiba Satellite Pro 300/400 series and the Satellite 4000 series laptop/notebook computer. These batteries are about half of what you normally pay and come with a 30 day money back guarantee less a 15% restocking fee if there is nothing wrong with the battery. Before you buy a battery from any company, make sure it comes with a warranty and should you decide to return it, that they have a policy for this option. There are numerous fly-by-night companies, especially internet companies, that may not be in operation should you need to exchange a faulty battery or inadvertently order the wrong one for your computer. Trusted names that have been in business for a period of time are easy to research and can save you money in the long run. Search your local yellow pages for computer parts and service companies in your area. It may make sense to shop locally in the event you need help in obtaining the right battery for your Toshiba laptop.
|