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Thursday, September 22, 2011

What to Buy While Waiting For Your New Dell Battery

 If you've been affected by Apple's laptop battery recall, be sure to read our latest report, The Apple Recall: What You Need To Know.next blog: How to choose the right JVC GR-D30E battery charger?
If you're the (un)happy owner of a newly recalled Dell notebook battery, you'll need a portable, alternative power source to keep your laptop alive until a replacement Compaq 319411-001 battery arrives in the mail.
The good news is that you do have options; the bad news is that the best (and safest) ones won't come cheap.
The most budget-friendly option (aside from dealing with your power cord for awhile) is to buy a lithium-ion dell inspiron 1720 ac adapter battery that's just like the replacement Dell will eventually send you.
Though the lithium-ion chemistry has been acknowledged as potentially fire-prone for years—and is one of the alleged culprits behind the bad compaq presario v3000 ac adapter battery in your Dell—they're widely available for just about any model of laptop on the market. Keep in mind that internal sony vaio pcg-f403 battery replacement suppliers are trying to copy as closely as possible the voltage requirements and power density of your existing hp pavilion dv5z-1000 battery, to avoid problems.
Keep in mind, however, that Dell believes you should not use a third-party dell xps m1530 ac adapter battery replacement. According to a FAQ on the company's web site, "Dell has a rigorous qualification process by which all Dell batteries are validated to ensure proper function, performance and safety," the company says.
"Some non-Dell batteries are available in the market with claims of compatibility with Dell systems. Dell cannot verify these claims, nor the safety of using them in a Dell system," Dell adds. "Dell strongly encourages our customers to use only Dell notebook batteries advertised as appropriate for their notebook model. Only Dell notebook batteries come with a 1-year warranty, are engineered for optimal safety and performance for Dell systems, and are supported by Dell technical support for the length of the warranty period."
Unfortunately, alternative dell inspiron 1420 ac adapter battery technologies such as zinc-air and fuel cells remain on the horizon as far as commercially viable power technologies. For now, the tried and true is probably best.
Ordering a replacement dell inspiron 14 battery online from companies like APC and Battery-store (http://www.battery-store.co.uk/) is as easy as selecting your machine's manufacturer and model from drop-down menus and clicking "Add to Cart."
Keep in mind, however, that even though Dell is blaming its current recall on problems in the manufacturing process, lithium-ion chemistry, while generally safe, is still volatile, and accidents can happen. (Indeed, Hi-Capacity, the manufacturer that produces the lithium-ion batteries sold by dell inspiron 1440 battery Biz, recalled about 10,000 units a few years back.) Plus, buying another lithium-ion dell xps m1530 battery will still set you back between $100 and $200, and waiting things out with Dell is free.
If you're opening your own wallet, you might want to try some different tech. To steer clear of lithium-ion batteries altogether, try a universal external laptop battery. Though the price will depend on how many hours of juice you need, most batteries in this category will run you between $150 and $300.
The advantages? They generally last longer on a single charge than the standard that shipped with your laptop, and many use safer technologies that aren't as prone to short circuits as lithium-ions. They're relatively light, usually weighing under 3 pounds, and in situations where you're able to use a portable universal hp pavilion dv6000 ac adapter battery instead of your came-with-the-computer model, you can free up a slot in the chassis for something more fun—like a DVD drive, so you use your newfound hp pavilion dv9600 ac adapter battery life to catch up on your Netflix subscription. Here a couple ideas to get you started—check 'em out below.
APC Universal Notebook Battery APC's Universal Notebook Battery is available in two models: the 65Wh ($149.99 direct), which supplies up to 6 hours of power, and the 80Wh ($199.99 direct), which maxes out at eight. A bit safer than their Lithium-ion ancestors, these Lithium-polymer batteries weigh in at two pounds and feature extras like multiple output voltages and LEDs that show you how much juice you've got left. Like Compaq presario r4000 battery-Biz, APC also offers its own online tool to help users determine which Sony pcga-bp1n battery pack will meet their needs.

APC's director of its consumer network division, Ron Catanzaro, couldn't guarantee that its dell vostro 1700 battery packs wouldn't contain Sony cells. But so-called "Japanese" cells (made by Japanese companies like Sanyo, Sony, and others) have typically been considered the most reliable, which is why companies like Dell and APC do their shopping there.
APC also sells nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, which are typically designed for older laptops, and not the Dell models that were affected.
Valence Technology N-Charge Power System I
This universal, portable power source ($199 or $299 direct) is compatible with just about any laptop on the market—including almost all of the Dell models affected by the recall—and offers up to 10 hours of plug-free power. And unlike Lithium-ion-based power sources, the N-Charge isn't pyrotechnic prone, thanks to Valence's Saphion technology, which relies on a stable, phosphate-based cathode material that won't burn.
M-Fuel's Notebook Power Bank
M-Fuel's claim to fame is a tiny chip the company designed that resides within its lithium-ion cells—purchased from Panasonic, not Sony. The chip identifies the power being drawn by the device being charged—whether it be a cellular phone, PDA, or laptop—and controls the voltage and other charging parameters accordingly.
M-Fuel's site includes a direct link to online retailer BuyShipDirect, where customers can buy the Notebook Power Bank for $299.99 direct. The external lenovo 92p1109 ac adapter battery pack provides up to ten additional hours of additional dell inspiron 1464 ac adapter battery life. Not only does the dell inspiron 1545 ac adapter battery pack include a set of universal plug connectors for charging the unit, but the box includes a set of power "tips", providing the right connection for your laptop.
One question that occurred to us was whether these external batteries would be confiscated in the constantly evolving world of terrorism and anti-terrorist measures. The good news is that, to date, company executives report that they haven't had any problems. The bad news is that there's no guarantee that that will remain the case. As of press time, laptops and portable electronic devices are allowed by both the American and British transportation departments, and we assume that means laptop batteries are as well.
"I've been flying around the country, domestically and even internationally, with a suitcase full of these things," said Sasha Barausky, a product manager with M-Fuel. "Some are sales samples, some are for retailers, some are out of the package, in the package—I've never ever been stopped. There's been no issue with planes."

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